2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　

What's new

Last year's optional SEL Tech package now standard on the SEL trimPart of the first Ioniq generation introduced for 2017

　　Since it launched in 2017, the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid has been a key rival to the popular Toyota Prius. As far as fuel economy goes, the Ioniq is definitely a winner. With a potential of 58 mpg in combined city/highway driving, the Ioniq even outshines the Prius' maximum of 56 mpg. In addition, the Ioniq's interior has Hyundai's typically thoughtful design and high amount of tech, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. And for some, the Ioniq's more conventional styling compared to the Prius will be another bonus.

　　Sounds good, right? Well, there are some issues. Mostly, the way the Ioniq drives leaves us cold. The car's unrefined ride quality, grabby brake feel and awkward transmission shifting are all turnoffs. In these aspects, the Prius still has the Ioniq beat. The quality of many of the Ioniq's interior materials is also disappointing.

　　Certainly, the 2019 Ioniq Hybrid is worth considering if maximum fuel economy and value are your priorities. Otherwise, we'd suggest taking a look at the new Honda Insight. It shares most of the Ioniq's strengths but improves upon them with a better ride quality, more comfortable seats and a more spacious interior.

　　Notably, the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article and we picked the 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid as one of zzdcar' Cheapest New Cars for 2020.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.7 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Blue (1.6L inline-4 hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.7 / 10
Driving	5.5
Comfort	6.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

5.5

　　The Ioniq's weakest area is its everyday driving demeanor. It accelerates tepidly unless you floor it, and steering is vague yet well-weighted. It's a relatively light car whose bumpy-road handling gives the impression of a heavier, blunter car. The current Prius is significantly superior in this category.

　　

Acceleration

6.5

　　The Ioniq feels reluctant and sluggish around town, requiring more pedal input than expected when in default mode. Sport mode provides much more natural acceleration but sacrifices efficiency. In our testing, the Ioniq covered 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which is about a second quicker than a Prius.

　　

Braking

5.5

　　Pedal effort is springy and on the light side. The way it blends regenerative and friction braking feels unnatural. And under moderately heavy to full panic braking, the nose dives pretty dramatically, which can be unsettling.

　　

Steering

5.5

　　The mushy on-center steering feel adds a challenge to maintaining lane position at freeway speeds. The effort is suitable at all speeds, never too light or too heavy. But it's nearly lifeless, communicating little about the road and the state of grip to the driver.

　　

Handling

6.0

　　The Ioniq's handling is benign but has low limits. Its tires howl in protest even in moderately quick turns. It turns into a corner cleanly and without much hesitation. But when it encounters bumps, it reacts like a much heavier car, with exaggerated up-and-down ride motions.

　　

Drivability

5.5

　　There's a distinct lack of regenerative braking when coasting so you have to be on the brake pedal more often. Shift quality, responsiveness and acceleration smoothness are inconsistent. It seems like the transmission is easily tripped up, especially immediately after hard braking.

　　

Comfort

6.0

　　The Ioniq's unsupportive seats and conflicted ride quality won't win over any hearts, though its climate control interface stands out for its simplicity and innovative driver-only mode. Decent isolation from engine vibration is overshadowed by road noise, which is noticeable at all speeds.

　　

Seat comfort

6.0

　　The flat-bottom seat cushion lacks lower thigh and lateral support. The backrest portion is better and the cloth upholstery feels durable, but we felt squirmy after a couple of hours. The back seat is flat, upright and quite firmly padded. Also, the front seat adjustments are manual on this trim.

　　

Ride comfort

5.0

　　The Ioniq's ride is somewhat busy, and the car moves up and down in an exaggerated manner when you're driving over lumpy road sections. It's also a little floaty at times, which means it exhibits the kind of ride movements that might make sensitive types nauseated.

　　

Noise & vibration

6.0

　　Road noise is transmitted into the cabin to an undesirable degree. The engine is relatively muted by comparison, though it's still audible. Engine vibration is well-isolated, and wind noise is reasonably suppressed.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　We like the simple layout with large buttons and two easy-to-use knobs for temperature. The clever driver-only setting saves energy. The Ioniq has no trouble battling summer temps and keeping the cabin cool with a minimum of fan noise. We like that dual-zone automatic climate control is standard.

