Hyundai IONIQ electric

Last January, Hyundai introduced the IONIQ hybrid hatchback which is known to be South Korea's equivalent to the Toyota Prius and this car promises to be more fun to drive than the commoner's Prius but some had concerns that its double clutch gearbox may repeat the same problem as today's Honda Fit Hybrid, which as a matter of fact, it did.

2017 Hyundai IONIQ electric

2017 Hyundai IONIQ electric interior

For those who are planning to own a new IONIQ but afraid that the double clutch setup on the hybrid variant may upset your driving pleasure, fear not because Hyundai is now offering an electric version of the IONIQ eco hatchback aside and this will be the second addition to the IONIQ as the third variant, the Plug-In Hybrid version, is slated to arrive later this year.

Just like the hybrid version, the electric IONIQ is benefitted to its aerodynamics that delivers a class-leading Cd value of 0.24. To make sure they don't confuse it to the hybrid IONIQ, the electric can be distinguished by the copper colored accents. Why copper? Good question because copper is an element that as the property to conduct electricity. That's some science for you. Also, it even comes with a different interior layout featuring the shift-by-wire system that allows the driver to switch different drive modes at the palm rest.

But unlike the hybrid, the IONIQ electric features a 28kWh li-ion polymer battery and an 88kW drive motor that delivers up to 180km of mileage in one full charge but it varies depending on the certification results in-house test standards per city. It even comes with an inverter that utilizes the advanced indoor heating and uses high-efficiency heating and cooling system to reduce the power consumption, allowing for better driving distance possible.

With the sat-nav set, it is possible to locate the nearest charging stations if the car is running low on power by setting it to ECO route guidance. It calculates real-time traffic, speed, power consumption and so on. Aside from that, they can even change the power settings with the use of the smartphone.

The IONIQ electric also comes with an array of safety features such as autonomous braking assist, Advanced Smart Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Assist System, just to balance things out.

The electric model is priced at 40 to 43 million won after tax benefit but the availability for the IONIQ electric varies by area. Some are in a "first come, first serve" basis while other areas can determine purchasers via lottery system. You can't just barge in and have one of these. You are going to wait in line like the rest of the Koreans trying to book one, which is kinda lame and boring for a different type of ownership.

Available colors: Polar White, Platinum Silver, Aurora Silver, Phantom Black, Marina Blue, Phoeix Orange, and Blazing Yellow,

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company