Test drive - EV Ioniq. One big flaw
Discussion
I thought you may like my experience and feedback from driving the newly released Hyundai Ioniq.
It is a novel approach Hyundai are taking - the same car comes in standard ICE, Hybrid and full EV versions. You can understand the logic. I test drove the EV as for me a hybrid is a compromise and ICE is the past.
Looks wise it's pretty sharp in a safe middle of the road way. Instead of a normal grill you have grey plastic that makes the car stand out from the crowd. Sure it doesn't look as radical as a BMW i3 but then it isn't odd looking as a Nissan Leaf. The other really nice touch is the bronze plastic highlights across the cars trim and carried on in the interior. Compared to the i3 you benefit from having proper rear doors, 5 seats instead of 4 and a decent sized boot that can carry more than a door mouse.
As you would expect the interior is modern, spacious and well designed. The plastics have been well thought out and lift the car almost to the premium sector. Seats are slightly more comfortable than an i3 and the driving position is good. You don't feel excited by it like the i3. It's like that nice warm Barbour coat you keep for walks in the park. Sure it doesn't get the pulse racing but you like wearing it because it is comfortable and gets the job done.
As with most Hyundai cars the toys you get are generous. Tech wise this car doesn't disappoint and everything a geek could want from Apple play to clever adaptive cruise and a ever changing dash display is standard.
So far so good.
Driving the car feels much more "real world" than driving the i3 spaceship. It is still a bit weird not hearing any engine clatter and the instant torque you associate EVs is great round town. Get it onto the twisty stuff and it isa bit different. Due to the weight and skinny tyres the car suffers from catastrophic torque steer and understeer when you put your foot down. This is a car that wants to waft along rather than be sporty hatch. Be gentle and you're rewarded with a drive that isn't crashy over potholes and it is plenty fast enough to get you to your destination.
All round then this car seems to be pitched perfectly - in fact Hyundai compare it to northerners favourite eeeee-Golf and the Nissan Leaf. Price wise it is pitched between the Leaf and and the BMW i3 and you can see why.
So in summary a great EV that should have the competition worried. If you want longer range and a more upmarket feel than a Leaf then this is the car for you. If you want a car with more practicality than a BMW i3 then this is the car for you.
However this is where you hit a major flaw.
Nissan have found that residuals on EVs aren't exactly the best. Most car companies are also stuck in a 80's time warp when it comes to car sales. You have the car sales person who then has to defer to someone in a shiny suit to talk figures and they skirt round the houses and suck every element of joy from your life.
We seemed to have someone who seemed reluctant to give us any figures. I basically explained that I wanted his best price across total cost of ownership on either a 2 or 3 year deal. Didn't care what deposit I needed as I would just amortise it across the term. I didn't care if it was PCP or Contract Hire. I said we would make a decision within a week or sooner if the deal was right. We were clear that we had also test driven a BMW i3.
While my partner and I looked at colour samples and got all excited by the prospect of a new car we waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually and the shiny suit came out. Now caveat emptor - I don't know if he was just taking the rip because of us refusing to play the "will you sign today" double glazing salesman patter but here is the "deal" he came up with
PCP - £2,000 deposit and £548 per month
Contract Hire - 3+23 = £715 per month.
This is on a car that cost £24,500 list after £4,000 tax payer funded contribution.
Remember this is a car designed and marketed to sit squarely between the leaf and the i3. The price is the major flaw.
It's a real pity because they do the hybrid for £179+VAT a month on contract hire. It doesn't take a genius in a shiny suit to figure out where the price needs to be.
At these sort of prices Hyundai are never going to sell any except to those with "MUG" written on their foreheads. It is a massive flaw in what is otherwise a decent car.
I left really dissapointed and pretty annoyed that I had wasted so much time. I was perplexed why Hyundai are selling a 21st century car with 20th century sales techniques. It just leaves a sour taste and is totally uncalled for.
If Hyundai or a dealer is reading this and want to be sensible with the pricing please get in touch as at the right money as I wouldn't mind an Ioniq on my driveway to blog about.
