If you’re in the market for an affordable electric car, there’s a number of options to choose from, from the Nissan Leaf to the Volkswagen e-Golf. Hyundai has recently started offering their own zero-emission hatchback as well, in the form of the Ioniq Electric, which joins the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions of the same car.
It has a conservative styling both on the outside and inside, which makes a huge difference over the somewhat flashy BMW i3, but it can fit three adults at the back, although the one in the middle seat won’t be very happy.
The Ioniq Electric also has a decent boot space that’s said to be bigger than what you’d get in a Volkswagen e-Golf, but slightly smaller than the Ioniq Hybrid.
CarBuyer recently took one out for a short review, finding that it’s as quiet as expected on the go. Still, the wind and tire noise coming in at higher speeds could make you forget you’re sitting in an EV.
As far as the technical bits go, naught to 60mph (96km/h) takes a decent 10sec, and you’re going to need 4.5 hours to fully charge the battery, or up to 12 when using a domestic 3-pin socket, which allows you to travel for a claimed range of 124 miles (199km). There’s a fast-charge option as well, which fills the battery up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.
Money-wise, the Hyundai Ioniq Electric comes at around £25,000 ($33,885) in the United Kingdom, after the government electric car grant, which makes it more affordable than an e-Golf, but if money is a concern, then perhaps you may want to check out the Nissan Leaf, too.