Of all the new electric models coming this year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the one that best demonstrates that affordable electric cars don’t have to look like everything else. There’s room to reformat the car and incorporate some rad cues from the past, without losing focus on a future that doesn’t involve exhaust emissions.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5, with its classic hatchback form, adorned with a pixelated design, and if you can pull from the cultural reference points of the 1970s or 1980s, you’ll see Rubik’s Cubes and 8-bit characters. While this may be an homage to Hyundai’s Giugiaro-style Pony, which was never sold in the US, Americans will see Omnis and Rabbits if they glance just right.
That said, what looks very classic from the outside is made possible by a most modern architecture underneath. The Ioniq 5 is the first car built on a 800 volt global platform for EVs, called E-GMP, allows for weight savings, a modern battery pack, faster charging and bidirectional capabilities that turn the vehicle into a portable power bank.
Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP Platform
Look inside and you’ll understand the impact of an uncompromising platform for the fuel tank, engine and exhaust. The Ioniq takes up the parking space of a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but it feels huge inside if you just look at the legroom and spaciousness. That’s because it rides on an 118.1-inch wheelbase, with a battery pack flat under the floor – allowing some components like climate control to be pushed under the hood. The rear seat backs slide forward and backward, and the “Relax” feature for the driver’s seat helps support the legs for naps while charging is stopped.
Those stops won’t be long. The Ioniq 5 charges from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes, taking advantage of the 350 kw CCS DC fast charging hardware, or it can fully charge at Level 2 (240V) in less than 7 hours with a 10.9-kwh charger on the board.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Models with the 77.4 kWh battery pack can be had with single- or dual-motor rear-wheel drive, with EPA-rated ranges of 303 miles and 256 miles, respectively. Basic SE version with 58 kWh battery pack will be available in spring 2022; It is only available in single-engine form and is rated for 220 miles.
There is a performance difference between the two layouts. The dual-engine versions make 320 hp and 446 lb-ft and hit 60 mph in about 5.0 seconds, while the single-engine version makes 225 hp and 258 lb-ft and takes about two seconds more.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Starting at $40,925 with a standard 58 kWh battery pack, going up to $55,725 when fully charged in dual-motor Limited form, the entire Ioniq 5 lineup trumps the Tesla Model Y and certainly looks more interesting. Cabin materials bring style and sustainability orientation; impressive feature set for the money; luxury ride quality; and this is probably the quietest interior of any affordable EV crossover.
We wanted to think both big picture and pragmatic with our Best Car to Buy, and here the Ioniq 5 fits into an unusual space.
The Ioniq 5 isn’t perfect, but it’s very close to the ideal we think a lot of shoppers are looking for in a compact crossover format. The only glaring technology shortcoming – the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – could be fixed, ironically, with a future over-the-air update. So it’s likely the lack of Plug and Charge technology, which removes the checkout step from the charging experience and makes it feel exponentially better.
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
That said, there are some important tech firsts to the Ioniq 5. In addition to being the first affordable EV from an all-line automaker built with 800-volt technology, it It’s also the first to offer two-way charging — if you don’t count the Nissan Leaf and its never-before-seen capabilities in North America. With one Features Truck (V2L), the Ioniq 5 can power a campsite or a bunch of tools or gear, or it can charge another EV.
While the Ioniq 5 sets a new, much higher standard for the rest of the industry in terms of what an affordable, efficient EV can achieve, there’s one thing we can’t deny: countability. availability. Hyundai only plans to initially offer it at Ioniq-approved dealers in the California ZEV states plus a few others — up to 18 states. A rollout in more states is due later next year, but Hyundai wouldn’t say when the Ioniq 5 will be a vehicle in all 50 states, let alone truly mass-market entry. Volkswagen ID.4. For what is supposed to be Hyundai’s groundbreaking model and the first to sell far beyond compliance numbers, we find that disappointing – especially considering how great the Ioniq 5 is. any.
Will that distrust be enough to push the Ioniq 5 to the top of the list? Check back January 3 for our winners.
