Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

The cabin gets a makeover in the facelifted Ioniq. It gets a new touch interface for the climate control system. The redesigned interior now features a large 8-inch touchscreen display sitting atop the dashboard. The infotainment system now allows for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for your smartphones. Advanced driving aids such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and collision avoidance system come standard on the Ioniq Hybrid. The Ioniq isn’t a massive car, so things are a bit narrow at the backseat; though leg and headroom are adequate, and you get rear air-con vents. The boot floor’s a bit high, but at least you can fold the back seats for more cargo space.

There are some notable differences in this facelifted model. Externally, there are new LED lights at the front and rear, and a different grille, a mesh grille, that now incorporates two flaps which open up while on the move to allow ventilation for the electric drivetrain system. At the rear, there are new taillights, and energy-saving LED combination lamps. The refined, streamlined profile gets a sporty boost with the available 17-inch alloy wheels. There’s a sunroof variant too - at S$ 7,000 premium. One can choose from six different paint schemes - Fluid Metal, Phantom Black, Fiery Red, Typhoon Silver, Polar White, and Iron Gray.

In the new facelift model, there’s a new paddle shifter system, and instead of letting you call up manual gear changes with the six-speed, twin-clutch transmission, it influences how much regenerative braking you get from the car. Many electric cars have a one-pedal driving mode, which lets you slow down the car by lifting off the accelerator instead of stepping on the brake. It’s meant to encourage anticipation and smoother driving with lots of energy recovery. The MacPherson Strut Type performs suspension duties at the front and a Multi-Link at the rear. 

Powering the Ioniq Hybrid is the 1580 cc, 4-cylinders, 1.6-litres, DOHC, petrol engine that churns 96.7 kW or 130 bhp max power and 265 Nm of max torque at 1500 rpm. Power is transmitted to the wheels through a 6-speed DCT transmission. The engine is assisted by a 43.5 hp electric motor, powered by a 1.56 kWh lithium-ion battery. Charging time of the battery is quoted at around 6 hours, from a standard home wall box, but the Ioniq does support fast charging. The new paddle shifter system influences how much regenerative braking you get from the car. Many electric cars have a one-pedal driving mode, which lets you slow down the car by lifting off the accelerator instead of stepping on the brake. Hyundai claims it consumes 3.8 liters of fuel per 100 kms, which is an exceptional mileage.

The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid comes equipped with a ventilated disc brake at the front and a regular disc brake at the rear, which are decent enough to jam the Hybrid (in addition to the de-acceleration provided by lifting off the accelerator). Safety features include passenger airbag, child safety locks, driver airbag, ABS, vehicle stability control system, rear seat belts, seat belt warning, height-adjustable front seat belts, parking sensors, crash sensors, front impact beams, side-impact beams and door ajar warning.

The Ioniq Hybrid is the car that we all would be driving in the future. The drive is pretty much similar to the fuel-powered cars, it looks good, comes well equipped with features, and returns excellent mileage. If you are ready for eco-friendly rides, the Ionic is the go-to car.