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

2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners
Land Rover Defender MY26 updates - front

2026 Land Rover Defender updates look subtle, but they fix one huge annoyance for owners

Land Rover has introduced new, larger white-painted steel wheels for models with big brakes, fixing one massive irritation with the previous generatio…
News
30 May 2025
Electric car drivers won’t ever go back to petrol or diesel
Opinion - VW ID.7 GTX

Electric car drivers won’t ever go back to petrol or diesel

Editor Paul Barker thinks the EV transition is coming whether we like it or not
Opinion
28 May 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Hit the road in style with the electric BMW i4 for only £344 a month
BMW i4 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Hit the road in style with the electric BMW i4 for only £344 a month

It may be a little overlooked these days, but the i4 is still a fine electric saloon. It’s our Deal of the Day for 30 May
News
30 May 2025