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) |
| 73kWh RWD | 300 miles | 11hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 18mins (10-80%, 220kW) |
| 73kWh AWD | 287 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.
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.
The only real negative we can think of for this car is the lack of a rear wiper. 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 just under £40,000 for the entry-level SE Connect 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...
