THE Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid (1.6 litres) became available late-2016, and I had the pleasure of driving the higher hybrid electric version (HEV) spec model for a few days last week. For a petrol head like me, testing a hybrid car was initially a boring preposition but hey, how wrong could I be? 

Looks

For starters, this car looks more “normal” than the typical hybrid cars that we are accustomed to. Although the aerodynamic stance is clearly evident, it seems to be crafted to blend in with the rest and does away with the sort of quirkiness like a Toyota Prius. The design is not subtle and it sure has the good looks just like the K-pop stars. The design is clean, handsome and certainly pleasing to the eye. The stance is low and sporty with 17-inch alloy wheels with low profile 225/45 Michelin rubbers. The concept is also replicated in the interiors where the dashboard, dials and controls are kept simple, and you would not need to digest the full manual to find your way through it. I like the philosophy of keeping things simple: Take away the fancy stuff that a typical driver will not need and keep those that are essential. The Ioniq does this very well and it is in no way a boring car inside. I am very happy to stay in the comfortable cockpit for long hours. The rear seats are spacious and cargo space can be maximised by folding the rear seats. 

Tech talk

Let us do a bit of geek talk on the technology powering this car. A 1.6 litre Kappa GDI (gasoline direct injection) four-cylinder Atkinson cycle direct injection engine with a horsepower rating of 105PS at 5,700 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 147 newton metre (Nm) of torque at 4,000rpm. This engine is paired with a six-speed dry dual-clutch automatic transmission and a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor which is capable of producing 44PS (32kW) and 170Nm of torque. The motor is powered by a 1.56kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack concealed under the rear seats. What does it all means? In succinct terms, it is a petrol engine that has an electric motor that switches back and forth depending on the driving conditions to help save fuel. 

The claimed performance figures are a 0-100km sprint in 11.1 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 195kmh. The HEV Plus model I had is equipped with seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, brake assist, adaptive cruise control, hill-start assist and vehicle stability management, blind spot detection, autonomous emergency braking system and lane keep assist. The Ioniq has also earned a European New Car Assessment Programme five-star safety rating. 

Driving experience

I took the car to Temerloh, Pahang for a day trip and the Karak highway was the perfect test place for this car. I started off on the eco mode and the car seemed somewhat reticent and cautious to pull forward due to the fuel-saving agenda of the eco mode. A quick tug of the gear to sports mode saw the car delivering an almost virtuoso performance on the highway. It tackled the winding stretches in a cool, calm and collected manner. The car felt stable and perfectly at home, with enough power to exit the corners smoothly. The steering was sharp and efficient, though somewhat emotionless. There was good chassis balance and the suspension was set up nicely. On long straights, the car was happily cruised at high speeds with low noise, vibration and harshness levels. It honestly felt like a continental car at this speed. I had good fun fiddling with the adaptive cruise control that slowed down automatically to maintain a safe distance when it detected a vehicle in front of you and started going back to the pre-set speed once the front was cleared. 

Back to Kuala Lumpur and in shuttling between office and my home in the infamous city peak hour traffic snarls, driving the Hyundai Ioniq proved to be something of a welcome respite from the endless start-stop traffic. The pleasure of driving it on the highway articulates nicely back onto congested city roads, with the triple helix of the Kappa engine, electric motor and gearbox working seamlessly in eco mode to ensure the fuel saving and driving experience is maintained, while the suspension does its usual brilliant job of ensuring a comfortable ride in a quiet cabin.

Verdict

This is a hybrid car from Hyundai that was primarily designed to make you go further with lesser fuel stops. It is neither a torque monster nor a super turbo hero, but given my experience on the Karak highway and the few days I had with this car, the all-around drivability, comfort and cabin refinement is certainly very impressive. I clocked 19.6km/litres for my 500km of mixed driving patterns, including some rather hard prodding of the gas pedal on the highway. Using this figure, it meant that the 45-litre fuel tank will give me a whopping mileage of 882km per full tank. Another commendable point for this car is that after a while of driving, it makes you forget that you are actually driving a hybrid. The entire engine, electric motor and gearbox harmonisation is at such a good level that the only time you realise it is a hybrid is when you start the car in the morning or during an extremely hot day when you are stuck in a traffic jam that the engine fires up to ensure the air conditioning is keeping you cool. This is one hybrid car that delivers impressive fuel efficiency, while at the same time ensuring a top-notch driving experience. The Ioniq has shown that it is no longer quixotic to have a hybrid car that is a pleasure to drive. 

The basic variant costs about RM100,000 and the HEV plus variant with all the bells and whistles costs about RM110,000. The Hyundai Ioniq also comes with a 60,000km free service package, five-year or 300,000km warranty with a Safe Drive 24/7 roadside assist. The traction battery has an eight-year, unlimited mileage warranty and after this period, there is a guarantee that the cost of the battery replacement will not exceed RM10,000. At this price point, with all its frills and very little spills, this car is indeed pointing Hyundai in all the right directions.

Hmmm, perhaps it is time for me to change my car to a Hyundai Ioniq? 

Richard Teng ([email protected]) is a reformed boy racer who grew up down south. He now believes power is nothing without control. During his younger days, he spent a few years studying and repairing 4x4s and off-road motorcycles, and was an avid fan of heavily souped-up racing cars.