Hyundai Ioniq Electric

Mileage 3552 List price £34,950 Target Price £34,891 Price as tested £35,605

Test range 170 miles

FORGIVE ME FOR the cynicism, but is there any need for a Sport driving mode in an electric family hatchback like my Hyundai Ioniq?

I can understand having an Eco mode, of course. Indeed, the Ioniq’s adds about ve miles of range to whatever the dashboard readout is showing by increasing the amount of energy that goes back into the battery – and the rate at which the car slows – whenever I lift off the accelerator.

It also encourages me to drive more sedately by slackening off the accelerator response and making the steering lighter. If I’m heading off on a journey that I know will take a hefty chunk of range from the battery, Eco is what I select. But Sport? Really?

As with the other modes, switching to Sport alters the lighting around the Ioniq’s digital instrument cluster, turning it an angry shade of red, plus it brings up a more dynamic-looking readout. But in addition to having the opposite effect to Eco on the brakes, steering and accelerator response, it removes about ve miles of range from the readout.

Despite having lived with the Ioniq for the best part of six months now, I’ve only used Sport mode a handful of times, mostly to help when overtaking slower traf c.

It also probably won’t surprise you to hear that Normal mode – which turns things a pleasant shade of blue – offers the best of both worlds, providing sharp enough responses while also keeping the brake regeneration at a sensible level. Alternatively, you can up the regen independently via paddles behind the steering wheel, which I do nd handy.

Meanwhile, a cure is in sight for my Ioniq’s habit of changing the radio station when Drive is selected after reversing. Clearly, I’m not alone in experiencing this, because Hyundai is working on a software patch that should solve the issue, and it will be available through dealers soon.