Hyundai New Zealand has added the much anticipated third component to its Ioniq range with the first examples of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version arriving in New Zealand just prior to Christmas.
The Ioniq PHEV joins the parallel hybrid and battery electric variants of the five-door hatchback which were launched in New Zealand early in 2017 and were winners of the 2017 Driven Green Car of the Year award.
As expected the plug-in has been priced mid-way between the two existing Ioniq models with a $7000 premium above the hybrid model and $6000 advantage over the battery electric version.
In standard specification the Ioniq plug-in is priced at $53,990 while the Elite model with leather trim, proximity key access, LED headlights, power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front and rear seats and other technology features is $59,990 — the same price point as the entry level Ioniq EV.
Read our full Hyundai Ioniq EV road test
The plug-in version of the Ioniq has the same 1580cc Atkinson cycle direct injection petrol engine as the Ioniq hybrid with 77kW output and 147Nm of torque as well as the six-speed dual clutch transmission.
The petrol engine is paired up with a more powerful 60kW electric motor (32kW for the hybrid) and a 8.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack (compared to 1.6kWh for the hybrid and 28kWh for the EV model). Hyundai claims combined cycle fuel consumption of 1.1L/100km in the NEDC testing cycle.
Packaging the larger battery while also retaining a 43-litre fuel tank results in reduced cargo space with the PHEV model rated at 341 litres which compares to 443 litres for the Ioniq hybrid.
In common with other Ioniq models the new plug-in version features Smart Cruise Control with Autonomous Emergency Braking function, Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning systems, Tyre Pressure Monitoring and has seven airbags as standard.
Additional features of the Elite model include Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Detection System, rain sensor wipers, an electrochromatic mirror, auto fold door mirrors and Qi wireless charging for smart phones.
Both Ioniq PHEV models have 16-inch alloy wheels as standard along and other features include climate air conditioning and an eight-speaker Infinity audio system with 8.0-inch touchscreen display offering Apple Car Play and Android Auto functions.