I have the Ioniq hybrid and since I got it in April I have been totally delighted with the performance and efficiency. It's exciting to drive, especially in sport mode. It gets to 180km/hr in no time at all. Around town it barely uses any fuel and can coast along on electric only power with the delicate foot for quite some time. Great buy, great value, stylish looks. Great job Hyundai.

Another great review. I look forward to all your reviews because you are unbiased and give it straight. Plus your rear facing car seat test is the greatest. Keep up the great reviews!

Thank you kindly for including family-oriented aspects to your reviews! Considering how readily spills might be cleaned, and how well rear-facing child safety seats fit, are important details for a family with children. We have two kids, one of whom will be rear-facing for quite a while longer. Someday we'll need to replace our 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid but thus far it's been difficult to find a clear winner for a potential replacement. The Escape Hybrid has been great at meeting our 2-child-family vehicle needs: It fits the child seats (even rear-facing) decently, the height is great for putting the infant car seat straight in without stooping over, and we like the high seating position for overall good visibility. The Escape length is quite short so it's easy to park or maneuver in tight situations. It's also nice to have AWD and lots of ground clearance for snowy weather or camping or such. Fuel economy has averaged 29.1mpg (8.08 L/100km) since we bought it used 3.5 years ago. However it's older so the safety tech is severely lacking compared to more modern vehicles, and though we love the short length there are times that we would like additional passenger or cargo capacity. Sorry for the lengthy comment; I digress. :-)

Recent Certified Pre-Owned Ioniq owner. Appreciate your insights as a counter to my experience. Specifically, I've put the warranty to the test. The car has been in serve no less than four times in as many months. That itself is bad. On the positive, I've paid nothing for the repairs and the dealership I use has provided a loaner. For those interested, the work has been chasing gremlins whose symptom is the sudden display of multiple warning lights. Emissions system changed out, hybrid control module changed out and a couple of other fixes. Hoping this is the last of it. I do enjoy the car and please with the in city gas mileage (just over 50 mpg). The highway mileage is abysmal compared to EPA estimate of 54 mpg. I see 43. That puts the combined around the numbers you found. And I agree with your assessment that it is meant for and best used as a city vehicle. Again, I appreciate your insights and largely agree. A counter point to the bar across the rear windshield. I believe it is a function of the shape to get the best fuel economy and it can get in the way. But the lower glass also allows for an almost bumper view, lower than what you get with most vehicles. I've come to appreciate it. Please continue your good work.

Nice review. Thanks from Berlin!

Excellent review Paul - you touched on all the things that are important for most buyers of this car.

Great Video... Thank you for posting...

Love my 2020 ioniq!!

There's another plus for the Ioniq over the Prius that gets no mention, but should: Following suit with many other manufacturers, Toyota has been removing spare tires from its cars, and took away the ability to get heated seats AND a spare tire in the same trim level, but you can (still) get both in an Ioniq. So if you live in a climate where heated seats are a must and, like me, having an actual spare tire is important to you, that's something to consider.

Thanks Paul. Excellent review about this new hybrid. It's time to quit my old hybrid Honda Insight 1999, with 350k km, always with the same old battery. All my kilometers, for about 95%, were on routes and higways. Will you try others hybrids soon, in 2018 ??

Thank you thank you thank you for posting a review showing skis in the trunk of the Ioniq! Also thank you for the close-up of the length of your skis :-) I've been looking for a long time, but no one else seems to talk about getting large objects like skis or bikes into the back of the Ioniq. All the more important since there's apparently zero rated roof load! Damn Hyundai, going out and building a fantastic car and then ruining it with something like that. And don't anyone talk to me about drag: I know! But a car that you can't at least occasionally put roof-racks on is seriously compromised!

Just bought one and love it so far.

Getting this soon!

I am a 2012 prius driver. It’s got everything my family needs. But this hyundai or the Toyota auris/corolla stationwagon will be my next one.

I currently own a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid which i recently replaced the battery in and now am getting ~45mpg. But for my next car I'm looking into a plug-in hybrid, whether it be the Volt, Prius Prime, or Ioniq Plug-in. Two of my very close friends own newer versions of the Hyundai Elantra. That car is a great car, so the Ioniq Plug-in is high on my list. And I love how fully loaded versions of the Ioniq (Limited and Ultimate package equipped) come with a sunroof, ventilated seats, heated rear seats, adaptive cruise control. Many features that the rivals don't even offer.So I am definitely going to look into the plug-in version in the coming years.

you forgot to mentipn the lifetime battery warranty. unlimited years and miles as long as you are the original owner.

Is this the demitasse brown colour? Just ordered it in grey but this looks beautiful so may be changing my mind! Great review!

Excellent review! I'm sold to this new Hyundai Ioniq. It looks miles better than Toyota Prius. Well done Hyundai!

