HYUNDAI IONIQ5

Having achieved significant Awards in 2022, as World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year and World Car Design of the Year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is still one of the best electric SUVs on sale today, even with a growing list of competitors. True, it looks a little more like a retro-themed hatchback than a traditional SUV, but the styling definitely helps it stand out. It also impresses with its spacious and comfortable seating, smooth ride and many standard driver assist features, as well as its excellent fast-charging capability and fun-to-drive character. If you're looking for a well-rounded EV, the Ioniq 5 will easily satisfy you.

Performance

The Ioniq 5 is an easy EV to get acquainted with and makes a great daily driver. With the dual electric-motor setup, the Ioniq 5 AWD provides excellent traction and smooth and responsive acceleration, with 0-100 kmh in just 4.7 seconds, slightly edging out the Tesla Model Y Long Range and well ahead of a comparable Ford Mustang Mach-E model. Around-town driving is smooth and easy. The amount of regenerative braking — this is where an EV slows down after you let off the accelerator and helps recharge the battery pack — is adjustable, so you can dial in the amount you prefer. The switch to the regular friction brakes is also so smooth that you'll likely never notice. Another pleasant surprise is the Ioniq 5's handling. You can hustle this EV around turns and actually have some fun doing it.

Comfort

The Ioniq 5 has a supple ride over bumps and ruts in the road. Even the largest imperfections in the road surface don't cause undue jostling or vibrations in the cabin. It's easily one of the most well-composed cars in its class. The front seats are soft and supportive. The climate control system works well, and it's easy to keep things nice and comfortable inside the cabin. Plus, the lack of excess noise in the Ioniq 5 means the whirring of the fans is what you'll hear most. Road and tire noise is well hushed, and wind noise only gets noticeable at high speeds.

fast-charging capability

Most EV owners do most of their charging at home but there are times when you'll need to stop at a public DC fast-charging station, such as when you're driving longer distances for a road trip. In instances like this, the Ioniq 5 is a standout, being one of the quickest-charging EVs at an appropriate DC fast-charging station. You'll need to connect to a high-powered 350-kW station to make the most of the Ioniq 5's ability, but doing so allows you to spend less time charging and more time driving than you would with its main rivals. .

Technology

The Ioniq 5 comes well stocked with technology features. Most of them are standard, and the available Highway Driving Assist 2 feature is Hyundai's latest combo of enhanced adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance. The aids work well enough to help reduce driving fatigue and avoid possible collisions. The Ioniq 5 also comes with Hyundai's Bluelink app, which allows owners to control a number of the car's functions. You can turn on the heater or air conditioning before driving, set charge time limits, and see charging stations from the app. There is also the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and the whole infotainment system is zippy and relatively easy to get the hang of by way of the big 12.3-inch touchscreen.

Storage

The Ioniq 5 is not the king of overall storage space. It offers a boot capacity of 527 lt, which is less than its competitors Mach-E or Tesla Model Y. Those models also offer far more usable front trunks too. The one in the Ioniq 5 is barely large enough to store the charging cable the car comes with. At least the rear seats fold flat, which is convenient for loading longer items. The cabin is full of cubbies and places to stow bottles, wallets and phones. And the movable center console is pretty cool even if it's of questionable use. Got small children who need safety seats? We found the car seat anchors to be pretty accessible, and the rear seat recline-and-slide function makes for easy access to the top tether points. The expansive rear legroom ensures that there shouldn't be too much compromise to front seat comfort if you're installing a rear-facing safety seat.

Range and Efficiency

Depending on the chosen battery variants: 58 kWh (Standard Range) or 77.4 kWh (Long Range), you get a decent range of 440 or 570 km respectively (546 for the AWD version), according to WLTP. Recharging can be done at home or at public charging stations. Notably, the Ioniq 5 is compatible with the latest high-powered DC fast-charging stations. Previously, only high-end EVs such as the Porsche Taycan had such compatibility. Just know that these powerful 350-kW chargers are still pretty rare — most DC fast-charging stations you'll come across are capable of providing 50 kW to 125 kW. Even so, you can kind of consider the Ioniq 5 to be future-proofed to take advantage of more powerful fast charging as it rolls out in the coming years.