2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-In Reviews, Pricing & Specs

$24,950 to $28,300

Original MSRP

expert review

4.7

avg user rating

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-In Preview summaryImage

Hyundai expands its new line of Ioniq fuel-efficient hatchbacks for 2018 with the introduction of the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid, which joins the existing Ioniq Hybrid and Ioniq Electric in showrooms. Equipped with both a gas engine, an electric motor, and a battery pack under the rear seat, the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid can travel up to 29 miles at speeds of up to 75 mph on electric power alone. Thanks to its plug-in capability, owners can charge the car's battery pack at any public charge station around the country. With the gas engine and electric motor working together, the Plug-in Hybrid has a total range of around 650 miles between fill-ups, and it offers more combined horsepower—139 hp—than its primary rival for better performance in most driving situations.

Hyundai equips the new Plug-in Hybrid with a 45 kilowatt-hour electric motor capable of generating 60 hp and 125 pound-feet of torque. In addition, the Plug-in Hybrid gets a larger 8.9 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, compared to the smaller 1.6 kWh battery in the Ioniq Hybrid. As a result of this difference, the Plug-in Hybrid can travel further on electric power than the standard Hybrid before the gas engine kicks in. The system also reverts to gas power during heavy acceleration, when climbing hills, or in other driving situations requiring additional power. When traveling on electric power alone, the Plug-in Hybrid has an MPGe of 119.

The Plug-in Hybrid's charging portal is located on the left side of the vehicle above the front tire. Owners can charge the battery using the supplied cable and either a 110/120-volt standard household outlet or a dedicated 220/240-volt outlet. With the household outlet, it takes about 9 hours to fully charge the battery. Using a dedicated outlet can reduce charging time to a little over 2 hours. Owners can use Hyundai's Blue Link app to schedule charging times overnight during hours with low demand and lower rates. Hyundai also works with the ChargePoint electric vehicle charging network to provide owners with details on more than 32,000 charging stations nationwide.

The Plug-in Hybrid's powerplant also includes a 1.6-liter direct-injection Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder gas engine, which it shares with the Ioniq Hybrid. The gas engine produces 104 hp and 109 lb-ft of torque, for a combined output of 139 hp. The engine connects to a 6-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission with Shiftonic instead of the typical continuously variable transmission (CVT) found in most hybrid vehicles. When operating in hybrid mode using both the gas engine and electric motor, the Plug-in Hybrid posts a combined fuel economy number of 52 mpg. Like many fuel-efficient vehicles, the Plug-in Hybrid delivers moderate acceleration and performance in electric Eco mode, but a Sport driving mode makes adjustments to the steering and transmission for improved handling and performance.

The Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid shares its new dedicated hybrid front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform with the Ioniq Hybrid and the Ioniq Electric. It gets good marks for its ride and handling, and reviewers say it's an easy car to drive both around town and on the highway. Hyundai notes that positioning the battery beneath the rear seats helps ensure a low center of gravity, resulting in good balance and stability. Power-assisted steering and regenerative brakes designed for quiet operation both come standard.

Thanks to its fluid, aerodynamic exterior design that emphasizes function rather than flash, the Plug-in Hybrid boasts a class-leading drag coefficient of just 0.24. The sloping hatchback roofline creates an attractive profile, but it reduces headroom for passengers in the rear seat. The use of aluminum in the hood and tailgate keeps the weight down to improve mileage further. Narrow headlights up front frame a hexagonal grille with active grille shutters; a rear spoiler finishes off the look at the back end.

Hyundai offers the Plug-in Hybrid in Base and Limited trims for its first year. Both come standard with LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, power side mirrors, and automatic headlights. The Limited also includes such features as LED headlights, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and chrome accent door handles. An optional Ultimate Package for the Limited trim adds HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Light— angling headlights as the vehicle turns—as well as rear parking sensors, smart cruise control, automatic braking, and a number of other advanced safety and interior features. Both trims ride on distinctive 16-inch Eco-spoke wheels unique to the Plug-in Hybrid.

Inside, the five-passenger hatchback offers more interior space than competitors. The stylish cabin displays an upscale look with an efficient design, eco-friendly materials, and intuitive controls and technology. Even the Base trim comes well-equipped with standard features such as heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, push-button start, illuminated vanity mirrors, a 7-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a reversing camera.

The Limited adds leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a 7-inch LCD instrument cluster. Both trims also include a 60/40-split rear seat and tech features like USB ports and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps. The optional Ultimate Package for the Limited adds navigation with a larger 8-inch touchscreen, an upgraded 8-speaker Infinity audio system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and wireless charging. Owners can also add an optional power sunroof to the Limited trim.

The Base trim comes equipped with all of the expected standard safety features, but to get advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert you'll have to opt for the Limited trim. Hyundai offers automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and smart cruise control as options on the Limited trim. Given its recent introduction, the Ioniq has not yet been safety-rated by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Published May 31, 2022 by Rob Feeman

User reviews for 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-In

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by Mohammed A

Jul 10, 2022

جيد جدا بكثير شكرا لكم برنامج رائع افدي قلوبكم Jul 10, 2022

by Anonymous

Aug 03, 2021

Nice ride, amazing car. Slightly prefer the handing of the regular hybrid model. Overall great experience Aug 03, 2021

by Christopher V

Apr 11, 2021

I am so happy with my 2018 Ionic Plug In Hybrid that I recently bought. The car runs and feels like my Nissan Altima unlike the Prius I test drove that feels very light and unstable, It has decent power and I like using the Sports mode paddle shift when I need to overtake or speed up on freeway entry. Love the radio with sirius satellite, rear backing camera and side mirror bowing down during reverse. I am surprise that I am getting an average of 60-65 miles a gallon with the hybrid alone thou this car is not for those heavy footed. Overall, I love this car. It saves me so much money on gas.Apr 11, 2021

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-In Pricing

Original MSRP

$24,950 to $28,300

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Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-In price trends

Trims & specs

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-In FWD

Original MSRP: $24,950

Air Conditioning

Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: mast · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.2 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 1 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Manual adjustments: 6

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.04

Engine

EV battery capacity: 8.9 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 240 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium polymer · Electric Motor HP: 60 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 45 · Electric Motor Torque: 125 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 2 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 29 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 104 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 5700 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 109 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4000

Exterior Features

Body side moldings: black · Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: hidden exhaust · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3

In Car Entertainment

Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Apply CarPlay ready · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level

Lights

Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Halogen · Tail and brake lights: LED

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night

Passenger Seat

Manual Adjustments: 6

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Safety

Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash

Seatbelts

Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point

Seats

Driver seat manual adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium cloth

Spare Tire

Kit: inflator kit

Steering

Steering ratio: 13.9 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.7

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear

Telematics

Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth

Tires

Type: all season

Tires and Rims

Wheel type: aluminum alloy

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Solar-tinted glass: front

2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-In Limited FWD

Original MSRP: $28,300

Air Conditioning

Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: jack · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.2 · Rear brakes: disc

Comfort Features

Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Door sill trim: scuff plate · Floor Material: carpet · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: rear · Memorized settings: 2 driver · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: paddle shifter · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.04

Engine

Exterior Features

Body side moldings: black · Door handle color: chrome · Exhaust: hidden exhaust · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: chrome

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3

In Car Entertainment

Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.

Instrumentation

Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 7 in. · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level

Lights

Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night