2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Review

　　

2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Review

byRyan ZumMallenContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　Hyundai offers three versions of the 2021 Ioniq. There's the Ioniq Electric that's a pure electric vehicle, the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid that uses a gas engine when it's needed, and the Ioniq Hybrid — no outlet required. The Hybrid admirably serves its mission of being the baseline and most affordable Ioniq. The EPA estimates it will get up to 59 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is excellent for a hybrid. It also boasts a roomy cargo area and a pleasing number of standard features.

　　The most obvious comparison facing the Ioniq Hybrid is the Toyota Prius. Both use a hatchback design to maximize both aerodynamics and utility. But there are plenty of other small hybrid options at your disposal too, including the Honda Insight, Kia Niro and Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Among this group, the Ioniq Hybrid holds its own and is worth checking out if you're shopping for a fuel-sipping hybrid. Read our Expert Rating below to get our full evaluation of its performance, comfort and more.

　　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 onboard 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?

For a strong set of standard features at the right price, the midlevel SEL trim is our pick. There are exterior enhancements to set it apart from lower-tier models, and interior upgrades to make a rather sparse cabin more comfortable. The advanced driver aids also take a step forward, making this hybrid more pleasant on long trips or in stop-and-go traffic.

　　

2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid models

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is a four-door hatchback with a hybrid powertrain, available in four trim levels: Blue, SE, SEL and Limited. All models are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a gasoline-electric hybrid system and a six-speed automatic transmission. Combined output is 139 horsepower. Standout features include:

　　Blue

　　Starts you out with:

　　15-inch wheels Keyless entry with push-button start 8-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity) Six-way adjustable front seatsStandard driver aids on all Ioniq Hybrids include the following:

　　Lane keeping assist (steers the Ioniq Hybrid back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) Automatic high-beam headlights (automatically operates the high beams depending on whether approaching vehicles are detected) Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)SE

　　Extra niceties are added to the Ioniq Hybrid in this trim, such as:

　　LED daytime running lights Heated exterior mirrors Upgraded driver information display Paddle shifters with regenerative braking controls Leather-wrapped steering wheel Heated front seats Power-adjustable driver's seat Additional USB port in center console Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic collision warning (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)SEL

　　With this trim level you get an upgraded exterior look plus helpful technology:

　　LED headlights 17-inch alloy wheels LED cabin lights Wireless smartphone charging pad Sunroof Upgraded forward collision avoidance system Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ioniq Hybrid and the car in front)Limited

　　The top-line Ioniq Hybrid adds upscale touches to the hatchback:

　　Power-folding exterior mirrors 10.25-inch touchscreen (deletes the wireless functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) Harman Kardon premium audio system Integrated navigation system Leather seats Cargo cover Front and rear parking sensors Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist (combines adaptive cruise control with steering assist to help keep the Ioniq Hybrid in its lane)

　　

2021 Ioniq Hybrid Highlights

Trim: BlueSESELLimitedBlue

　　

Base MSRP	$23,400
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