Hyundai Ioniq Electric Gen 1

Overview

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric Gen 1, produced until 2019, was a pioneering family liftback championing efficiency. This South Korean-built EV carved a niche with its pragmatic approach, offering an accessible entry into electric motoring for EU markets. Key highlights include its impressive energy frugality and a surprisingly spacious interior for its class. As a discontinued model, it’s now a savvy used buy, with European prices around 10,990 €. It was one of the early birds that genuinely made electric driving a daily-driver reality for many, packing sensible tech and a comfortable ride.

What's New for 2019?

For the 2019 model year, the Gen 1 Ioniq Electric was largely a carry-over, representing the final iteration before a significant facelift and battery upgrade arrived for 2020 models. This means the 2019 version solidified the established package: the 28 kWh battery, efficient powertrain, and familiar tech suite. Buyers in 2019 got a proven, well-honed EV, benefiting from several years of production refinements. It was the last chance to grab this super-efficient original, often with competitive deals as the updated model loomed, making it a strong value proposition.

Design & Exterior

The Ioniq Electric Gen 1 sports a distinctive, aerodynamically optimised liftback silhouette, designed to cheat the wind for maximum efficiency. Its sealed-off front grille is a tell-tale EV sign, flanked by sleek headlights. Dimensions are city-friendly at 4470 mm long, 1820 mm wide, and 1450 mm tall. Unique copper accents often highlighted its electric nature, and special eco-spoke alloy wheels further aided its slippery shape. It’s a design that prioritised function over outright flair, but it’s aged gracefully, still looking modern and purposeful on European roads.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the Ioniq Electric Gen 1 offers a surprisingly spacious and well-thought-out cabin for five, often featuring eco-friendly materials. The dashboard is cleanly laid out, typically housing an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in many EU trims, keeping you connected. Rear passengers get decent legroom. Boot space is a practical 350 litres, expanding to a generous 1410 litres with the rear seats folded flat. While there's no frunk, the overall practicality is a strong suit for this efficient family hauler.

Performance & Driving Experience

The Ioniq Electric Gen 1 delivers a zippy and smooth urban driving experience, thanks to its front-wheel-drive layout powered by a single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM). This motor churns out 88 kW and a healthy 295 Nm of instant torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in a respectable 9.9 seconds, with a top speed of 165 km/h. The ride is generally comfortable, and drivers can select from multiple regenerative braking levels via steering wheel paddles, allowing for efficient one-pedal style driving in many situations. It’s surprisingly engaging for an eco-focused car!

Range, Battery & Charging

Under the floor sits a 28 kWh usable battery pack (30.5 kWh nominal), giving a Green Cars Compare calculated real-world range of around 200 km – perfect for city hops and daily commutes. It’s impressively efficient, sipping energy at 7.14 km/kWh. For charging, the standard 6.6 kW on-board AC charger fills the battery in roughly 4.5 hours. Find a DC fast charger, and its CCS Type 2 port can gulp down electrons at up to 69 kW from its 400V system, taking you to 80% in around 25-30 minutes.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric Gen 1 scored a brilliant 5-star rating from Euro NCAP, reassuring for safety-conscious buyers. For its era, it came generously equipped with active safety tech. Many European trims featured Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, and Smart Cruise Control as standard. Blind-spot detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert were also often included or available in higher trims, making it a very secure package for families looking for an affordable and safe entry into electric mobility.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

In Europe, Hyundai typically offered a comprehensive 5-year unlimited mileage warranty on the Ioniq Electric Gen 1. Crucially, the high-voltage battery was usually covered by an 8-year, 160,000 km or even 200,000 km warranty (whichever came first), including a guarantee against excessive degradation. Powertrain components also fell under the general vehicle warranty. Maintenance is minimal as with most EVs – no oil changes! Reliability has generally been good, contributing to its appeal as a used EV purchase, offering peace of mind.