2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid Review

　　

2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　The 2021 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid is part of the Ioniq lineup that also includes the Ioniq Hybrid and Ioniq Electric. It's an affordable option if you aren't ready for an all-electric vehicle but want something that is efficient and offers an all-electric driving range. Its hatchback body style offers more cargo space than a sedan, and owners are eligible for a federal tax incentive because it's a plug-in hybrid.

　　When fully charged, the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid can drive up to 29 miles on all-electric power. After that, it operates like a regular hybrid and achieves 52 mpg in combined driving. For 2022, Hyundai updated the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, but only with the standard 8-inch touchscreen. The larger touchscreen in the Limited trim continues with wired connectivity.

　　Besides being affordable and efficient, the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid is packed with lots of tech and advanced driver aids and comes with a long warranty. It's not without drawbacks, though. As with most hybrids, its acceleration is slow. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid's ride quality could also be better, and plenty of road noise manages to make its way into the cabin. But it's still a compelling choice for a plug-in hybrid. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid's closest rivals are the Toyota Prius Prime plug-in and Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

　　

Which Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid does zzdcar recommend?

The base SE trim comes standard with lots of features, but we recommend the SEL trim for the added driver aids, power driver's seat, wireless smartphone charger and larger instrument panel display.

　　

2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid models

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid hatchback is available in three trim levels: SE, SEL and Limited. It shares its hybrid powertrain and six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with the regular Ioniq Hybrid, but the Plug-In Hybrid comes with a larger 8.9-kWh battery, which allows it to drive an EPA-estimated 29 miles on all-electric power. The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor to produce a total of 139 horsepower. Charging a depleted battery takes about two hours using a Level 2 (240-volt) charger and over six hours using a Level 1 (120-volt) charger.

　　SE

　　Standard features on the base SE model include:

　　16-inch wheels Heated mirrors Keyless entry and ignition Leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters Heated front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control 8-inch touchscreen Six-speaker audio system Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration High beam assist Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)The Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid SE also includes several advanced driving aids, such as:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid and the car in front)SEL

　　Stepping up to the SEL adds:

　　LED headlights 7-inch digital instrument panel display Auto-dimming rearview mirror 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat Wireless smartphone charging Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your path while you're in reverse)Limited

　　The top Limited includes everything above, plus:

　　Sunroof Power-folding mirrors Driver's seat memory settings Rear air vents Leather upholstery 10.25-inch touchscreen Navigation system Eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Cargo cover Ambient interior lighting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (not wireless for Limited trim) Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking) An advanced driver aid system that combines adaptive cruise control and lane keeping for highway driving The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid does not offer any optional packages or stand-alone options on any trim level.

　　

2021 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid Highlights

Trim: SESELLimitedSE

　　

Base MSRP	$26,700
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,400
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	29 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	119 MPGeMPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe.
Cost to Drive	$66/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	2.3 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles