Ioniq EV Wins the Silver Medal for Efficiency

Today's most forward thinking automakers are competing for bragging rights when it comes to electric fuel efficiency, and the spirited competition is great for the planet. Tesla's Model 3 wins the gold for its superior mileage, but Hyundai's 2020 Ioniq EV is right up there on the podium, proudly wearing the silver medal. If you're looking to do your part to help fight climate change, driving an Ioniq is a fantastic way to get around, and it's a very affordable EV.

The judges at fueleconomy. gov rank fully electric vehicles according to their combined MPGe figures. The Model 3 is at the top of the list, traveling 141 miles with the electric equivalent of one gallon of gas. The 2020 Ioniq has a combined MPGe of 133, making it the second most efficient car available in America today. When bopping around town, the Ioniq is even closer to the Model 3. Tesla's champ gets 148 in the city with Hyundai's challenger right behind at 145. For carbon counting EV consumers who don't plan to do a lot of highway driving, that 2 percent MPGe advantage doesn't seem like much.

The 2020 Ioniqs are just now arriving at dealerships, and Hyundai has made some great improvements. The 2019s were a little more efficient, but the 2020s have substantially more range, increasing from 124 miles on a charge to 170. Hyundai is counting on those extra 46 miles to boost sales. 170 is a very respectable range for such an environmentally friendly vehicle. If you need more range, you can pay more and get a Tesla Model 3, a Chevy Bolt, Hyundai's Kona, Kia's Niro, or a top-of-the-line Nissan Leaf. All of these will get you about 250 miles of range for an extra five grand or so. There are also great EVs with less range like the adorable Fiat 500e, Volkswagen's e-Golf, the slick Mini Cooper, or Nissan's base model Leaf. The Ioniq's medium range gives it a unique niche in the EV market. 170 is a little skimpy for long trips, but it'll get you farther than most inexpensive EVs while making excellent use of every single electron.

Hyundai increased the 2020's range by increasing the battery size from 28 kWh to 38kWh. The bigger juicebox now drives a 101 kilowatt motor, up from 88 kilowatts, which jacks up the horsepower from 118 to 136. With a curb weight of just 3,366 pounds, those 136 horses supply plenty of giddy-up. With front wheel drive and a low center of gravity, the Ioniq handles well and delivers the brisk acceleration we've come to expect from electric drive trains.

Hyundai also upgraded the Ioniq's charging speed by swapping out the 2019's 6.6 kilowatt onboard charger for a faster 7.2 kilowatt unit. A good level 2 home charging station will get the battery up to 100% well before you wake up in the morning, getting the job done in 5 hours and 20 minutes. If you're out on the road, a level 3 supercharging station will have you pulling out at 80% in about 45 minutes, just enough time to enjoy a leisurely lunch.

The base model SE starts off with a no frills MSRP of $34,000. With the full federal tax credit and the state rebate, your tab goes down to $24,500. The SE gets you an 8 inch touch screen, the fast DC charging capability, adjustable regenerative braking, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a back-up camera, heated seats, “Blue Link” connectivity to your smart phone, and front collision avoidance. The Limited model will set you back another $5,500 for some nice upgrades, a bigger 10.25 inch touch screen, navigation, a better stereo, leather seats, LED headlights, and more advanced safety features. Both models come in white, black, blue, gray, and silver. Sorry, no red.

Many green vehicles go out of their way to look different from gas burners and end up looking a little awkward. If you're not all that interested in broadcasting your environmentalism to the rest of the world, you'll love the tasteful styling of the Ioniq. It looks like a typical aerodynamic hatchback with a normal fanny. It does say “electric” on the back, but other than that you wouldn't guess that it's an EV. Both the Prius and the Leaf are slowly morphing to try to look more like other cars. The Ioniq already looks great, especially wearing silver.