The 2017 Hyundai Ioniq is serious about upstaging the reigning king of green cars, the Toyota Prius. That hybrid icon has been without peer?until this year, when the Hyundai Ioniq sets its sights directly at the heart of the Prius market with its Ioniq hybrid, and beyond, with an all-electric Ioniq Electric variant.
First the Ioniq hybrid claimed the title of most fuel-efficient vehicle without a charging plug (58 mpg combined), while the Ioniq Electric nabbed most efficient electric vehicle (136 MPGe combined). And now Hyundai has announced pricing for both the Ioniq hybrid and Ioniq Electric that undercuts key rivals.
The base Ioniq Blue?the one that achieves the market-best mileage rating?sets the stage; this most affordable Ioniq starts at just $23,035. Next up is the Ioniq SEL, at $24,785, and the $28,335 Ioniq Limited, the top-of-the-line model that will add some of the most desirable features and options, such as leather, HID headlamps, a sunroof, and Infinity premium audio. For comparison, today?s base Prius Two starts at $25,575. Hyundai Ioniq hybrid models are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor/generator integrated within a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; total output is 139 horsepower.

The Ioniq Electric starts at $30,335 and has a 124-mile range with its standard 28.0-kWh battery pack?undercutting the $31,545 base price of the Nissan Leaf, which offers a lower driving range of 107 miles. The uplevel Ioniq Limited i...