Addicted to the competitiveness of fuel efficiency
I wouldn’t exactly classify myself as carefree when it comes to fuel consumption, but I’ve never been much of a fuel miser either.
Tasked with comparing the 2017 Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, however, I quickly came to understand the allure of these gaselectric rides and the competitive spirit they are capable of stirring. This stuns me as much to write as it surely is for you to read, but there’s a certain sense of excitement associated with such fuel-sipping cars; a tangible feeling of setting and ultimately achieving goals that’s hard to beat.
I’ve driven hybrid-powered cars before, but never did I fully appreciate the symbiotic relationship between man and machine required to realize their full potential. Without changing my driving style much, I expected as-advertised fuel economy and was consistently disappointed when it didn’t come to fruition. Piloting the Prius and Ioniq, however, something clicked. Suddenly, I went from disinterested driver to hypermiling mastermind, with efficiency reigning supreme.
Fittingly, my new-found adoration for fuel-sipping started with the Prius. This is the car that put hybrids on the map almost 20 years ago, and it continues to lead the slow-moving charge toward widespread acceptance.
Yielding a better-than-expected 4 L/100 km over our first 160 kilometres together, I was hooked. I suddenly found myself feeling frustrated and annoyed when the gas engine engaged, acutely aware of the impact it would have on economy.
When it came time to switch into the Ioniq, I saw the Prius’s fuel efficiency not just as a benchmark, but a challenge. The same initial sample size yielded impressive results: 3.8 L/100 km, better, even, than the advertised 4.1 L/100 km of the ultraefficient Ioniq Blue. With each passing trip to and from work, I found myself opting to open the windows instead of running the air conditioning, accelerating gently at all times, coasting when possible, and waiting for traffic lights rather than charging through them all in the name of fuel efficiency.
When my week evaluating the two hybrids was over, both burned about half a tank of gas each, with the Prius finishing at 4.1 L/100 km combined and the Ioniq 4 L/100 km combined. And so, they were reluctantly returned knowing that their lifetime consumption had become that much better on my watch.
No, hybrids aren’t for everyone; they necessitate a conscious effort to be driven effectively and efficiently. Like learning to drive stick: for some people, it simply doesn’t compute. But I finally understand how easily it comes to others, and how addicting it can be once it does.