If you are familiar with the Ioniq family, you might think you would recognize the Ioniq 5 at first sight, but no, you might be lost. While the name is similar to previous electric cars in the Ioniq family, the newly released Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a new look.
This is not the first electric vehicle from Hyundai, but previous electric vehicles, such as the Hyundai Kona, have the gas-engine option, while Ioniq 5 is an electric-only vehicle.
Ioniq 5 is a large electric car, a feature that compares it to big names in the class, such as the Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang, and Tesla Model 3. However, while other large vehicles are SUVs or saloons, Ioniq 5 looks more like a hatchback.
If you are a fanatic of electric cars and would love to have your hands on the Ioniq 5, here is what we have gathered about the full-electric car.
Performance and Drive
With the entry-level, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes fitted with a 58kWh battery matched to a 168bhp motor to power the rear wheels. With this, the car can reach 62mph in just 8.5 sec. A better option is a 73kWh battery mated to a 215bhp electric motor, reaching 62 mph in just 7.4 sec.
The fastest option comes with the same 73kWh battery but an extra motor to drive the front wheels, making it an all-wheel drive. This version has an engine power of 302bhp and can reach 62mph in just 5.2 sec. This version is a faster electric car than many of its counterparts like the Ford Mustang Mach-E Entended range AWD and any version of Volkswagen ID.4.
This feature also brings it closer to its primary rival in the class, the entry-level Tesla Model 3.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 is not just good for excellent engine performance, but the light, accurate steering is also one of the several features it brings to the table. The car has tighter body control and sharper handling than many of its competitors, and only the Mach-E and ID.4 can outperform it in this aspect.
However, the Ioniq 5 doesn’t feel composed on bumpy roads, especially when fitted with big, 20-inch wheels. The car thud over potholes and bumps, diminishing ride comfort. This is one key aspect where the Enyaq, Model 3, and ID.4 take advantage of the Ioniq 5.
Braking is smooth and quick with the Ioniq 5, thanks to the regenerative braking system. The braking system harvests energy to replenish the battery rather than letting it go wasted. One side effect of this is that the car slows down quicker when you release the accelerator than you would witness in a conventional car.
However, you can usually adjust the system to suit your driving style, thanks to the steering wheel-mounted paddles. With the adjustment, you decide if you want the car to come to a complete halt as you release the accelerator, even without touching the brake pedal. This is a new feature you will hardly come across in an electric car, not even in the Mach-E.
However, critics have reported that the road noise is disturbing in the Ioniq 5.
The Ioniq 5’s range depends on the version you go for. Hyundai said a fully charged battery would carry the 58kWh rear-wheel drive for 240 miles, the 73 rear-wheel drive for 300 miles, and the 73kWh all-wheel drive for 287 miles.
These are decent figures for an electric car in the price range, but some rivals offer more than these. If this is not enough to fit into your lifestyle, we will direct you to the Mach-E, offering up to 380 miles.
Range and Battery Life
The Ioniq 5 comes with an operating voltage of 800 volts, which places it side by side with the Audi e-Tron GT and the Porsche Taycan, both sharing the same advanced electrical architecture. However, Ioniq 5 doesn’t have enough battery juice to compete with these rivals.
Hyundai Ioniq’s powertrain supplies 77.4 kWh, which is charged 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. Tests also show that charging this electric car for 5 minutes adds 68 miles to its capacity, using a faster charger.
While the rear-drive version will cover 300 miles with its battery fully charged, the all-drive version will only carry you for 269 miles.
Interior
As mentioned earlier, the Ioniq is not an SUV-styled electric car but rather a hatchback. Even at this, the interior doesn’t compromise on comfort, thanks to the high driving position. This helps the driver have a good view of the road ahead. The interior also offers excellent visibility, owing to the big windows and door mirrors.
What is more, the instrument binnacle contains a monitoring system that displays the view in your blind spot, aiding safety.
Unfortunately, there are some setbacks, such as the lack of a rear windscreen wiper. While the full-electric car comes with the new feature of airflow at high speeds to dry the water on the rear windscreen, this might not be enough when there is too much water. Critics have attributed this to inconvenience when parking in the rain.
Another setback is with the dashboard. While the Ioniq shares similar interior features, such as a conjured 12.5in screen, the steering can block a part of the display. This depends on your driving position, though.
However, this doesn’t mean the infotainment system is not a good feature to discuss. Despite the critique, the infotainment system is large enough for users to use. The graphics are sharp, and the screen is responsive. Another bonus to the infotainment system is the physical shortcut buttons intelligently arranged below the screen.
The infotainment system also comes with simple switches on the steering wheel, complemented by voice control. While these might be present in the Volkswagen ID.4, the Ioniq boasts a huge improvement.
It doesn’t end there: the Ioniq 5 comes standard with other impressive features, such as Android Smartphones mirroring, Apple Carplay, and wireless phone charging. Plus, the top Ultimate trim comes equipped with a head-up display and a premium Bose sound system.
It is also worth mentioning that the climate controls are touch-sensitive, meaning that they require much of your attention to operate. This shouldn’t be an issue, though, as the controls are in a separate panel, so you can easily locate and use them.
It is also a shame that the Ioniq 5 doesn’t earn a good rating in design and interior layout. The plastics used in the interior, especially in the lower doors and the passenger’s side of the dashboard, are not quality enough to compete with the Ford Mustang Mach-E. However, even with this, Ioniq 5 outperforms the popular ID.4.
Passenger and Boot Space
As mentioned earlier, the Ioniq 5 is a big car with enough room inside, meaning enough leg and headroom. The central console is adjustable that you can slide it forwards and backwards if you are not comfortable with the position of the central armrest.
In the rear, the Ioniq has enough legroom even for taller adults to stretch out. Also, regardless of the driver’s driving position, the passenger seating behind him will have enough legroom left to him, not minding their heights.
Another interesting feature in the rear is the flat floor, meaning the central rear passenger has the whole floor space to himself.
Though the headroom might not be the best in the class, as taller SUVs have more to boast, adults can still sit comfortably without their heads touching the roof.
Seating flexibility is also an advantage in the Ioniq 5, but not how similar vehicles offer it. While the 40/20/40 has been the common pattern in the class, the Ioniq has a 60/40 pattern, meaning you don’t have full control over individual seats.
However, you can flatten the front seats, extending the leg rest to give you enough surface to rest while waiting for the car to charge. You can also recline the rear seats, but not to the same extent as the front seats.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Price
The Ioniq 5’s price is not a bad deal, compared to its primary rivals, the Volkswagen ID.4 and Ford mustang Mach-E. However, the Skoda Enyaq is a cheaper option than any of them.
While a fully charged Ioniq 5 might not carry you as long as its rivals would do, the rate of charging compensates for the lag. Charging the Ioniq 5 at 220kW charges the battery 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes at a public rapid charger. This takes half the time it takes an ID.4 to charge. Plus, every Ioniq 5 comes standard with ultra-fast charging ability.
The bad news is that only a few charging stations in the UK offer this charging speed. Though there will be enough of them in the nearest feature, it will take some time to match the fantastic Supercharger network for all Tesla.
However, there is something the Ioniq 5 can do that the Tesla can’t. The Ioniq 5 can use the external charging port as a power source, meaning you can charge another electric car through the external charging port, though with an adapter.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Gallery
