Skip advert
Advertisement
Best cars & vans

Hyundai Ioniq - best low emissions green cars

Whether you want an EV, plug-in or hybrid, the Hyundai Ioniq has all bases covered

Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in long term - first report front action

While some car makers have put all their eggs in one basket by choosing either hybrid, plug-in or EV options for their low-emissions models, Hyundai has gone for a three-pronged approach with the Ioniq. It's available as a petrol-electric hybrid, a plug-in with extra range or a pure EV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With this three-pronged approach, the Ioniq takes on Japan's two green pioneers, the Toyota Prius and the Nissan Leaf.

The hybrid versions feature a 1.6-litre petrol engine with electric motor and battery pack, while the plug-in version can travel a claimed 30 miles on electric power alone. These figures aren't quite as good as the Prius, but when you consider the longer development period the Japanese car has had, it makes the Ioniq's figures all the more impressive.

The EV version is bigger than the Nissan, so there's more space inside, while the big battery gives the Ioniq EV a claimed range of over 170 miles, which isn't quite on a par with the Leaf, but still reasonable. Power comes from a 118bhp electric motor, making it the least powerful of the three Ioniqs, but with instant torque from a standstill, it's the fastest to accelerate, although a 0-62mph time just under 10 seconds is hardly Tesla-esque.

Where the Ioniq excels is with its comfort. It's quiet and refined, whichever version you choose, and is a perfect cruiser around town with plenty of standard kit on board.

Best green cars 2019

  1. 1. BMW i3
  2. 2. Toyota Prius
  3. 3. Jaguar I-Pace
  4. 4. VW Passat GTE
  5. 5. Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi ecoFLEX
  6. 6. Nissan Leaf
  7. 7. Volvo XC60 T8
  8. 8. Tesla Model S
  9. 9. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
  10. 10. Hyundai Ioniq
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best used hybrid cars to buy now
Best used hybrid cars - header image

Best used hybrid cars to buy now

Want to embrace electrified driving but need the reassurance of an internal combustion engine? Try one of our favourite used hybrid cars
Best cars & vans
13 Mar 2025
Best used electric cars to buy now
Best used electric cars - header image

Best used electric cars to buy now

Looking to join the electric car revolution but have a smaller budget? Here are the best used electric cars to buy
Best cars & vans
13 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring
Baby Nissan Juke exclusive image - rear

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring

Nissan to fast-track development of new battery-powered city car to take on forthcoming Volkswagen ID.1, and our exclusive images preview how it could…
News
18 Apr 2025
Best SUVs to buy 2025
Best SUVs - header image

Best SUVs to buy 2025

There are plenty of great SUVs to choose from, so we’ve picked out the very best
Best cars & vans
17 Apr 2025
You can run an electric car with nowhere at home to charge it, honest
Opinion - ease of EV ownership

You can run an electric car with nowhere at home to charge it, honest

Chris Rosamond explains why ultra-fast charging could convince you to make the switch to driving an EV
Opinion
17 Apr 2025