Featured Hyundai IONIQ - Prius competitor?

No, I think all of them - it hasn't arrived here yet apparently due to supply - we were initially expecting at least some 6 months ago.

They are now saying all 3 variants by the end of the year - I'll believe that when I see it.
2019 Hyundai Ioniq detailed for the US | CarAdvice

 

Same in UK. No BEVs and long lead in to hybrid delivery.

 

I think the Electric is going to be only California for the near future here.

 

UK BEV has a long lead time, hybrids are 1-2 months (can be weeks if they have one in stock at tilbury), my dealer has 2-3 hybrids in stock most of the time, plugins are a little longer

if you look at the Hyundai US sales figures it seems a fairly steady 1400-1500 ioniqs a month

 

Sometimes living in Cornwall is as remote as living on our moon. It's just better than living on the dark side.

 

all new cars are like this and will continue to be like this because of an increased focus on and demand for crash safety.

 

I sit well back due to long legs and have no issue with visibility, the wife has short legs and a lot further forward and has some issue with visibility being lower down (as shorter) and further forward (shorter legs) to reach the peddles

and the longer travel on the Ioniqs peddles makes that worse for her

 

For a happy wife and life:

Bob Wilson

 

may I ask a silly question? How does obstructing the driver's view promote crash safety? Doesn't it make the accident more likely in the first place??

 

No - it's not better from that aspect - but I suspect it was necessary to allow it to safely crash - that didn't sound right - I mean that the cabin integrity would be stronger. My FORD Fiesta was worse than my Gen 4 - I'd often lose a car on a roundabout, totally hidden by the pillar.

But Gen 4 has noticeably thinner pillars, and gets very good IIHS crash scores.

 

so does that mean the driver's seat can't be adjusted up & down as well as forward & backwards? What about lumbar support? Yes/no? Does the steering wheel telescope?
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Not sure of USA models - TOYOTA has vast differences in various localities so wait till a US member chimes in.

[base Australian model has steering wheel up/down/in/out adjustment. Driver's seat has up/down & lumbar adjustment.]

 

Roof pillars got thicker because of roll over and roof crush standards. The new Prius likely has(more) high strength steel in the pillars than previous generations. Like aluminum, it costs more to repair high strength steel.

Does IIHS do their own roof crush test?

 

seat has height (up and down) adjustment and the steering wheel has both in and out and up and down adjustment so it is easy to get a comfortable driving position

but the lower down you are and further forward your seating position (like my wife 5 foot and short legs) the lower part of the windscreen pillar which is thicker causes more issues with visibility

 

I see. And lumbar support? What about that. Yes/no?
We test drove the plugin Clarity a few days ago - the unbelievable & disappointing takeaway for us was that it had no lumbar support.
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nope no lumbar support in the UK on premium (mid spec) not sure about Premium SE (top spec) but top spec does have heated and cooled seats

 

I'd suggest test-driving "the seats" - some of the best seats I've ever driven in (VW, Australian made Nissan and VOLVO) had NO lumber support adjustment - but the seats were great.

Likewise some of the worst seats I've driven in (Mazda, Toyota and Mitsubishi) DID have lumber support adjustment.

Lumber support adjustment maketh not a bad seat into a good seat.

 

I've never (in the past 7 or 8 Yrs) come across US Volvo seats that didn't have lumbar support. Interesting. In the same vein, I recall a couple people installing Volvo seats in the gen II Prius, due to their extraordinary comfort. It's not so much my inquiry, but the better ½ - being the proverbial Princess & the pea, the best seat Comfort is extra important.
Thanks for the input!
Most recently, we checked out the plug in Pacifica hybrid & man, those seats were to die for.
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I'm talking about MUCH older VOLVOs than that - my 3 were 1974, 1980 and 1994 - 1st and 3rd had great seats, (the 1980 not so much - but it was an old car when I got that one and the seats were probably ½ worn out by then).