It is a novel approach Hyundai are taking - the same car comes in standard ICE, Hybrid and full EV versions. You can understand the logic. I test drove the EV as for me a hybrid is a compromise and ICE is the past.
Looks wise it's pretty sharp in a safe middle of the road way. Instead of a normal grill you have grey plastic that makes the car stand out from the crowd. Sure it doesn't look as radical as a BMW i3 but then it isn't odd looking as a Nissan Leaf. The other really nice touch is the bronze plastic highlights across the cars trim and carried on in the interior. Compared to the i3 you benefit from having proper rear doors, 5 seats instead of 4 and a decent sized boot that can carry more than a door mouse.
As you would expect the interior is modern, spacious and well designed. The plastics have been well thought out and lift the car almost to the premium sector. Seats are slightly more comfortable than an i3 and the driving position is good. You don't feel excited by it like the i3. It's like that nice warm Barbour coat you keep for walks in the park. Sure it doesn't get the pulse racing but you like wearing it because it is comfortable and gets the job done.
As with most Hyundai cars the toys you get are generous. Tech wise this car doesn't disappoint and everything a geek could want from Apple play to clever adaptive cruise and a ever changing dash display is standard.
So far so good.
Driving the car feels much more "real world" than driving the i3 spaceship. It is still a bit weird not hearing any engine clatter and the instant torque you associate EVs is great round town. Get it onto the twisty stuff and it isa bit different. Due to the weight and skinny tyres the car suffers from catastrophic torque steer and understeer when you put your foot down. This is a car that wants to waft along rather than be sporty hatch. Be gentle and you're rewarded with a drive that isn't crashy over potholes and it is plenty fast enough to get you to your destination.
All round then this car seems to be pitched perfectly - in fact Hyundai compare it to northerners favourite eeeee-Golf and the Nissan Leaf. Price wise it is pitched between the Leaf and and the BMW i3 and you can see why.
So in summary a great EV that should have the competition worried. If you want longer range and a more upmarket feel than a Leaf then this is the car for you. If you want a car with more practicality than a BMW i3 then this is the car for you.
However this is where you hit a major flaw.
Nissan have found that residuals on EVs aren't exactly the best. Most car companies are also stuck in a 80's time warp when it comes to car sales. You have the car sales person who then has to defer to someone in a shiny suit to talk figures and they skirt round the houses and suck every element of joy from your life.
We seemed to have someone who seemed reluctant to give us any figures. I basically explained that I wanted his best price across total cost of ownership on either a 2 or 3 year deal. Didn't care what deposit I needed as I would just amortise it across the term. I didn't care if it was PCP or Contract Hire. I said we would make a decision within a week or sooner if the deal was right. We were clear that we had also test driven a BMW i3.
While my partner and I looked at colour samples and got all excited by the prospect of a new car we waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually and the shiny suit came out. Now caveat emptor - I don't know if he was just taking the rip because of us refusing to play the "will you sign today" double glazing salesman patter but here is the "deal" he came up with
PCP - £2,000 deposit and £548 per month
Contract Hire - 3+23 = £715 per month.
This is on a car that cost £24,500 list after £4,000 tax payer funded contribution.
Remember this is a car designed and marketed to sit squarely between the leaf and the i3. The price is the major flaw.
It's a real pity because they do the hybrid for £179+VAT a month on contract hire. It doesn't take a genius in a shiny suit to figure out where the price needs to be.
At these sort of prices Hyundai are never going to sell any except to those with "MUG" written on their foreheads. It is a massive flaw in what is otherwise a decent car.
I left really dissapointed and pretty annoyed that I had wasted so much time. I was perplexed why Hyundai are selling a 21st century car with 20th century sales techniques. It just leaves a sour taste and is totally uncalled for.
If Hyundai or a dealer is reading this and want to be sensible with the pricing please get in touch as at the right money as I wouldn't mind an Ioniq on my driveway to blog about.
HTP99 said:
Rather than slagging off the dealer and the salesman, perhaps the figures are so high due to poor residuals?