Great review! Makes me wonder if Toyota will refresh the Prius in light of the Ioniq and Kia Niro's appearance.

I want the EV version to replace our LEAF. I hear the lease options gave no mileage cap.

Thinking about getting it

I had always hoped to get a Veloster, but this car sort of resembles the Veloster while being nearly double as efficient as it. I think I may just get this car

Awesome video. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Kia Niro :)

Can you put a roof rack on 2017 Hyundai Ionic?

Waiting for the 2020 Hyundai ioniq.

Thanks for the warning about rear facing seats. That looked tight.

My Brother bought a Ionic phev in Feburary, 47km on the battery has turned into 60 km as the spring has sprung. Without any special driving or babying. His current tank 1950km with nightly charging.

The reason for the split rear window is it would be nearly impossible to make a solid glass rear hatch with a 90 degree bend in them. Well, you could, but it would weigh far too much; it would cost a fortune to replace if it broke- which it would due to the stress and probably wouldn't meet safety regulations. The complaints about those clearstory windows- which date back all the way to the Lamborghini Espada of the 1960s and became more common in the 80s with the Honda CR-X show a lack of understanding. Companies added glass panel to give better rear visibility, it was never meant to be perfect. They could simply remove the glass panel and you'd have far less visibility and be more like what we had in lift backs of the past. Wash it well and put a layer Rain-X on it and it will stay clear. While I like what Hyundai has come up with as a Prius competitor, I think the Kia Niro implementation will be more popular. However, I will wait until the next model year before considering a purchase to see how those DCTs work. DCTs have significantly less parasitic loss than a standard Automatic+Torque Converter, but reliability has been horrid no matter what the brand. I think the Traction Motor will help, but only time will tell. The reduction gear (not CVT) used in the Prius and Chevy Volt is the most efficient followed by the CVT then the DCT. CVTs do not "suck power". A properly tuned CVT could have a car operating at peak power at all times with much less friction loss than any other transmission. [Which is why Formula One outlawed them in 1993 before they ever completed a single race lap.] What you are really describing is the programming automobile manufacturers have chosen for production CVTs and another one of their benefits, the ability to keep the motor in its most efficient power band. I blame Subaru and Nissan for most people's dread of CVTs because both companies were rather lazy in refining the management so both CVTs have that rubber band feeling. Honda has one of the better implementations balancing performance with efficiency.

This video really charged me up!

Hi :) I'm driving the hybrid for several weeks now (Germany) and it's consumption is 4.3 l/100km in city and cross country, 5.2 l/100km on highways at 130km/h.

Great car

I love my CVT requires no maintenance. The money saved more than makes up for any lost in efficiency.

I’d get both the 2019 Prius XLE AWD-e and the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid both card I’d get in White with Tan Leather interior

In really cold climates a Prius MPG can be improved by warming up the engine about 15 to 60 minutes fore driving it with an optional 400 watt Electric Block Heater... it is more common in Alaska and Canada than the 48 states of the USA. For canadians in the north - does Hyundai have a Electric Block Heater option for its Ioniq ? The road noise that you are hearing is probably coming from something vibrating from the back of the hatch back, the tires, or the door vibrating - it suggest the need for additional dampening insulation ( which people who install car stereos know how to do) or changing the tires being used.. . .

iv watched all reviews for this car to get the best picture of the ioniq, and all the negatives combined are nothing to me. i drive a 2001 toyota sequoia. my mpg is 15mpg if i baby it and keep her below 2,000 rpm. the suspension is great offroad to feel all the bumps and drops and on the road i feel everything, and the noise is pretty loud above 60 mph.....i test drove this car and it felt like im sitting in 50k luxury. but thats just me. getting this car next week. cant wait.

Hi Paul, I really enjoy your reviews! I was driving a 2014 Mazda 3 with manual transmission and I loved that car; however, it was totaled after a hail storm. I decided that I was not going to buy another car right away and carpool with my wife instead. She drives a Jeep Cherokee 2015. Now, for my next car I have been considering the the Hyundai Elantra Sport (with the manual transmission of course), but now that I've seen a few videos about the Ioniq Hybrid I am kind of thinking about it. Is there a huge cost savings (fuel, maintenance, etc) from the Ioniq Hybrid vs the Elantra Sport?

So if the rear window is split by that spoiler then does that mean there's no rear defrost or rear wiper?

You guys really should be asking people throughout the video to subscribe and like your video you guys of been at this for five years! Check out the straight pipes they ask for subscriptions and likes in every video and already have half of 1 million subscribers! They also have been doing it half as long. Your an awesome channel tell people about it!!

