Any Ioniq owners?
Discussion
How are you getting on with the drivetrain? Is it reasonably smooth? I've found dual clutch gearboxes a bit hit and miss, but haven't yet tried the Hyundai one.
Also, the standard hybrid question: what's the economy like? Particularly at 70mph. My Auris hybrid seems to be at its least economical at motorway speeds (low to mid 50s depending on temperature, wind, rain etc, whereas at 40mph it'll average over 70mpg) but I've read a few reviews which suggest the Ioniq drivetrain is better suited to motorway driving.
Cheers
Also, the standard hybrid question: what's the economy like? Particularly at 70mph. My Auris hybrid seems to be at its least economical at motorway speeds (low to mid 50s depending on temperature, wind, rain etc, whereas at 40mph it'll average over 70mpg) but I've read a few reviews which suggest the Ioniq drivetrain is better suited to motorway driving.
Cheers
I've had a couple of days with an Ioniq demo car now, thought I'd note down a few first impressions - might help someone else, and also will help me remember what it was like when comparing it to other options!
I've done 140 miles so far in an Ioniq Hybrid Premium SE, which is the spec I'd choose should I decide to order one. Got the car on Friday and will have it until Sunday, so should rack up another 200 miles at least before handing it back.
I'm quite impressed with it so far. It's a nice comfy car to sit in and pleasant to drive. The interior is much nicer than that of my current car (2014 Auris hybrid), it feels well made and has some nice touches such as the LCD instrument panel. Roomier in the rear than the Auris too. The Infinity stereo is impressive and the touchscreen is faster, more responsive and vastly simpler than the Toyota one.
Performance wise it feels a bit quicker than the Auris - by no means a sports car, but more than enough poke for normal everyday driving and for overtaking lorries/dawdlers on single carriageways. I quite like the "sport" mode, which sharpens the throttle response (much like "power" mode in the Toyota), allows the driver to control the gearshifts, and lets the engine rev higher before it insists on shifting up. Oh, and it displays a rev counter on the LCD instrument panel too! Gives it a little extra involvement as well as a bit more oomph for overtaking. Feels a little sharper handling than my Auris hybrid. The body control is pretty decent but the steering feels quite unnatural. And the Lane Keep Assist makes it feel downright odd!
Fuel economy has been impressive, I took it on a 50-mile return run along the M62 on a cold evening and, at a steady 70mph, it showed an average of 59mpg. The Auris at the same speed would have shown about 52 or 53. In mixed driving the Ioniq gets up to 65mpg without any real effort. Even if we assume that the dash readout, like most cars, is on the optimistic side, those are good figures especially in cold conditions.
Downsides? A few, nothing major.
The boot's a decent size for a hatchback, but has quite a deep lip which makes it a little awkward to load. Mind, I've been spoiled in terms of luggage accommodation, the Auris is an estate and has a huge boot with a flat floor so is nearly as good as a small van!
The foot operated parking brake is just weird. I'd rather have a normal handbrake, or even an electric one.
For some reason they've decided it doesn't need a rear wash/wipe. Odd for a hatchback. Hyundai must have decided that it won't be subject to much grot on the rear screen, like a saloon car. I disagree.
And on the subject of the rear screen, having it split into two separate panes might look smart and futuristic, but it also puts a great big bar right in your line of sight when reversing! And the lower pane attracts a great deal of road grime.
All in all I quite like it so far, hopefully the next couple of days with the Ioniq won't reveal any lurking horrors. I've got another demo car booked next week (a MINI Countryman PHEV) but that's got a massive disadvantage due to the higher cost and lack of standard kit compared with the Ioniq. Might also try a new Prius but again they're dearer on our car scheme than the Ioniq, and not as well equipped.
I've done 140 miles so far in an Ioniq Hybrid Premium SE, which is the spec I'd choose should I decide to order one. Got the car on Friday and will have it until Sunday, so should rack up another 200 miles at least before handing it back.
I'm quite impressed with it so far. It's a nice comfy car to sit in and pleasant to drive. The interior is much nicer than that of my current car (2014 Auris hybrid), it feels well made and has some nice touches such as the LCD instrument panel. Roomier in the rear than the Auris too. The Infinity stereo is impressive and the touchscreen is faster, more responsive and vastly simpler than the Toyota one.