I don't think Hyundai are giving very good finance - may change Q1 2017 when supply improves? However it wasn't the figures alone that lead me to criticise the dealer and the shiny suit. Car buying is stuck in the dark ages. It must work because dealers survive but it isn't very pleasant and seems filled with wide boys who can't hack selling double glazing.
Mental figures, although looking at Rockar they're quoting £449/month on PCP with a very small deposit, 8k miles - https://www.rockar.com/ioniq-28kwh-premium-5-doors... . You can play around with length, miles, deposit, etc.
GMFVs (10k miles per year):
24 months - £10,485
36 months - £8,392
48 months - £6,615
Warranty seems good though, might make more sense as an outright purchase and get full use from that 8 year battery warranty.
GMFVs (10k miles per year):
24 months - £10,485
36 months - £8,392
48 months - £6,615
Warranty seems good though, might make more sense as an outright purchase and get full use from that 8 year battery warranty.
According to my maths I should be able to pick up one of these in 2 years time for less than 10k - which seems a bargin, but 715 a month for a family hatch - that's some hard sums to swallow
According to my man maths - you are better buying this cash with a loan from a bank - with 5 year warranty it gives you 5 years to repay 24k which is ~£600 a month it seems like a very low risk way of financing this car
According to my man maths - you are better buying this cash with a loan from a bank - with 5 year warranty it gives you 5 years to repay 24k which is ~£600 a month it seems like a very low risk way of financing this car
Edited by dlockhart on Tuesday 15th November 14:05
I've just seen a YouTube video of a guy driving one of these around what looks to be either Singapore or somewhere in South Korea. The car warned him of low battery at 350 km. yes that's well over 200 miles!
Was an easy drive though, doing loops round some freeway type roads. It was sped up footage so couldn't really see how quickly he was traveling. I'm guessing they weren't doing 70mph!
Was an easy drive though, doing loops round some freeway type roads. It was sped up footage so couldn't really see how quickly he was traveling. I'm guessing they weren't doing 70mph!
Just bought one and your Nov argument about GFV has been solved its now a total bargain !!!
SE has most things you need plus a load you dont at £4107 for 2 years 6k p/a the premium with wireless phone charging and every possible extra (plus safety overkill) is £500 more.
I will do a write up when it arrives but it was a left field choice and blew me away.
Std it has radar cruise, bluetooth, tft clocks, lane departure, rear camera and beepers, dab, tyre monitoring.
Drove like the Leaf / Zoe bit noisier but not a lot.
SE has most things you need plus a load you dont at £4107 for 2 years 6k p/a the premium with wireless phone charging and every possible extra (plus safety overkill) is £500 more.
I will do a write up when it arrives but it was a left field choice and blew me away.
Std it has radar cruise, bluetooth, tft clocks, lane departure, rear camera and beepers, dab, tyre monitoring.
Drove like the Leaf / Zoe bit noisier but not a lot.
To get it before new tax I had to take metallic at £4500 all in, any Hyundai dealer can do it right now - I think I will spend a bit more for the premium model as it has car play etc.
During the test I tried to keep the engine off and up to 35 I succeeded !!
Mrs driving it today and she has final say it's her car.
During the test I tried to keep the engine off and up to 35 I succeeded !!
Mrs driving it today and she has final say it's her car.
Sorry it's the hybrid - our thinking is 1, it's cheaper 2, I can get mostly to work / school on battery 3, we can go on long trips in it.
For our use I expect the stated mpg as it's all slow town stuff - my only difficult bit is the uphill tunnel section.
Inside it's really well finished which we both appreciate after the Zoe
For our use I expect the stated mpg as it's all slow town stuff - my only difficult bit is the uphill tunnel section.
Inside it's really well finished which we both appreciate after the Zoe
If you do buy it I'd be interested in how you get on after you've had it a while. It's on my list as a possible in a couple of years (the hybrid not the EV).
Is the plug in hybrid for sale yet or just the hybrid? The Hyundai site seems to be down at the moment.
Is the plug in hybrid for sale yet or just the hybrid? The Hyundai site seems to be down at the moment.
Edited by Blaster72 on Sunday 5th February 10:51
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