Hyundai's Ioniq is an iconic fuel-saver

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website – www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California -- Years ago at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I was sworn to secrecy by General Motors and attended a briefing of a vehicle in development.  It was being called the Chevrolet Volt.

It was being developed with a small, efficient gas-fueled engine and an electric motor that could be recharged via a plug. What a great idea, I thought.

I just spent a week in an impressive evolution of that great idea: the 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid Limited hatchback.  It's the car for folks seriously committed to fuel savings.

How committed?  How about a potential driving range of 600-plus miles?  And a gas-electric combined fuel economy rating of 119 miles per gallon.  This is fuel pump-avoidance in the extreme.

The magic is accomplished via a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine matched with a sophisticated electric motor to produce a combined max of 139 horsepower. I was amazed that more than 100 miles into my test run, the car's digital gas gauge was still pegged hard against "full."  Will this thing ever run out of gas?

Seemingly not.  But how does it drive?  I was alarmed at other Ioniq reviews I had read, many of them noting the car's anemic performance characteristics.

I beg to differ.

My Ioniq sprinted nicely onto freeways and was a steady, willing highway cruiser throughout.  Cockpit noise was minimal.  OK, it won't blow off a Corvette in downtown traffic, with both accelerating from a standing start.  But frankly, given the opportunity, I'd happily drive this car on a daily basis, laughing loudly as I passed service stations by the score.

The interior was comfortable with a nice arrangement of controls within easy reach.  The list of standard features on the tester was nice, including leather interior appointments and multiple infotainment choices. Extras included smart cruise control, parking sensors and a navigation system on an easily readable touchscreen.  All this for a bottom line of $33,060. (The car's starting price is a reasonable $28,300.)

One note of caution: The rear glass configuration presents a black horizontal bar across your line of vision looking out the rearview mirror.  That does take some getting used to.

Overall, however, this Ioniq -- Hyundai makes three electrified versions of the hatchback in identical body styles -- is an excellent example of the contemporary, fuel-saving transporter, fully evolved.