Featured Hyundai IONIQ - Prius competitor?

In the interest of fairness, I should mention that CR does have a chart comparing the Prius 3 with the Ioniq and Niro at about the same prices, and the Prius comes out far better. But the text is most unhelpful.

 

In one of the articles I saw it claimed the prius was the vehicle most traded in for an Ioniq, but then failed to produce any data, but with only 6000 delivered since april that is a small number even if every Ioniq was a prius trade in

 

The real problem is cracking the bigger market, the buyers who are not fuel-efficient driven (aka., Consumer Reports readers?)

If high efficiency vehicles are limited to just us, we are just playing in the same sandbox with the same blocks and toys, we are not growing market share. It isn't enough to be a 'fan boy' but look at the goal ... transportation from A to B at the lowest cost and acceptable freedom.

CAFE has brought fuel efficiency to the mass market by making it a requirement on USA cars and light trucks. Although politics may yet gut CAFE, CARB is holding the line and that is ~1/6th the USA market ... too large to ignore. Then there is growing evidence, thanks to VW and the Chinese, that serious fuel efficiency is becoming a world-market requirement. The standard EU "use a diesel" no longer works and the Chinese have realized they have to breath too.

If electricity were more expensive, I would not have fiddled with a plug-in hybrid. I would have gotten a Prius ECO with TSS-P and the problem would be solved (the Blue does not have a TSS-P equivalent option, today.) As for pure electric, nice but there are significant gaps in the charging network(s) and I insist on being able to drive from Alabama to family members who range from Washington State, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Connecticut.

Bob Wilson

 

Let's not forget that Prius are ageing, and is by far the most common "old" hybrid....

 

This is really only an issue in America. Europeans are starting to move to hybrids after dieselgate, and their governments are also starting to for electrics. Same with China and India. The Camry hybrid might already make up 90% of Camry sales in India.

Yes, which could mean hybrid sales are going flat in Europe if the only people buying a new model hybrid are owners of an old one.

I know the Prius itself can be pricey in the EU. How does the Ioniq compare in terms of size and price to the Auris hybrid?

 

Toyota stopped selling the Camry in UK, but can't say for the rest of Europe.

 

and we shouldn't forget the what the prius has done to bring hybrids to the masses, now they have some competition from several other manufacturers, currently the market is big enough for all to make a living so completion can only be healthy for spec and prices

the next issues I see is if hybrids / EV come to the masses are

1:- where is all the materials for the batteries coming from?
2:- can the power grids cope with the demand

 

The entire hawaiian island of Kawai is now running on solar + other renewables & battery backup, as opposed to the old ICE technology from days of old.
Tesla battery packs power the Hawaiian island of Kauai after dark
That should pretty much put that hand wringing issue to bed.

.

 

1. With need, we'll get better at recycling, and extracting less viable sources. It's how petroleum is sticking around to some extent.
2. If they can handle A/C demand in hot locations, EV charging overnight shouldn't be an issue. improvements will be needed, but they are needed with or without EVs.

 

looks like we should see how the ioniq safety compares to the prius

its under test at IIHS

 

I've got to have a look at one some time soon and could be persuaded ~~~

 

as long as the roof doesn't crush down to the seat bottoms...

 

Not 100% successful up to now, but I do try to keep all 4 wheels on the ground.

 

Perhaps you should wait until the IIHS tests are performed & published.
For comparison, here is the Prius.

From 2017 Toyota Prius

 

just because you look don't mean to say you will like what you see, a couple on here have looked and come away unimpressed, but on the dark side we have some who looked and liked it

at the end of the day it is your choice on what car fits your needs most

the only thing I would say is prius owners tend to be more critical of the drive train and power usage as you are used to a hybrid already, where as noobs to hybrids like me are more easily impressed by the MPG and the difference in the drive train compared to a std gas car

 

@RCO has not yet completed his Jedi Prius training.

 

as I own one I wouldn't be too impressed if it failed the IIHS test that badly,

the one I am interested in the small offset test as that is the hardest test to pass, even the tesla didn't ace it

It did well in the euro ncap test, only a few percent behind the new prius, lets see how well it does in this one

 

I'm delighted with the Prius and glad I took the plunge after ten years of wondering. The fact that it has neither Apple iPlayer not Android Auto is a definite downer plus a few minor niggles because I don't have the top spec. What I like about the Ionique is that on my scheme I can get one with all the bells and whistles and the luxury of a heated steering wheel. Who said I'm a slave to creature comforts?

Does that mean I've left the "Grasshopper" stage of my training?

 

oooooooooooh its so sesssy looking!