Featured Hyundai IONIQ - Prius competitor?

To me it looks like walking into a shoe store and finding different sizes and styles. I can envision each plug-in being optimized for sets of requirements that sometimes overlap. So had the Prius Prime or a Level 2 ECO with TSS-P had been available in May of 2016, I might not have gotten the used 2014 BMW i3-REX. The Volt was available but it is optimized for someone else.

Bob Wilson

 

If Toyota's actually selling cars with Monroney labels stating fuel economy, those are official numbers. Any delay would, at this point, just be the EPA lagging in posting those numbers, I'd expect.

 

It's as official as it gets (which is fuzzy) until and unless it is changed.

For example, Ford reported an increase in EV range on their Fusion Energi but keep all of the same plug-in hardware/battery, but noted they made some software changes. Toyota could theoretically do something similar with the Prime.

Since Toyota is conservative on fuel efficiency as they report to the EPA, does not have the historical stains of some manufacturers of being instructed by the EPA to lower inflated numbers, Toyota could probably push up their MPGe number if compelled.

Some may not be aware that fuel economy numbers are not measured by the EPA. The manufacturer is responsible in reporting these numbers to the EPA and the manufacturer is supposed to abide by EPA guidelines on testing their own vehicles. The EPA may randomly test a few models from time to time, but typically only tests models if there are significant consumer complaints about numbers that don't line up with what consumers are getting in the real world.

 

I think it is a question of how much of the Prime's EV efficiency is due to the dual M/G use. A BEV version would likely be one motor.

You mentioned the Energi in another post, but Toyota has already tweaked a hybrid's numbers in Japan in this way. When the new Jazz hybrid arrived there, it was more fuel efficiency than the Aqua/Prius c. A month or two later, Toyota revised its numbers to beat the Jazz.

 

After the EPA figures of IONIQ BLUE, the eco version vs PRIUS ECO, the EPA figures of the stock version are published.
As the sticker of Prius 2016 non-ECO is relative to the trims fitted with the 15", (that is, the best results), we have to guess that also for Ioniq standard have been taken the 15" results for the sticker:

Again as for the BLUE vs ECO, Ioniq gets better FE particularly on Highway driving:

 

Wow. Hyundai looks to be the first true competitor to the prius! Can't wait to hear more about it. Interesting how the blue does better on the highway than its sibling. That's a little fishy..

 

Thanks!

Actually I only compared the three IONIQ models to the Prius ECO. Sad to say, it appears there is no Toyota Prime on the EPA web site. Perhaps next week.

I notice the IONIQ has an advantage in cabin space, 96 ft**3, versus the Prius 91 ft**3. Also, the two IONIQs are listed as "Large Cars" while the IONIQ electric and Prius ECO are listed as "Midsize". The IONIQ EV luggage volume is 23 ft**3 vs 27 ft**3 for the others.

Was there going to be a plug-in IONIQ?

Comparing the EV models is interesting too.

	model	range	volume	passenger	luggage
1	IONIQ EV	124 mi	119 ft**3	96	23
2	BMW i3	114 mi	99 ft**3	84	15
3	Tesla S (90kWh)	265 mi	120 ft**3	94	26
4	Chevy Bolt	238 mi	112 ft**3	95	17

NOTE: I have a BMW i3-REx with 150 mile range, EV and gas, and have taken it on 460 and 700 mile trips that are impractical in a pure EV through all parts of the USA. In the fly-over states, chargers are small and far between.

Bob Wilson

 

Really? The Plugin is due the end of next year? I thought it was 6 months later in which the EV and HV are coming out now.

This definitely looks like a very interesting car. I think from the inside it looks cheaper than a Prius but the investment might be toward the actually HV/EV drivetrain.

 

That might be when the EPA and Toyota get their act together and update the web site. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

Inferno - Undersand, I have never seen the Ioniq in person ..... but I have not gotten the impression (from pictures) that the interior "looks cheaper." I rally dislike the interior of the Prius ... they may have done away with the urinal console, but the other white components do not do it for me. I still dislike the shifter on the dashboard (where will I rest my hand - LOL) but I frequently use the engine barking system to slow rather than the brakes. And finally, I do not care for the "Darth Vader" center console.

But to each his own, and all I am saying is that these are impressions. When I actually see an Ioniq, I may agree with you. In Europe and Asia, the Ioniq's are now on the hands of owners, and on the IOniq Forum, several have mentioned how much they lie the interior. In addition, they are reporting some fantastic fuel efficiency numbers, but trollbait has pointed out the figures may be "imperil" gallons ... but still, in US gallons, the numbers are very favorable.