　　

Interior

7.5

　　Functionally, the Ioniq's interior succeeds. Its controls are laid out well, and its height-adjustable and long-travel driver's seat should accommodate people of all sizes. There's also ample head- and legroom up front. Backseat passengers don't fare nearly as well.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　The Ioniq's placement of controls is clear and logical with lots of large buttons. The infotainment screen is high-resolution and doesn't wash out, and the menu flow is simple (no navigation). The redundant hard keys are a nice touch, too.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.0

　　The front doors are long and open wide, and the wide but low sills and minimal seat bolsters help with access. Access to the rear seat is more narrow. The narrowness, combined with the gently sloping roofline and high seat, hampers entry to a degree.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　It's easy to find a suitable driving position thanks to a wide range of adjustment in both the seat and the tilt-and-telescoping steering column. As a bonus, the steering wheel feels terrific in your hands.

　　

Roominess

7.5

　　There's ample legroom and, with no sunroof, there's plenty of headroom for tall drivers. Inside the car feels airy, and the pedal box for the driver's feet is sufficiently wide. Six-footers in the back seat are somewhat cramped with limited headroom and toe room.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　The front windshield pillar bases and rearmost pillars are a bit chunky and can obstruct the view. But there's decent visibility to the back thanks to a rear window that splits above and below the hatch edge. (The bisected rear lights are an unfortunate byproduct.) The backup camera display is smallish and not especially sharp, but it's adequate.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　Many of the Ioniq's drab, gray plastics and cloth surfaces look and feel low-rent, though their assembly is tight. The console bin lid and door panel creak readily when touched.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　Its cargo hold is relatively basic but sizable enough to hold most everyday items you'd want to transport. Front passengers will find plenty of cabin nooks, but backseat occupants don't have nearly as many options.

　　

Small-item storage

7.5

　　A tall, narrow console bin and open, narrow slot are surprisingly useful; so is the well forward of the shift selector. The door pockets are useful for water bottles only, and the glovebox is basic. The back seat has only two tiny door pockets and a net on the back of the passenger front seat.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　The back seat is split 60/40 and folds nearly flat. The hatch opens high so tall people won't hit their heads on it, but the liftover height is on the tall side. The cargo hold measures 26.5 cubic feet and is wide, but not that tall.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　The outboard seat LATCH anchors are buried deep between the cushions and somewhat hard to reach. The top tether points are obscured by a retractable cargo shade.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　The touchscreen is well-lit and responds well to touch inputs. Device integration and phone pairing are simple and support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The native voice controls function well but are limited in what they can control.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.0

　　The infotainment screen supports swiping gestures and responds reasonably quick, making the most of its size. The audio system has a brassy sound quality, with minimal bass. Navigation is optional, but you can navigate using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　Bluetooth pairing is simple and fast, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard. There are USB and auxiliary ports and two 12-volt accessory outlets.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　Native voice recognition supports only basic commands (phone calls, switching audio source), but it responds well. In any case, that's where Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come in. You can access Siri or Google Assistant by holding the Ioniq's voice button for a few seconds.

　　

Which Ioniq Hybrid does zzdcar recommend?

　　The Blue model is undoubtedly attractive because it's the least expensive and most fuel-efficient trim in the lineup. But we think it's worth paying a little more for the midlevel SEL. In addition to its extra convenience features, the SEL comes with a host of advanced safety systems designed to make the driving experience a little easier.

　　

2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid models

　　The 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid comes in three trim levels. The base Blue trim is the most fuel-efficient of the group, with an EPA rating of 58 mpg combined compared to the other models' 55 mpg estimate. The SEL doesn't cost much more and includes several advanced safety features among its upgrades. Topping the Ioniq range is the loaded-up Limited.

　　Every Ioniq Hybrid comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. They're augmented by an electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery pack. Total system output is 139 horsepower.

　　Standard features on the base Blue trim include 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, selectable driving modes, a driver information display, height-adjustable front seats, 60/40-split folding rear seats, a rearview camera, a 7-inch touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth, a USB port, and satellite and HD radio.

　　Stepping up to the SEL adds LED daytime running lights and taillights, heated side mirrors, an upgraded driver information display, steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a charge-only USB port, a rear center armrest, and chrome interior and exterior accents. Many driving aids — including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and a lane departure and mitigation system — are also included.

　　On top of the SEL's features, the Limited trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, xenon headlights with automatic high-beam control, leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, LED cabin lighting and Hyundai's Blue Link telematics.

　　An optional Ultimate package for the Limited includes adaptive headlights, rear parking sensors, driver-seat memory settings, rear air vents, a cargo cover, wireless device charging, an Infinity eight-speaker sound system, navigation and an 8-inch touchscreen.

　　

2019 Ioniq Hybrid Highlights

Trim: BlueSELLimitedBlue

　　

Base MSRP	$22,400
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	58 MPG
Cost to Drive	$66/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	26.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles