Hyundai ioniq - New Car & Automatic Transmission.

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Sun 18 Mar 2018 16:02
Hyundai ioniq - New Car & Automatic Transmission. - Bycro
Hi all

I have finally decided on my new car- Hyundai ioniq Hybrid SE Premium. It arrives next Wednesday, and will replace my beloved i40 diesel manual,which after four years will be returned to the leasing company with 119,000 miles registered. Been a good car, setting aside initial clutch niggles, and a new clutch at 80,000 miles. It has averaged 47.58 MPG over the past 10 refuels, mainly motorway miles. However the weather has been cold and I can get more when it's warmer.

Why did I choose the ioniq ?, Mainly for two reasons, I will save some money in tax, and it's an automatic, and of course it seems comfortable.

This brings me on to my questions, many people have told me that once you drive an automatic, you will never go back to a manual, I must admit, when my i40 was having its clutch replaced I was given a Mazda 3 automatic for a week, as it was the only car available. I thought it was very easy and relaxing to drive with an auto box. Much more so than using a manual with all the miles I drive. So why haven't autos become the normal choice here in the UK as they have in other countries
Like the USA ?

Also, whilst researching my new car, I have learned that there are many types of auto boxes, CVT, DCT- dry or wet and many more. I read that the CVT box is very reliable and has been used in the Prius for many years. Is the DCT fitted to the ioniq going to be as reliable ? I guess with all the miles I do I am about to find out, but does anyone have any thoughts ?


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Sun 18 Mar 2018 16:20
Hyundai ioniq - New Car & Automatic Transmission. - SLO76
“So why haven't autos become the normal choice here in the UK as they have in other countries
Like the USA ?”

Europeans tend to be more enthusiastic drivers than the Yanks plus we traditionally ran smaller cars which typically don’t suit lazy automatic transmissions quite as well as large torque laden luxury saloons and SUV’s.

We all like different things too, some drivers love an auto and won’t drive anything else, likewise others hate them and would never give up changing gear for themselves. I’ve ran both and ideally would have a large estate or SUV with an auto and a smaller fun hatch with a manual box to cover any mood. This is the direction I intend on heading with our current cars replacements.

A large older auto estate, possibly an Avensis, Accord, Mazda 6 or Mondeo is on the cards and I like the idea of a 5dr Suzuki Swift Sport or Seat Ibiza FR to replace our Polo.

Edited by SLO76 on 18/03/2018 at 16:21

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Sun 18 Mar 2018 16:24
Hyundai ioniq - New Car & Automatic Transmission. - 72 dudes

" I read that the CVT box is very reliable and has been used in the Prius for many years. Is the DCT fitted to the ioniq going to be as reliable ? I guess with all the miles I do I am about to find out, but does anyone have any thoughts "

Who knows? But locally, two taxi drivers have chosen Ioniqs, one a 17 the other a 67, and they don't usually make bad choices. Plus you'll get a 5 year waaranty.

So why haven't autos become the normal choice here in the UK as they have in other countries Like the USA ?

In the past, and still the case to a certain extent, the USA have favoured lazy revving straight sixes and V8s, which are more suited to an automatic gearbox. Also petrol was and still is much cheaper than here, so the MPG penalty with a torque converter box matters not to them.

Edited by 72 dudes on 18/03/2018 at 16:25

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Sun 18 Mar 2018 21:02
Hyundai ioniq - New Car & Automatic Transmission. - colinh

Have a Kia Niro, which uses the same drive-chain as the Ioniq. Previously had a Toyota Auris Hybrid, which used the same drive as the Prius. Find the DCT box more relaxing than the CVT, particularly living in a hilly area. With the CVT you are always waiting for it to drop down a gear, which, of course, it can't. Also find it's about 10% more economical. Also Toyota only give a 3 years warranty in Spain v. the 7 years from Kia.

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