The updated Hyundai Ioniq EV is on the roads. Can you tow with an Ioniq EV? Need to take your bikes along?

The updated Hyundai Ioniq EV is on the roads.  Can you tow with an Ioniq EV?  Need to take your bikes along?

With more and more people choosing EV's, the revised electric Ioniq cements itself as a quality option with Hyundai build quality and practicality.

Aimed at city dwellers, the Ioniq Electric packs a high-output electric motor and a real-world range of around 230-311kms depending on the model year. 

At just under 4.5m long, a fraction over 1.8m wide, and a little under 1.5m high, the Ioniq sits squarely in the small hatch segment, offering enough passenger and loadspace for anything up to a young family.

Boot space is useful – 357L with the second row in use, out to 1417L if you fold those seats down - more than enough storage space for this size of vehicle.  Unfortunately not rated to tow, but why not fit a towbar to take your bikes along on the next weekend away.  Due to many requests, we now have a bike carrier towbar available for the Ioniq EV.

The interior is practical – offering enough room for a family of four and their luggage. Its conventional design could have been taken from any other Hyundai. The interior is quite plainly styled, but Hyundai has done a good job with quality and ergonomics. The upper surfaces use plenty of soft-touch materials and all the switches feel robust, but you’ll quickly find hard, scratchy plastics in less prominent places. Everything is well laid out As standard, infotainment is provided by an 8.0in touchscreen which does without sat-nav. Above the entry-level model, this is upgraded to a 10.25in touchscreen system. All models also have a 7.0in digital instrument cluster that does a good job of putting the most useful information right in front of you.

Recent changes for the updated model included new head- and tail lights, a revised grille design, new wheel designs, and a revised interior. Over and above a comprehensive suite of standard equipment for both model grades, Premium also gets LED headlights, electric park brake, a larger digital instrument cluster, heated and cooled front seats, power adjustment for the driver, wireless phone charging and front parking sensors.

The major change with the revised Ioniq is the battery pack - designed to improve driving range. The liquid-cooled pack is now rated at 38.3kWh, up from 28kWh on the previous model. With higher energy density and a higher maximum power output, Hyundai claims a real-world driving range of 311km. The electric motor now generates 100kW, up from the previous model’s 88kW permanent-magnet synchronous motor. Maximum torque is available from step-off and its generous ongoing supply means a single-speed reduction gearbox is used to transmit power to the front wheels.

As with all EVs it's best to set up a wall box charger at home, and you’ll easily have a full charge in the morning when you leave for work having plugged the Ioniq in the night before.

Hyundai's comprehensive 'SmartSense safety suite is standard, including active tech like AEB and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Change Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Smart Cruise Control, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.
Not to mention the usual suspects like ABS, EBD, BA, ESC and Vehicle Stability Management, as well as LED daytime running lights, Emergency Stop Signal, rearview camera and park assist, plus tyre pressure monitoring.
And if despite all that, an impact is unavoidable, there are front, front side, and curtain airbags, plus one for the driver's knee. You'll definitely feel safe.

EVs are not for everyone, but if you are after an affordable and reliable city EV, give the Ioniq a go.

Need a towbar to take your bikes along, why not fit our Hyundai Ioniq bike carrier towbar, invisible when not in use and no changes to your bumper.  Order today.