In an increasingly impact-conscious world, going hybrid for your next car can be very appealing. Hybrids have been around since the nineties, but have been really gaining traction in recent years. Since the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight first bought hybrid technology to the mainstream, they’ve become more and more popular as car manufacturers continue to push forward with research into reducing emissions of CO2, and other harmful gasses.
Now, the market has exploded and covers everything from hybrid engines, which primarily use petrol or diesel with added power being taken from battery packs to plug-in rechargeable vehicles that offer electric-only driving for up to 30 miles at a time.
So, let’s have a look at the car Ultracar Bad Credit Car Leasing deems the best product of 2017.
Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
- 4.1/ 5 stars
- Price: £20,095 – £23,695
Whilst we’re only going to be looking at the hybrid model, this car is actually the first product to be commercially available as a conventional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, or a fully electric vehicle. This is a car that promises a smooth and more responsible driving experience; considering this is Hyundai’s first foot in the hybrid world, we don’t think they’ve done too badly!
Buyers may be won over from the Toyota Prius by the Ioniq’s more conventional car design, though it isn’t quite as efficient as the other leading product. It may also face competition from the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTE, Lexus CT, and Toyota Auris Hybrid, but it’s unbelievably low price will probably clinch the deal, and also poses the Ioniq Hybrid as an appealing alternative to many petrol and diesel-powered engines.
Another advantage over the Prius is the boot capacity. This car offers ample room in the front and rears seating, making it a guaranteed hit with both families and businesses. Indeed, the Ioniq Hybrid is a surefire candidate for company-cars, considering its low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate of 15%. That said, it may be usurped by its Electric cousin, with urban business users finding the 7% BiK of the Ioniq Electric even more appealing.
The Look
Quite conventional in design, the Ioniq remains quietly humble about the technology underneath its sophisticated, solid but well-designed interior. Standard equipment is also good; alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel, air-conditioning, and DAB radio are standard from the entry-level model up, with Premium models benefiting from sat nav and the latest Bluetooth compatibility, while the Premium SE has a leather-clad interior.
And, with a top-mark score from Euro NCAP, it’s safe, too. Standard models are equipped with automatic emergency braking (which can slow the car if obstacles are detected), and lane-keeping assistance, with higher-spec models, offer adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic detection.
Whilst this may not be the most exciting car on the market, Hyundai’s first attempt at hybrid cars is still very much a crowd-pleaser. Easy to use and on the wallet, this will be making some serious competition for the other hybrids on the market for 2017.