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Ready to say goodbye to the gas pump? If you are, you’re not the only one. Plenty of car shoppers are opting for EV models as of late. If you’re going to bid adieu to fossil fuels, however, you probably want an EV that’s actually a good car too. Unfortunately for EV shoppers, that means steering clear of the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV.

2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV driving
2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV | Hyundai

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV’s range just isn’t enough

The Hyundai Ioniq EV does benefit from a larger 38.3-kWh battery, which increased its overall range to 170 miles. While that may sound like a lot, 170 miles is nothing compared to many of its competitors. Motortrend reports that the Tesla Model 3 provides about 263 miles, and Hyundai’s Kona EV can cover roughly 258 miles on a single charge. According to Car and Driver, rivals like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and the Nissan Leaf Plus both offer more driving range than the Ioniq EV too.

It’s not enjoyable to drive and isn’t very comfortable either

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV isn’t very enjoyable to drive either. According to Motortrend testing director Kim Reynolds, its “heavy understeer, mediocre power, and modest braking” were less than impressive. But, Motortrend says, what stood out most to Reynolds was how “the inside front wheel likes to spin exiting the corners,” resulting in a “terrible squeal.”

Its brakes leave much to be desired too. Car and Driver called its braking performance pretty dismal, adding that “it took 191 feet to stop from 70 mph, at least in part to its low-rolling-resistance tires.” Motortrend agreed, reporting that the “Ioniq stopped from 60 mph in 126 feet, a bit behind the Bolt’s 123-foot stop and Mini Cooper SE’s 119-foot result.”

It’s not very comfortable either. Motortrend reports that the suspension is so stiff that its test driver found themselves bracing for impact at the sight of potholes. They added that its “front and rear damping seems out of sync, causing lots of bobbing and swaying even on smoother surfaces” too.

It’s not all bad news, though. Motortrend reports that its infotainment system is intuitive to use. It offers up plenty of other tech too, and according to Motortrend, makes for a decent enough commuter car when equipped with the available Highway Drive Assist system.

2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV Driving
2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV | Hyundai

There are plenty of other options available

Fortunately, the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV isn’t the only option out there. In fact, the EV market has been pretty hot as of late. Meaning, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from if you’re after an EV model.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Kona EV, and the Nissan Leaf Plus all offer better driving range than the Ioniq EV. Motortrend reports that the Chevrolet Bolt EV and the Tesla Model 3 are also faster than the Ioniq EV.

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV just isn’t a good car

EV shoppers can do a whole lot better than the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq EV. Really, with so many other better options to choose from, why even consider an EV that’s already lagging so far behind its competitors? There’s no reason to.

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