Hyundai Ioniq: Not a cab, but worth hailing

IF YOU'RE trying to find a reliable car that's cheap to run, don't ask your friends or consult your brother-in-law (unless he reads this column religiously). Instead, have a look at what the taxi companies are buying. What cockamamie cab company would run a fleet of thirsty machines prone to breaking down, after all?

That says something about the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, which isn't quite ubiquitous as a taxi here yet, but if you stand by the road and wave your hand around, there's a fair chance that a blue or yellow one will pull over for you.

Hyundai trotted it out here almost exactly three years ago, which means the Ioniq Hybrid has gotten a scheduled facelift. It looks reasonably different rather than radically so, but there's no need to go over the exterior with a magnifying glass to find what's new. The front grille now has a mesh pattern instead of horizontal slats, and the lights have a distinctive new motif and almost resemble tusks.