I have an Ioniq hybrid, I easily get 70mpg (Uk gallon) if I try I can get 85mpg. I think this is to because I have the standard 15” wheels with the aero plastic inserts which are fitted with Michelin Energy tyres as standard. It looks like they make at least 10% difference to the mpg. Did you test the Prius with the smaller wheels on it or the option ones? I have driven BMW’s since 2001 and before picking this car up I was really apprehensive of the drive / handling but to be honest I’m really impressed, I just wish it had a little more go, but it’s ok for 99% of my driving. The only think I don’t like is the handbrake (or should I say footbrake?) an electric one would have been much better (I believe the all electric version has one). I’d say don’t discount this car because of the brand (I almost did) it is really good.

Getting 65 mpg in the summer with mine.

Great review. This one is high on our list this year. We're waiting till the Fall here in the states to get one hopefully on year end clearance. I need to fit an upright bass in the back. Hoping that will fit! Does the front passenger seat fold forward?

Speaking to your comments about CVTs - You may FEEL like you're losing power when driving a vehicle with a CVT - But in fact, you are not - CVTs, while no fun to drive, transfer power far more efficiently than traditional geared transmissions - That is why they are appearing on vehicles in recent years - There are various CVTs in production that use less fuel and are FASTER to a quarter mile than their counterparts.

I just have a hard time with the road noise on the Ioniq. The Niro barely has any. However, the ioniq looks better. The Niro has a nicer smoother drive. The touring version looks great but lacks the fuel efficiency. One can’t win.

When will you test drive the Kia Niro? Thanks Roy

You forgot one thing. Lifetime Lithium-ion battery replacement warranty also comes with it

I test driving one tomorrow , can't see fitting a family into that car. Winks Lisa

nice....view

We just drove the Ioniq and then the kia niro. Very simular as you would expect. We liked the looks of the Ioniq over the Niro. But one glaring factor removes the Ioniq from our consideration. We live in the south where heat is a major factor, the Ionic has no vents in the center console to direct onto rear seat passengers, the Niro does. Deal breaker for the Ioniq, my son and the sales lady were both sweating and complaining. Huge target miss for Hyundai. Shame really such a simple miss que.

it sure is good looking . so many cars look ridiculous today . this and some GM products look handsome .

I was gonna say I want to buy a fuel efficient and fun car to drive, but a lot of people said it's ugly lol. which one looks better? ioniq or Kia Niro?

can you fit a adult size bike in there?

Family Wheels Hi I don’t know if you ended up buying the Ioniq for your wife, and what drivetrain you chose. Update for you that my last tank in the PHEV was just under 4K km. 2700+ km electric and total was 3818km I spent $114 on gas and electricity to be able to drive for a month and a half. The cost of gas was $42.00 so $68 in electricity.

If you can stand the bar look at the Kia Niro. It's a sister car.

How is this car in terms of going up steep grades? It must hurt in mpg.

any thoughts on 3 kids in the back row? We are currently looking to trade in our gas guzzling minivan for something more fuel efficient with all the kids activities.

My prius can not have a carrevan / RV. Can the ioniq pull a rv?

The new Prius looks more exciting. Can't decide between the two. Will need to test drive them both

It's funny that this car's sister ship , the KIA Niro , does not offer a lifetime warranty on that car's battery. The main reason that car is off my list

I love canadians

I miss the Paul and Roger show

If you're only getting 46MPG you're not driving it properly.

4:20 Highlight: Talks about fuel economy and compare it to that of Prius. 5.1-5.5L(sport mode)/100km vs Prius 4.6L/100km.

For me, when comparing data in this segment, I begin with safety and reliability. Until Hyundai can at least match Toyota in these two areas, I won't bother going to a showroom.

I have owned an Ioniq PHEV for 3 months. I am a commuter and I get 10000Km on 250L of petrol. LOL the company truck burns that in 1 day.

Update on my last comment my brother phoned me today a day after I posted that comment, his total travelled on that tank at fuel up with gas was 2022km, with charging not just nightly but where ever he goes if it is going to take awhile he will try and charge it. Some places are free like his dealership some are flat rate $2.50 like at the go station next to the restaurant we went to last weekend. He filled the car with 40.285 L of gasoline May 7 th about 4 pm. I guess it is really up to how fanatical you want to be to save your money at the pump. The fact that gas gets stale and some believe that in a low tank situation water condenses in the tank you should fill your tank rather than drive until you need to fuel. I drive my Prius until it needs fuel only in the coldest of cold winter weather do I fill it up so as to make sure any water that may come in with the gas pumped doesn’t freeze in the tank. I’m pretty sure water vapour cannot get in a sealed tank or gas cans and other vessels would be useless.

Dat dual clutch transmission tho.... I have serious concerns about reliability. The Prius ecvt has already proven to be bulletproof. Also the new Prius handles really well. I'll stick with the Prius.

kia niro

Too bad the engine is a gdi engine with the carbon problem.

Ugly. just like the defunct Insight and the Prius

This car is just too damn ugly