New for 2020, the fully-electric 38kWh Hyundai IONIQ improves on the previous generation in almost every way. From the enhanced battery pack to a more powerful motor, you can discover much more about this popular electric vehicle (EV) in our Hyundai IONIQ review.
Hyundai IONIQ interior and practicality
As a good-sized hatchback, the IONIQ has inherent practicality which is shown by its large 443-litre boot. Well-thought-out features inside the pleasantly comfortable cabin include a wireless charging pod for your smartphone, as well as two further USB ports under the touchscreen and inside the centre console storage compartment. Cupholders, good-sized door bins and a large glovebox all add to the practicality of this car, while there’s plenty of space in the rear with headroom suitable for people up to six feet tall.
The Hyundai IONIQ interior is smart and feels nicely refined when you’re driving around at lower speeds, while the futuristic, button-operated Vehicle Engine Sound Synthesiser is a great feature for warning pedestrians and cyclists you’re approaching. The 10.25-inch touchscreen display is another great feature inside the cabin, and home to your sat nav and media functions. The instrument dials are digital, while there’s mood lighting to indicate which driving mode you’re in, with the option to switch between normal, eco and sport.
Cost to charge Hyundai IONIQ
Asking yourself how much to charge Hyundai IONIQ Electric battery packs from empty to full? The answer is a meagre £5.32 if you’re charging at home on an average electricity tariff (14p / kWh). However you could cut this cost even further with an EV friendly tariff offering off peak electricity at reduced rates for overnight charging, these tariffs start at as little as 5p / kWh. Together with that impressive range of around 165 miles in everyday driving conditions, the IONIQ’s cost per mile is just 3.2p. If you’re wondering how long does it take to charge Hyundai IONIQ batteries, the South Korean manufacturer states you can reach 100% charge in six hours five minutes from an empty power pack using a 7kW home charger.
| Battery size | Cost of full charge | Full charge time | ‘Real world’ range | Cost per mile | |
| Hyundai IONIQ | 38kWh | £5.32 | 6 hours 5 mins | 165 miles | 3.2p |
*based on an energy cost of 14p per kW
Once you have your battery fully charged, you’ll probably want to keep hold of as much juice as possible for as long as you can. Features like the driver-only mode help with this, which is a setting for when you’re driving alone in your IONIQ. This only heats or cools the driver to save electricity, while the aero ports on the front grille open and close in order to cool the battery as required. This means the battery can operate at peak temperatures to enhance the economy of your driving even further.
Hyundai IONIQ public charging
Away from home, Hyundai IONIQ charging is a little quirky, as the car intuitively changes its charging speed depending on how much power is in the battery. When the battery level is low, the car charges as close to the 50kW capacity as possible, with the IONIQ automatically decreasing the speed as the level increases. This helps to protect the power cell and prolong Hyundai IONIQ battery life. Using a 50kW rapid charger, you can charge up to 80% in around 57 minutes. It takes around another half an hour to reach 100% charge, with the final 20% of charging carried out at 14kW.
At present, Polar is the UK’s largest public charging network. It has more than 7,000 charge points up and down the country and offers a membership scheme costing £7.85 per month. This gives you cheaper charging prices, although it’s still possible to use their points on a pay-as-you-go basis. We’ve provided the current cost of charging with Polar below. Note that the time it takes to charge the IONIQ is the same whether you use a 50kW or 150kW charger, as the car’s maximum charging speed is 50kW.
| 50kW cost of full charge | 50kW full charge time | 50kW cost per mile | 150kw cost of full charge | 150kW full charge time | 150kW cost per mile | |
| Polar member | £5.70 | 90 mins | 3.5p | £7.60 | 90 mins | 4.6p |
| Polar non-member | £9.50 | 90 mins | 5.8p | £13.30 | 90 mins | 8.1p |
*Polar member = 15p per kW for 50kW charger and 20p per kW for 150kW charger. Polar non-member = 25p per kW for 50kW charger and 35p per kW for 150kW charger.
How does the Hyundai IONIQ compare?
The IONIQ has a range of competitors which include the similarly priced options such as the Peugeot e-2008 and Nissan Leaf. The Nissan Leaf is a hatchback option that people considering the IONIQ often look at, while the Kona is another offering from Hyundai which may also be worth exploring. It’s a different shape and slightly smaller, but you get a bigger range for the extra money. The 64kWh Kia e-Niro falls into the same category as the Kona and is another great EV.
| Vehicle | Battery size | Cost of full charge | WLTP range | ‘Real world’ range | Cost per 100 ‘real world’ miles |
| Hyundai IONIQ | 38kWh | £5.32 | 193 miles | 165 miles | £3.22 |
| Hyundai Kona | 64kWh | £8.96 | 279 miles | 251 miles | £3.57 |
| Kia e-Niro | 64kWh | £8.96 | 283 miles | 235 miles | £3.81 |
| Nissan Leaf | 40kWh | £5.60 | 168 miles | 150 miles | £3.73 |
| Peugeot e-2008 | 50kWh | £7 | 193 miles | 170 miles | £4.11 |
| Volkswagen ID.3 | 62kWh | £8.68 | 261 miles | 235 miles | £3.69 |
* figures based on an electricity cost of 14p per kW
As you can see, the IONIQ Electric is the cheapest car to run from this selection of electric cars, in terms of the electricity cost per mile. Together with improved exterior styling and a raft of safety features such as Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Autonomous Emergency Braking and Smart Cruise Control, there are plenty of reasons why this is a great car to run on a daily basis. Head to the Hyundai IONIQ Electric page and customise your quote now, we can help you work out your best options for taking out a Hyundai IONIQ lease today.