Performance wise it feels a bit quicker than the Auris - by no means a sports car, but more than enough poke for normal everyday driving and for overtaking lorries/dawdlers on single carriageways. I quite like the "sport" mode, which sharpens the throttle response (much like "power" mode in the Toyota), allows the driver to control the gearshifts, and lets the engine rev higher before it insists on shifting up. Oh, and it displays a rev counter on the LCD instrument panel too! Gives it a little extra involvement as well as a bit more oomph for overtaking. Feels a little sharper handling than my Auris hybrid. The body control is pretty decent but the steering feels quite unnatural. And the Lane Keep Assist makes it feel downright odd!
Fuel economy has been impressive, I took it on a 50-mile return run along the M62 on a cold evening and, at a steady 70mph, it showed an average of 59mpg. The Auris at the same speed would have shown about 52 or 53. In mixed driving the Ioniq gets up to 65mpg without any real effort. Even if we assume that the dash readout, like most cars, is on the optimistic side, those are good figures especially in cold conditions.
Downsides? A few, nothing major.
The boot's a decent size for a hatchback, but has quite a deep lip which makes it a little awkward to load. Mind, I've been spoiled in terms of luggage accommodation, the Auris is an estate and has a huge boot with a flat floor so is nearly as good as a small van!
The foot operated parking brake is just weird. I'd rather have a normal handbrake, or even an electric one.
For some reason they've decided it doesn't need a rear wash/wipe. Odd for a hatchback. Hyundai must have decided that it won't be subject to much grot on the rear screen, like a saloon car. I disagree.
And on the subject of the rear screen, having it split into two separate panes might look smart and futuristic, but it also puts a great big bar right in your line of sight when reversing! And the lower pane attracts a great deal of road grime.
All in all I quite like it so far, hopefully the next couple of days with the Ioniq won't reveal any lurking horrors. I've got another demo car booked next week (a MINI Countryman PHEV) but that's got a massive disadvantage due to the higher cost and lack of standard kit compared with the Ioniq. Might also try a new Prius but again they're dearer on our car scheme than the Ioniq, and not as well equipped.
6 days and 400 miles later, the Ioniq demonstrator is back with Hyundai.
Verdict: Quite impressed! It's a nice car to drive, comfy, quiet, refined, generally a pleasant place to be. Better handling and acceleration than I expected given its eco credentials. Really impressed with the economy too, on a decent mixed run it would average close to 65mpg without any particular effort to drive economically.
Got the MINI PHEV on demo next...
Verdict: Quite impressed! It's a nice car to drive, comfy, quiet, refined, generally a pleasant place to be. Better handling and acceleration than I expected given its eco credentials. Really impressed with the economy too, on a decent mixed run it would average close to 65mpg without any particular effort to drive economically.
Got the MINI PHEV on demo next...
Didn't spot that with the wheel covers! Not a big issue though as long as it doesn't get a slow puncture.
I quite like the looks, the rear is quite smart, the front is a bit plainer but far from offensive.
Didn't rate the Mini PHEV, so the Ioniq is still favourite, we're due a new company car list this week so depending what's on that I might have a third test drive in something else, although knowing my luck they'll put the Ioniqs up by £100 a month...!
I quite like the looks, the rear is quite smart, the front is a bit plainer but far from offensive.
Didn't rate the Mini PHEV, so the Ioniq is still favourite, we're due a new company car list this week so depending what's on that I might have a third test drive in something else, although knowing my luck they'll put the Ioniqs up by £100 a month...!
saaby93 said:
Tell us more about the Mini
as someone else said what about the Auris touring?
More detailed write-up of my thoughts on the Mini toward the end of this thread:as someone else said what about the Auris touring?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Short version was it's too small and too thirsty for my purposes.
As for the Auris: that's my current car, in hybrid Touring form, and although much derided by motoring journos for being dull it's been an excellent daily. The trouble is that for some reason they've become a lot pricier on our company scheme than they were 3 years ago, nearly £100 a month more than the top spec Ioniq, otherwise I would more than likely have had another Auris.
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