We think that the IONIQ is the most impressive car that Hyundai has yet brought us. Here, one design can offer buyers the choice of parallel hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full-electric motoring - and do so at pricing that significantly undercuts the competition. Plus, as we’ll see, it offers some genuine advances over rival eco-models already out there on the market.

Background When the Koreans do something, they do the job properly. Take hybrid and electric cars. Other brands offer a hybrid. Or a Plug-in Hybrid. Or a full-electric contender. With this IONIQ model, Hyundai is able to offer all three.

It’s even more impressive to note that Hyundai hasn’t just copied its rivals but improved upon them. The parallel hybrid variant, for example, has a combined power output of 139bhp, meanwhile, the full-electric version has an operating range of 174 miles; compare that to the 155 mile figure you get in a Nissan LEAF.

Driving Experience We’re looking forward to giving the IONIQ a full test because what Hyundai promises here suns very impressive. The parallel hybrid version that most will choose features a 104bhp 1.6-litre Kappa petrol unit that the Koreans say boasts 40% thermal efficiency; apparently, that’s very good. It works with an electric motor situated under the rear seats, that powered by a 1.56kWh battery. The combined hybrid system puts out 139bhp, 17bhp more than a Prius. The IONIQ is also likely to deliver its performance more smoothly than a Prius too. There’s the automatic gearbox that all hybrids of this sort have to have, but n this case, it’s a modern DCT dual-clutch affair, rather than the jerky belt-driven CVT auto unit that Toyota persists with.

On the road, you won’t be expecting any handling fireworks - but that’s not the point of this kind of car. The ride should be good though as this Hyundai gets an advanced multi-link rear suspension system - or at least the hybrid version does; the full-EV model has a simpler set-up for some reason. Talking of the full-EV model, its party piece is an impressively long operating range by battery class standards. Hyundai reckons this car will go nearly 20% further on a charge than a comparable Nissan LEAF.

Design and Build You wouldn’t say that this IONIQ is quite as eye-catching as a Toyota Prius, but in its own way, it’s quite a smart piece of design, copying its rival’s five-door design and size positioning somewhere between a Focus-sized family hatch and a Mondeo-sized medium range model.

Get inside and you might think a Prius was fractionally larger at the back - but there’s not much in it. Otherwise, the IONIQ seems to have the advantage. As you’d expect, the backrest offers a 60/40split so that you can free up extra luggage space if you need it. The Hyundai also feels higher quality inside, not only compared to a Prius but also in comparison to a Nissan LEAF. A dash highlight is the 8.0-inch colour touchscreen, which includes Tom Tom navigation.

Market and Model Pricing for this initial parallel hybrid model starts at around £20,000; that’s for the base ‘SE’ model; there are also plusher ‘Premium’ and ‘Premium SE’ variants at prices ranging up to just under £24,000. You’ll probably want to know that this equates to a saving of well over £3,000 in comparison to this model’s closest rival, the Toyota Prius. The alternative is the full-electric model. This comes only in ‘Premium’ or ‘Premium SE’ guises at prices starting at around £29,000 - so it costs just over £7,000 more than an equivalently-specced version of the Hybrid model. Again, you’ll want to know how that compares to rivals, full-electric ones this time. It’s fractionally more than a comparably-specced mid-range Nissan LEAF. Like all full-electric models, this one will qualify for a £4,500 government Plug-in Car Grant towards the cost of purchase.

Cost of Ownership You buy a car like this expecting exemplary running cost figures and, by and large, this IONIQ doesn’t disappoint. The parallel hybrid version that most will want manages 83.1mpg on the combined cycle and 79g/km of CO2. That’s not quite as good as a Prius, but it’s not far off and, of course, an IONIQ is quite a bit cheaper to buy. If you’re wondering how that compares with, say, a conventional diesel rival, well let’s take a Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC diesel, which is priced at around the same level. One of those would take you around 5 miles fewer on every gallon of pricier diesel fuel. And it would put out around 16g/km more CO2, so would cost more to tax.

Summary Hyundai has clearly thought very carefully before launching itself into the eco-vehicle market and this IONIQ looks a strong contender. No, the parallel hybrid version isn’t quite as clean and frugal as a rival Toyota Prius, but it’s much cheaper to buy, nicer to sit in and offers a significantly larger boot. All tempting selling points. We’re also impressed by the extent to which the brand has been able to increase the operating range of the full-electric version. It brings pure electric motoring that bit closer to being viable for more buyers.

All in all, Hyundai has, here, provided eco-minded motoring at the kind of price you’d pay for something much more conventional. For a large number of family buyers, this car should merit a place on any shortlist.

  • CAR: Hyundai IONIQ
  • PRICE: Parallel Hybrid (£19,995-£23,595) / Electric (£28,995-£30,795 – before deduction of £4,500 government Plug-in Car grant)
  • INSURANCE GROUP: TBC
  • CO2 EMISSIONS: [parallel hybrid] 79g/km
  • PERFORMANCE: [parallel hybrid] 0-62mph 10.8s / top speed 115mph
  • FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 94.2mpg
  • STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) and individual Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
  • WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE: Length/Width/Height TBC