The Hyundai IONIQ hybrid gets a facelift to improve it for 2019

It arrived on the market three years ago, ready to revolutionise the market for battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, as it was the first to be offered in three electrified versions. Now it looks to position itself strongly against its increasingly present rivals, and the hybrid versions have been renewed aesthetically and technologically to be better prepared for the new challenges.

During 2019, Hyundai will bring the new versions of the Hyundai IONIQ to market with small, subtle changes to its exterior. It will be at the Geneva Motor Show that the Korean brand shows us all the changes live, although it has already previewed some of them, which we can see in these images.

Aesthetic and technological changes for the Hyundai IONIQ

The main change is centred on the front grille, which is always one of the simplest and most distinctive elements when making any bodywork change. The full-LED headlights are incorporated into the design, and the rear lights also adopt this technology to improve the light signature. As for the daytime running lights, they keep their position so as not to change something that clearly identifies it.

Apart from these changes, new bodywork colours are added, which we assume will reach all markets as an option alongside the existing colours. The interior, however, has been modified. Specifically, there is a new information and entertainment system headed by a 10.25-inch screen, compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This allows it to offer a good list of apps and online services to enhance the driving experience.

The screen forms a compact hub alongside the climate control buttons and provides a compact and attractive control layout. The driver assistance technology adds new elements, such as automatic emergency braking and the lane change warning system. And, above all, the one-pedal driving system. It also features an ECO+ driving mode and another that allows it to detect the best way to move through certain areas with more or less pollution.

The update to the electric Hyundai Ioniq will presumably arrive later, but for now the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are available to enjoy the model.