 

Can't call it without knowing what changes were made to the Blue. Aero tweaks will help the highway a little, and switching gear ratios can help a lot.

The PHEV Ioniq doesn't come out until later. Likely as to not run into supply problems with the hybrid on its roll out.

 

Yes, the car is now for sale and test drives in EU, it's about since beginning of October. But before that there was the launch of the same powertrain on the Kia Niro that actually sold 23000 cars in Eu in few months, quite a success.

Early sales success for Kia Niro hybrid crossover - The Korean Car Blog

I had a too short test drive to be complete, but i've got some idea of the powertrain, my interest, not so much the car itself because i plan an EV new car in 3/4 year, so i did'nt bother too much for a 2016 car.

This powertrain is rather different form the Prius 2016 and its heavy Battery use. The electric motr is less powerful relative to Prius and tends to kick in with an average power request. On the other side, the battery seems to have a much larger capacity than the Prius 2016: the idea is to facilitate the use of the EV at low power levels and for extended period of time (cruising for example) and to avoid large peaks of currents, typical of accelerations.

Of course is very different from e-cvt the way to accelerate to target speed; in this case the best acceleration is a quiet one as in manual gearbox car with shifts at low rpm. Then, the trick is too lift a bit the feet and facilitate the EV, as Toyota hybrids.

Due to the lower power limit to pass on EV, for this powertrain is very important to trigger the EV and to avoid high rolling resistance tyres. Higher rolling resistance could have a strong effect keeping ICE on for a longer span of time.

They could have choosen to increase the high power use of EV mode, as they probably did on the "BLUE" and like probably did Toyota for the ECO, but for the regular trims, the approach seems a lot more conservative to the battery than the Prius 2016. Which i think is quite a good thing. Hypermiling that powertrain will be trying to use EV as much is possible, but not so much in accelerations.

 

Err, sorry

 

My BMW i3-REx and the Tesla drivers are 'cracking our knuckles' to see them on the street.

Bob Wilson

 

Hyundai EPA values look higher than real world. We've seen this before...
Verbrauch: Hyundai - IONIQ - Spritmonitor.de
(5.04l/100km = 46.6MPG)
As for today, only 2 users registering tank fill-ups from empty, soon we will see others coming in.

By the way, the Prius 4gen:
Verbrauch: Toyota - Prius - Spritmonitor.de
(4.36l/100km = 53.8MPG) out of 97 users.
And 3 Gen Prii have gathered info for a sustained FC of 5.1l/100km.

More than 10% off-set. Much room from improvement, Hyundai.

 

don't you think it's a bit too soon for statement like this? If i should follow your rush in giving statement i should mention this:

Ioniq Premium (Hyundai Ioniq) | Fuelly

That is, beeing the Ioniq in question the version with the 17", in Eu rated with an +18% fuel consumption relative to the Ioniq 15", we should conclude that that car is performing largely above EPA. That is:

EPA Ioniq 15" = 55 MPG
Real World Ioniq 17" = 56 MPG

And going in detail in the figure of this case, you can see a single 81 miles measure made of "only short runs" with a 43,4 mpg. If we take in consideration only all the rest of significant high mileage fill-ups, the average become 57 MPG.

But i'not making unreasonable statement like yours, we will compare real world when will be on website a comparable high number that gives statistically meaningfull datas....

 

What Car magazine in UK today compared the Ioniq 1.6 GDi Hybrid Premium with the UK base Prius.
Have to say I felt the reviewer was stereotypically anti-Prius by ignoring the standard equipment on the Prius, but extolling similar cost-extras available on Ioniq.

Still, close call with Ioniq 1st.

Hyundai Ioniq vs Toyota Prius | Auto Express

 

Recognizing that this, after all, is a Prius forum .... I would hope that since this thread is comparing the Hyundai Ioniq to the Prius, that writers can be honest and objective in their comments. That is the only way that those of us are interested in both vehicles, can make an informed decision.

I have owned more Toyota vehicles in my life than any other car, and currently drive a Toyota Avalon hybrid. I believe the Ioniq best the Prius in looks by a wide margin, but I need to evaluate the economy, comfort, quality and reliability .... and can only do that with objective comparisons. Most of the writers on the Ioniq forum own, or recently owned Prius' and they are fair in their praise and comments of the {Prius, but so many, like myself, are willing to consider alternatives.