PRIUS Fighter - HYUNDAI IONIQ

I have been watching and reading everything I can find about the Prime and the Ioniq plug-in. So many aspects of both cars are similar, while many are different. The three Ioniq's (HV, Plug-in and EV) all share the same basic body, only the EV's front end has no grille.

Personally, based on pictures of both, I favor the Ioniq visually. OTOH, the Prime has features I rally like ... like two 'MG's" .... the Ioniq starter/generator is belt driven. I'm really hesitant about that. Many tout the 6 speed auto shifterr over CVT (I will need to test drive both to make my own decision). Hyundai traditionally has a better warranty; both should enjoy favorable repair records, and the Ioniq should be less expensive. The Prime has the (IMHO) terrible urinal white center console; the Ioniq has a large center screen; the Ioniq is a 5 passenger; the Prime has a heat-pump cabin heater; both have near identical coefficients of drag; both have 40% efficient ICE power; the Prime's ICE is 1.8L, the Ioniq is 1.6L, but is direct injected. Both have Lithium batteries.

I have read that Hyundai deliberately designed the car to look similar to other 4 door sedans ... unlike the Prime, although I do like the Prime's exterior over the Prius lift-back.

I will be interesting to drive both, and see what manner of deals are available.

 

One big difference is - Toyota has a lot more experience (in years) in building hybrid cars compared to Hyundai!

 

It is worth noting that the Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid only has 45 kW in EV mode: 2017 Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid Specifications

Compare to 110 kW (full power) for the Volt, 68 kW for the Prime (per Toyota UK: The New Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid - UK Media Site), 68 kW for the C-Max Energi (per Ford: Ford - New Cars, Trucks, SUVs, Hybrids & Crossovers | Ford Vehicles - and I believe the Fusion is the same way), and I think 38 kW for the previous PiP?

 

Anyone interested .... you may want to read the following. It is a bit dated, but seems to be an honest comparison of the two vehicles.

Which Looks More Competitive: Toyota Prius Prime, or Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid?

 

With the double Prius blunder, ugly, and low seating (the trend now is sitting higher) Toyota left the door wide open for Hyundai. Hopefully the bean counters were shown the door. Hyundai, who surely has learned from past mistakes has to come out with a reliable car from the start, with no teething problems. If they can do that Toyota is in for an even bigger down turn in 2017 Prius sales of the IV. There maybe a few heads rolling back in the mother country.
Right now the only thing I see that Toyota has going for it is their reliability from years of producing Hybrids. I am looking forward to seeing the Ioniq in person.

 

99% Plastic

 

That's not 99.9% plastic - it looks like a big engine cover that doubles as the airbox lid, but the rest isn't covered by plastic.

This is 99.9% plastic:

 

Doesn't look bad. I wonder what the range is and how it drives compare to the Prius.

 

I suggest there was a 3rd blunder .... not developing a pure EV. Toyota went with hydrogen, and I am not convinced that will be a winner .... at least for a very long time.

As for the "bean counters" ..... the word is that upper management nixed the original design and pointed them towards a more "youthful" look. There is a thread entitled The designers of the 2016 Prius with a picture. Had Toyota proceeded with the design, coupled with the improved electronics and handling enhancements, Toyota's factories would not have been able to keep up with sales.

 

That's telling a story through omission. They may not have revealed a mass-market body, but that doesn't mean nothing else happened. Not hearing knocking in the past didn't mean they were not preparing for it later. After all, Toyota has always been tight-lipped about mainstream changes in the not-too-distance future.

Toyota switched all but the base model of Prius liftback over to lithium. Of which, that chemistry has been improved. The high-volume production now taking place very much benefits future EV offerings.

Toyota is about to deliver the world's most efficient heat-pump for a vehicle. The real-world experience from that vapor-injected system in Prius Prime will very much benefit future EV offerings.

Toyota is about to deliver CHAdeMO (rapid DC charging) with the rollout of Prius Prime in Japan. There's not a big benefit of having such high-speed abilities with only a 8.8 kWh capacity, but a future EV offering certainly would.

Toyota is also pushing dealers to begin the acceptance of change. Prius Prime will usher in a graceful transition. Rather than having to face the intense support battles other automakers have to deal with, the modest EV capacity will ease them into it.

Toyota continues to refine motor, controller, charger, and software for electric-only operation. How is that not beneficial to future EV offerings?

Want more? Think about how much easier it will be to sell EV offerings to customers later, who owned a Prius Prime prior to that and upgraded their garage by adding 240-volt charger. Having that equipment already makes the next purchase yet another benefit.

In other words, the full story is that Toyota is doing far more for EV advancement than people are giving them credit for.

 

Well Toyota is selling tons of Gen4 in Japan and elsewhere. Prime seems a little more geared to Japan audience with priority for solar charging and sedan-like styling both of which which takes space out of the rear cargo/rear seat area. Toyota will be very pleased with USA Prime sales as far as getting what they need out of it (CARB ZEV credits).

IONIQ seems to be more USA focus with big cargo, more compact SUV spirit. Just a waiting game for more future models which may give everything space/plug-in/etc. Then maybe get a used one of those maybe 5 or so years out. I like wireless and solar charging too.

PS- Prius 12v not 26-lbs right?

 

john1701a - I do not have sufficient facts to discuss your list of attributes .... but generally I agree with them all. You cannot, however, deny that as of today, Toyota appears to be moving towards hydrogen .... and I don't see that becoming a main-stream fuel in the immediate future, at least in the USA. Several of your points will benefit a pure hybrid as well (battery chemistry, heat pump, refined motor, controller and charger) all of which I appreciate. I would guess that if Toyota wanted to venture into a pure EV they could do it very quickly.

Some writers (that seems better informed than me) find fault with Toyota staying with the CVT transmission, and others fault Toyota for not going with direct injection. Regarding the CVT ... I personally like CVT in my Avalon hybrid. I'll need to drive something else to make a final decision.

Far and away, however, the biggest fault that I read in many PC post, as well as automobile publications, is the appearance. Agree, many like the looks ... and that is good, I would hope they do, but as for me, it is not something I admire. Yesterday I was riding with my neighbor that owns a 2015 Prius ... when I pointed out a passing new Prius, his comment: "wow, that is ugly."

 

I don't believe our future holds a one-size-fits-all solution. Why can't both EV and Fuel-Cell co-exist?

That's a pretty normal reaction to change. It doesn't give any indication of how well it will sell. Remember the same reaction about minivans? Heck, even Prius itself faced that with the older generations.

 

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No, that's a Lexus. The Hyundai looks like it's covered in thin, cheap, very breakable plastic.

But I'm no fan of covering any engine in plastic. That's the first law if pass if I got elected to Congress: No plastic engine covers. Ever.

 

I'm aware that that's a Lexus. What I'm saying is that the Hyundai doesn't actually have that much plastic, compared to that Lexus.

 

I know. I don't like that plastic covered Lexus either, but I know it's a quality car. The plastic on the hyundai looks flimsy to me

 

Is that gonna be one of the Prop's down in the south bay? I haven't seen any @Rebound for senate signs up here, but I'll keep my eyes open for one .

Better than the more than 17 Props we have currently. Can't wait for the election season to finish up.

It is entertaining to see Donald Trump trying to appeal to the common man though.

 

Paa-lease !