Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
With more presence than most supercars, ultra-rapid charging and luxury-car-like ride quality and interior comfort, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is hard to fault
Pros
- Looks
- Comfort
- Ultra-rapid charging
Cons
- No rear wiper
- Price tag of top-spec version
- Range compared to some rivals
| Model | Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58kWh RWD | 240 miles | 9hrs 15mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 18mins (10-80%, 175kW) |
| 77kWh RWD | 315 miles | 11hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 18mins (10-80%, 220kW) |
| 77kWh AWD | 298 miles | 11hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 18mins (10-80%, 220kW) |
While Hyundai’s budget-minded Ioniq Electric hatchback and Kona Electric SUV offered the likes of the MG ZS EV, Kia e-Niro and Nissan Leaf stern competition, the Ioniq 5 has far loftier ambitions. The electric family car is the first in a new generation of zero-emission models from Hyundai, with the heavy hitters of the premium electric-car crowd squarely in its crosshairs.
In order to give it a chance against the likes of the Audi Q4 e-tron, Ford Mustang Mach-E, top-spec versions of the Volkswagen ID.3 and even the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y, Hyundai has loaded the Ioniq 5 with class-leading rapid-charging capability and space-age styling that'll turn more heads than a supercar.
Retro-inspired looks are taking over the market at the moment – and we're all for it if it means more creations like this on our roads. But it’s not just the wedge-shaped design, inspired by '70s and '80s hatchbacks, that makes the Ioniq 5 stand out. Chiselled body lines and details like '8-bit' headlights made from 256 individual LED ‘cubes’ are the sort of details you’d typically see on a concept car. It’s deceptively large, as well, with the space of an SUV but not necessarily the looks.
But the Hyundai’s cabin design stands out as much as its exterior styling does. Inside, the Ioniq 5 feels luxurious and spacious; even in the standard black colour scheme, it seems so much airier than its rivals – helped in no small part by the flat floor and wide dashboard. Quality is great, plus all models get a pair of 12.3-inch screens: one behind the wheel, and another central one for the infotainment as standard.
There's a choice of two battery sizes, as well as rear or four-wheel drive, so you should be able to find the right mix of performance and range you're looking for. Performance is fairly strong, although the Ioniq 5 isn't a Tesla-fighting drag racer: comfort and smoothness are the watchwords here, especially if you go for the 19-inch alloy wheels instead of the 20-inch rims that are offered on higher-spec models. With that being said, Hyundai is working on an Ioniq 5 N that’ll share parts with the frighteningly quick 577bhp Kia EV6 GT.
The only real negative we can think of for this car is the lack of a rear wiper – early cars offer next to no rear visibility in grimy weather. That, and the fact the Ioniq 5 can only cover just over 300 miles at most, if you opt for the larger battery and rear-drive, single-motor option. An April 2022 update added a digital central camera in an attempt to make up for the lack of rear wiper, while prices start from a little more than £41,000 for the now entry-level Premium trim, rising to over £56,000 for the range-topping all-wheel-drive Namsan Edition.
Overall, the Ioniq 5 is an outstanding electric car that proves to have as much substance as style; it's more than worthy of the internet-breaking anticipation that had built up ahead of its arrival. Hyundai has already announced that an Ioniq 6 saloon and Ioniq 7 seven-seater SUV are on the way in the next few years – and if they’re even on par with this first offering from the Ioniq sub-brand, premium rivals should definitely be worried. For a more in-depth look at the Hyundai Ioniq 5, read on for the rest of our detailed review...
