44: Hyundai Ioniq – impressive electric future for Korean brand

You might assume that a car entering the market offering both hybrid and fully electric versions would see the simpler, more understandable hybrid sell better. Well, you'd be wrong, as the Hyundai Ioniq proves.

The all-battery, all-electric model (with its claimed range of 280km on a single charge, and 190-210km of that is realistic for most of us) is proving more popular than its conventional brother.

Hyundai has also just launched the plugin hybrid version, which goes for a claimed 50km on a full charge, and uses the petrol engine as a backup for longer hauls. Hyundai boldly claims that it renders conventional hybrids ‘yesterday’s technology.’

The Ioniq itself is a compact hatchback, with a decently roomy, comfortable, and well-made cabin. If it wasn’t electric or hybrid, we’d call it dull and distant to drive, but as a confidence-building electric car (Dublin-Belfast one one charge is do-able, for instance) it’s impressive, and impressive value for money too.