2020 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Review

　　

2020 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　Hyundai makes a good value proposition even better with the refreshed 2020 Ioniq Hybrid, adding updated technology and safety features to this affordable hybrid hatchback. This is on top of its excellent fuel economy, which the EPA estimates at between 55 and 58 mpg in combined city/highway driving. This is a smidge better than what the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius deliver.

　　Still, you'll have to put up with a lackluster driving experience. The Ioniq feels sluggish in accelerating unless you switch to the car's Sport mode, but that can reduce your efficiency. Then there's the car's uncomfortable front seats and overly floaty suspension tuning, which allows the car to make excessive up-and-down movements when you're driving over lumpy road sections. As such, the Ioniq comes across as insubstantial and unrefined.

　　We prefer the Insight overall, but the Ioniq is worth a look if getting a lot of features for your money is a priority.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Ioniq Hybrid drive? Hyundai's Ioniq Hybrid is adequate across the board. Acceleration is slightly slower than average for this class. In our testing, the Ioniq Hybrid accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds, which is below average. The Ioniq feels lethargic even with your foot on the floor.

　　Emergency braking performance is similarly subpar. However, the brakes work smoothly in everyday situations, and the handling and steering contribute to a somewhat lively feel when going around turns. In general, you'll have no issues with daily commuting, running errands, or taking an occasional cruise.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Ioniq Hybrid? The Ioniq Hybrid is average in terms of overall comfort. The front seats provide decent cushioning and upper body support, but some drivers will wish for more lumbar support and more thigh support. The rear seats aren't particularly comfortable because of their upright backrests and firm padding.

　　We do like the Ioniq's ride quality, which is pleasantly smooth over most surfaces. The cabin remains quiet even at highway speeds. Unfortunately, that means you'll hear the engine working pretty hard when climbing grades. The simple single-zone climate control system works effectively.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Ioniq Hybrid's interior is functional, and passenger space is decent given its compact size. The driver's seat has enough adjustability to allow most drivers to find a comfortable driving position. Taller rear passengers will find the quarters a bit tight and will have to duck their heads to get in because of the Ioniq's sloping rear roofline.

　　Most controls are clearly labeled and arranged logically. But many of them are touch-sensitive buttons, which can be trickier to press than traditional buttons because it's harder to know whether your button press actually worked. Visibility is hampered somewhat by the car's front and rear pillars, but the available blind-spot monitoring system helps with the over-the-shoulder issues when switching lanes.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Ioniq Hybrid's technology features are straightforward to use. The available 10.25-inch touchscreen has bright and crisp-looking graphics but is a little slow in responding to your touch. Bluetooth pairing is quick, and smartphones can be connected with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The voice controls work well but are basic in what they can adjust.

　　The premium sound system in the Limited trim produces good clarity, and the navigation system is reminiscent of today's smartphones in look and feel. We like that a number of advanced safety and driver aids come standard. Only the lane-keeping system was a little overly sensitive in our testing.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Hatchbacks offer more utility than comparably sized sedans, so the Ioniq Hybrid naturally holds an advantage in this area. There's 26.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which is a lot more than you can fit in the Honda Insight's trunk. The Toyota Prius, at 27.4 cubic feet, has slightly more cargo space.

　　The Ioniq Hybrid also offers plenty of storage space for small items. The door pockets are somewhat narrow, but combine them with the deep center bin and center console nooks and you've got a good amount of space for your stuff. Our Limited test car had the wireless charging pad in the front cubby, which can hold larger phones. Car seat accommodation is just OK; anchor points are clearly marked but access to them is tight.

　　

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? In its least expensive Blue configuration, the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 59 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles around. The top-of-the-line Limited trim is slightly lower at 55 mpg combined. During zzdcar' testing, we were able to get an excellent combined average of 56 mpg. The on-board mpg meter was pretty close and indicated 55.3 mpg.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the Ioniq Hybrid a good value? The Ioniq Hybrid offers solid value in this hybrid market. It may not be the cheapest model out there, but you get a lot for your money. And despite some cheap-looking interior surface plastics, the Ioniq Hybrid feels fundamentally well built.

　　Hyundai's warranty is best in class. It includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. The hybrid battery carries a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, and complimentary maintenance is provided for three years/36,000 miles. Roadside assistance is provided for five years with no mileage limit.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The Ioniq Hybrid doesn't have blazing speed, brisk off-the-line acceleration or even edgy styling. But it is easy to drive and friendly to operate, and the mildly refreshed design is enough to attract a second look. On top of that, you get all the value that Hyundai typically brings to the table with more standard features than before.

　　

Which Ioniq Hybrid does zzdcar recommend?

It's not the most affordable or efficient model in the Ioniq's lineup, but we recommend spending a little more and stepping up to the midtier SEL model. It comes with more standard features that you'll appreciate having, such a traffic-adaptive cruise control system that's useful for reducing fatigue in heavy traffic.

　　

2020 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid models

The 2020 Hyundai Ioniq is available in four trim levels: Blue, SE, SEL and Limited. All Ioniqs are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a hybrid system. Total output is 139 horsepower.

　　Blue

　　Standard features highlights include:

　　Keyless entry with push-button start 8-inch infotainment screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Power-adjustable driver's seatThe Blue also comes with a suite of driver safety aids, including:

　　Lane keeping assist Automatic high-beam headlights Forward collision warning with automatic emergency brakingSE

　　Adds a few more features such as:

　　Leather-wrapped steering wheel Heated front seats Blind-spot monitoring systemSEL

　　Adds more technology and premium features, including:

　　LED headlights Traffic-adaptive cruise control Wireless charging pad Sunroof An improved forward collision avoidance systemLimited

　　The top-tier Ioniq trim comes with:

　　Leather seating Parking sensors 10.25-inch infotainment screen with navigation Premium Harman Kardon audio system

　　

2020 Ioniq Hybrid Highlights

Trim: BlueSESELLimitedBlue

　　

Base MSRP	$23,200
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