Used Hyundai IONIQ cars

The Hyundai IONIQ has plenty of curb appeal and offers a comfortable and spacious interior. Engines are economical, coming in hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or electric powertrains. It is also good value for money, offering a generous number of features even on the entry-level trim.

The Hyundai IONIQ competes well, rivalling both hybrid and electric cars, such as the Volkswagen Golf GTE, Volkswagen ID.3, Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf.

Hyundai IONIQ updates and facelifts

Launched in 2016, the Hyundai IONIQ was designed to house a series of batteries. This means that interior and boot space is not compromised too much between different powertrains.

In 2019, the IONIQ received a facelift, with both the interior and exterior receiving some subtle design changes. On the interior, Hyundai added a larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster display to some trim levels. On the exterior, the front grille and bumper received a subtle redesign. Also in 2019, the all-electric 28kWh battery was replaced with a larger 38.3kWh, increasing the car’s range.

Practicality and style of the car

The Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid has a 443-litre boot, which reduces slightly on the fully electric version to 357 litres. On the PHEV version, a 341-litre boot is offered. With the rear seats folded, the hybrid offers 1,505 litres, the electric version offers 1,417 litres and the PHEV at 1,401 litres.

The Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid has a larger boot than most of its rivals, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid with its 360 litres and the Volkswagen ID.3’s 385 litres. The Volkswagen ID.3 also has a smaller boot than the IONIQ Electric when expanded, offering a 1,267-litre boot. Similarly, the Nissan Leaf also has a smaller expanded boot than the IONIQ Electric at 1,176 litres.

With a wide, square opening, heavy loads are easily lifted into the back. When folded down, the seats only have a slight incline, which does not impact on the practicality of the IONIQ’s boot. There is also a retractable load cover that helps to conceal luggage in the boot. Even with the hybrid equipment in the car, the IONIQ Hybrid also comes with a spare wheel.

Running costs

The Hyundai IONIQ falls into insurance groups 10 to 17 and has an annual road tax up to £170. Opt for the all-electric version, and you won’t need to pay road tax. In comparison to rivals, the Hyundai IONIQ is affordable to run, falling into a lower insurance bracket. This compares favourably with the Volkswagen Golf GTE, which falls into group 27, and the Volkswagen ID.3, which falls into groups 18 to 30.

How a used Hyundai IONIQ drives

The IONIQ comes with a hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or an all-electric powertrain.

The hybrid engine consists of a 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine and electric motors that put down a combined 139bhp and 170Nm of torque. This comes mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and achieves 0 to 62mph in 10.8 seconds. The hybrid engine comes with a 1.56kWh battery pack, which is used when the vehicle switches between the battery and engine when travelling.

The plug-in hybrid consists of a 1.6-litre GDi petrol engine and electric motors to put down a combined 139bhp and 265Nm of torque. The plug-in hybrid also comes mated to a dual-clutch automatic and achieves 0 to 62mph in 10.6 seconds. The PHEV uses an 8.9kWh battery, which offers drivers a 39-mile all-electric range.

On all-electric versions, two batteries are available. Firstly, on iterations before 2019, the motor puts down 119bhp and 295Nm of torque and achieves 0 to 62mph in 9.9 seconds. Thanks to its 28kWh battery, the model offers a range of up to 174 miles. When the battery runs flat, it can be quickly charged back up to 80% at a 50kW public charger in 30 minutes.

On iterations after 2019, a 38.3kWh battery was introduced, which offers a range of 194 miles. The motor puts down a combined 134bhp and 295Nm of torque, achieving 0 to 62mph in 10.2 seconds. This battery can charge up to 80% from low battery in 48 minutes at a public 50kW charger.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official MPG figures.

2016 - 2022

Engine	Official WLTP MPG
Hybrid	61.4–62.8 mpg
Plug-In Hybrid	256.8 mpg

Features you can expect in a Hyundai IONIQ

Interior

The Hyundai IONIQ has a classic design furnished with good-quality materials. Blue highlights on the dashboard give it a burst of colour and the clutter-free design of the controls help to keep it intuitive to use.

