Triple test: Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Volkswagen ID.4

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has received plenty of praise since its introduction. But how does it hold up against some of the best electric family cars around?​

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Volkswagen ID.4

These days it's hard to find a carmaker that isn’t already producing or developing an electric SUV. This type of car promises space, comfort and practicality along with style and the usual electric-car benefits of strong performance and low running costs. So models like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 have become the go-to family cars right now.

With such hot competition, the Ioniq 5 electric family hatchback needed to stand out. It 'broke the internet' when it was revealed in 2021, as people fell in love with its retro '70s-inspired styling and concept-car features. It still looks like nothing else on the road. The Ioniq 5 has a circa-£42,000 starting price, but certain versions are priced closer to £55,000, placing Hyundai’s zero-emissions family car directly in the crosshairs of the likes of the ID.4 and Mach-E.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Pros: Style, interior, comfort

Cons: Top-spec price, no rear wiper, fidgety ride over some bumps

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Pros: Fun to drive, infotainment, refinement

Cons: Firm ride, lacks serious performance, rapid-charging capability

Volkswagen ID.4

Pros: Range, space, practicality

Cons: Fiddly infotainment, performance, interior quality

All of these cars have impressed us in the past for various reasons – but stick them side-by-side and it might already seem like the ID.4 is being left behind by the rakish Mach-E and show-stopping Ioniq 5. But can Volkswagen still snatch victory from the Ford or the Hyundai? Let’s find out...

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