<p style=”text-align: left;”>Honestly it was really enjoyable. Unfortunately everything was stacked against it being a good driving day – Friday rush hour starts on Thursday, and it rained constantly for the whole day.</p>
There’s a lot to like about the car, number one being comfort, it’s a longer wheelbase which rides out imperfections, the soundproofing was really good too. Seats were adjustable enough (a little more ‘down’ wouldn’t go amiss though).
Regenerative modes seem very useful, including 0 which lets you roll for ages and a really effective i-pedal. Also an auto mode which assesses traffic in front and sets the level accordingly. I don’t think I’d be using the brakes much.
The rest of the positives are little things that made me smile. Electric opening charge port, the fact that it’s so well specced “out the box”, no option box ticking required (in fact no option boxes available).
But all is not perfect.
Though I like the quirky look, it’s got that Porsche from the 80’s rear end, it’s going to take some effort to get management approval. By which I mean my girlfriend who says it’s overstyled and designed for men.
No wireless Android Auto seems mad given how new this car is. Apparently it’s coming imminently to the new Kona, suggesting it might be coming to the Ioniq soon. But this seems pretty strange.
The door handles on the base model have a Tesla model 3 style door handle. You have to press one end to unlock, then press the other end to hinge outward then pull the other end to open the door. What’s wrong with a handle! I sound like my grandad, and he’s been dead for 21 years. This problem is mitigated by opting for the higher spec, where the handles deploy automatically ? £500 well spent.
The beeps and bongs. I get it, I’m doing 33 on the speedo. Everyone is safe, I’m not speeding. Calm the hell down car, beeping and flashing the speed on the dash. I’m hopeful this can be disabled, I don’t like unnecessary distraction. My other car beeps a frost warning at 4 degrees, leave me alone, stop nagging me.
Really good car, it is well worth trying 🙂