The centre console boasts an infotainment screen which comes in different sizes depending on the iteration. On models manufactured before 2019, the entry-level SE trim has a 5-inch screen, while higher trim levels have an 8-inch screen. After 2019, the SE got the 8-inch screen, while higher trim levels now come with a 10.25-inch screen. A DAB radio comes as standard and, on the Premium trim level and higher, integrated sat nav.

The infotainment system is controlled via the touchscreen interface or through the series of shortcut buttons located below the screen. The controls for the climate control on the entry-level trim and heated and ventilated seats on higher trims are also located below the infotainment screen. The Premium and Premium SE trims add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, while the entry-level SE trim offers Bluetooth, USB and AUX connectivity.

The Hyundai IONIQ also features a 4.2 inches digital instrument displayon iterations before 2019, and 7 inches in diameter after 2019. This displays digital versions of traditional dials such as speedometer, fuel gauge and rev counter. It also displays other information, such as an energy flow meter to measure the battery level and output.

Passengers will find plenty of legroom and decent headroom. Engine noise is well-hushed, especially when running on electric. Road noise is also kept to a minimum as is wind noise thanks to the aerodynamic shape of the bodywork. The IONIQ’s suspension dampens rough roads, keeping passengers comfortable.

The Hyundai IONIQ’s cabin offers drivers plenty of space to stow away personal items and keep it clutter-free. In the front there is a good-sized glovebox, a small tray at the front of the centre console to store smartphones when driving and a cubby located under the front arm rest. In the rear, storage nets on the back of the front seats provide a good space for entertainment devices to be stored away. Door bins are also a good size for stowing away large water bottles.

Technology

There are a number of driver-assist features on the Hyundai IONIQ. These include adaptive cruise control that maintains a safe distance from the car in front and can even slow down and speed up the IONIQ when in traffic. Lane keep assist helps on motorways, keeping the vehicle in the centre of the lane. Auto headlights and wipers respond to light levels and weather conditions, automatically coming on when needed. An auto-dimming rear-view mirror also helps with anti-dazzle on the roads at night.

Other features include parking sensors and a reversing camera to avoid collisions when parking. The IONIQ can also come with rear cross traffic alert, which warns of oncoming traffic when reversing out of a parking space or driveway. Hill-start assist helps drivers to accomplish hill starts more easily and safely by holding the car in position until the driver accelerates.

Safety

The Hyundai IONIQ scored a full five stars on the Euro NCAP safety tests. It also scored well on occupant protection tests, achieving 91% for adults and 80% for children. The IONIQ offers good protection to passengers in comparison with its rivals, especially with adult protection, scoring more than the Volkswagen GTE’s 88%. The Volkswagen ID.3 also has a lower adult protection of 87%.

Safety features on the Hyundai IONIQ include autonomous emergency braking, a seven-airbag safety system and traction control. Two ISOFIX points are located on the outermost rear seats to secure child seats into the car.

Other features include blind spot monitoring, which uses external sensors to detect and alert the driver of other vehicles or cyclists in the blind spots of the car. Lane departure warning similarly alerts drivers of vehicles adjacent to or behind the vehicle when changing lanes to prevent a collision.

Trims available on the Hyundai IONIQ

Hyundai IONIQ SE

The SE is the entry-level trim. It includes a range of features that make it good value for money. In the interior there is a 5-inch or 8-inch infotainment screen depending on the iteration of the vehicle with Bluetooth, USB and AUX connectivity. The interior also features a DAB radio and dual-zone climate control. On the exterior, the SE has 15-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and automatic headlights. Adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, hill start assist, lane departure warning and lane keep assist are also included.

Hyundai IONIQ Premium

The Premium trim adds some extra features to the IONIQ. It adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity along with an upgraded audio system and a larger 8-inch or 10.25-inch infotainment screen. Interior features also include heated front seats and a wireless smartphone charging pad. On the exterior drivers will find xenon headlights and power folding door mirrors.

Hyundai IONIQ Premium SE

The Premium SE trim is the flagship trim for the Hyundai IONIQ. This adds ventilated and heated front seats with leather upholstery and electrical adjustment to the driver’s seat. On the exterior, the Premium SE trim adds automatic wipers. Other features include rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring.

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