Saturday 20 / April / 2024
When was the last time you remembered the awesomeness you felt when experiencing something for the first time? It’s a complex array of emotions that sweep through you and, truth be told, words really can’t do it complete justice (but I’ll try anyway). Your senses are roused from a sleep with a renewed zeal, and you suddenly find new meaning in your life.
The Hyundai IONIQ was what sparked my ignition, and gave me increased drive and momentum. With full-LED headlamps reminiscent of moonbeams over your favourite hotspots in Qurum, the new Hyundai IONIQ is an eco-friendly hybrid car with a highly impressive fuel mileage of 30.3 km per litre.
While the car’s exterior may first catch your eye, anyone knows that a well-designed interior is the pinnacle of automotive luxury and comfort. The hybrid car displays a rather large front grille, with a bumper design that syncs almost effortlessly with its sleek headlamps. All the way from the side to the rear, the design theme seems to echo the coolness of a coupe.
The power for the 2018 Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid comes from a combination of a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, and 32KW electric motor, providing an impressive output of 105 PS with 15.0 kgf.m of torque. With nought to hundred taking just nine seconds, the IONIQ is the car for you to cruise around town in. The responsive 6-speed Dual-clutch transmission (DCT) enables quicker and more precise gear-shifting. A perfectly matched combination of an efficient gasoline engine, an electric motor and a Lithium-ion polymer battery makes driving not only sustainable and economic, but fun as well.
I am, of course, speaking from personal memory. Just outside the Muttrah Souq on Tuesday morning, my son couldn’t help but be amazed by the interior. It’s great – in terms of safety, comfort, and technology – including Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver seat, a powered driver seat with height adjustment, hot and cold seats, automatic emergency braking, smart cruise control, lane keep assist system, headlights with dynamic bending light (DBL), rear parking sensors, navigation system with 8-inch colour touch screen display, wireless device charging, indicator signal turn with mirror power, and many others. Excuse me while I catch my breath. It’s not every set of wheels, after all, that has such a dizzying array of alluring features.
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Hyundai believes that its flexible approach to alternative fuels will make its IONIQ range of alternative-fuel cars market leaders within the coming years. The first Hyundai platform to be purpose-built for alternative-fuel drive trains, the IONIQ represents Hyundai’s flexible approach to moving its products toward zero-emissions technology.
IONIQ’s cabin is practical and accommodating, with a high standard of comfort and trim presentation. The hybrid battery is stored under the rear seats, which retain the convenience of a split-fold seat back and child seat anchorage points, while a full-size alloy spare wheel resides under the large boot.
What really caught my son’s eye was the brilliant glow from the headlamps, his curiosity rising with every step he took toward the stunning vehicle. Most people slide into seats, but he jumped into his with barely-controlled glee, so much so that my wife was relegated to the back seat, providing her the perfect platform to watch with amusement as my pride and joy (my son, not the car), twiddled with all the bells and whistles the car had to offer.
The IONIQ’s shared vehicle architecture will accommodate one of the most trusted alternative fuel technologies currently available – hybrid, so much so in fact that Hyundai Motor’s innovative model earned the Women’s World Car of the Year Supreme Award – the top prize given by the all-female jury, comprised of respected international automotive journalists. Jurors called IONIQ a “clear winner” among more than 400 initial contenders, and also awarded the vehicle the top honour in the competitive Green Car category.
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While high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium make the IONIQ strong, stable and agile, it is also the first eco-focused vehicle platform in the world. Hyundai’s approach to the IONIQ line delivers an uncompromising design and driving experience, coupled with the latest in safety and convenience technologies, making it an appealing choice for a wide range of buyers.
But Hyundai has not sacrificed comfort for the sake of sustainability. There’s plenty of legroom for the discerning driver, as he sinks into plush seats that offer you the perfect position for an awesome driving experience. As I cruised along Al Khuwair one easygoing evening, my co-passenger seemed particularly impressed by one feature of the IONIQ – it’s air-conditioning can handle even the hottest of weather – and it is great for cruising all over the Sultanate, from the craggy peaks of Musandam in the north, to the vast Dhofari expanse of the south, without making a dent in your wallet.
The IONIQ boasts a handsome set of equipment, solid fuel economy and low running costs, making it a fairly straightforward proposition. A car that’s bold on looks and bold on performance, with one eye firmly fixed on the future while the other is deeply rooted in the present, the iconic IONIQ is surely here to stay.
OTE Group is the distributor for Hyundai in Oman. You can check out the IONIQ at any Hyundai showrooms, which are spread across the Sultanate.
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