The SUV’s large wheelbase allows for an impressively spacious interior.
The Ioniq 5 is finally in production, evoking the spirit Hyundai’s first production car, the 1975 Pony. We’re not looking at the hatchback with Mitsubishi engines that was the first Hyundai car, but a midsize SUV built from the ground up to be an electric vehicle. It is the E-GMP platform’s first prototype and the production equivalent to the 45 Concept at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The Ioniq 5’s design has been largely unchanged by keeping the same angular lines and minimal overhangs. We are bringing this up. The sleek profile of the Ioniq 5 is enhanced by its pop-out door handles. Cameras are not legal everywhere in the world. Official images show the EV with traditional glass mirrors.
These 20-inch alloy wheels, which are aero-optimized and shaped like the concept car, are the largest Hyundai has ever installed on an electric vehicle. The rear and front are lit by rectangular, pixel-like LEDs that evoke the concept car. For added convenience, the vehicle has charging ports on both ends. Hyundai’s first clamshell hood, it is as wide as the vehicle. This helps reduce panel gaps.
The new Ioniq 5 measures 4,635 millimeters (182.5 in) long. A good portion of its length is made up by the huge wheelbase that spans at a generous 3,00 mm (118.1in). Hyundai claims that the midsize SUV measures 1,890mm (74.4in) wide by 1,605mm (63.2in) high.
The interior takes full advantage the dedicated EV platform and has a flat floor. The engineers were able to create a sliding central console at the front of the car thanks to this layout. The car can be moved back as far as 140mm (5.5 inches), making it ideal for parking in tight spots.
The wheelbase is 100mm (3.9in) longer than the Palisade. This makes the interior impressively spacious for an SUV this large. The cargo volume is 531 liters (18.7 cubes) behind the rear seats. This can be extended to almost 1,600 liters (56.5 cubes) if you fold down the second row.
The Ioniq 5 is a true electric vehicle and not an adaptation of a platform that was originally designed for combustion engines. It also features a front trunk. Its capacity will vary depending on whether the vehicle is rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive. RWD models have a larger capacity of 57 liters, while AWD models can hold 24 liters. This is likely due to the additional hardware that the front electric motor commands. The North American version, regardless of the version, has a smaller frunk.
The dashboard features two 12-inch screens – one for driver’s display, the other for infotainment – both of which are housed in large pieces of glass akin to Mercedes-Benz. The premium brand Ioniq 5 has the three-pointed star badge and the gear selector on the lever behind the steering wheel. It also features a head-up display with Augmented Reality support.
Front seats were also made thinner than normal to achieve excellent rear legroom. All seats can slide forward and backward, with the front ones reclined “to the optimal angle” to provide a light feeling for the occupant. Many interior touches are made of recycled materials including PET bottles.
Another neat feature to mention is the solar roof. This solar roof harvests the sun’s energy, and transfers it to the battery pack for increased range. By using one large, transparent glass panel with no support material, the roof makes the interior seem larger than it is.
Customers can choose from either 58 kWh batteries or 72.6kWh (77.4-kWh packs for the US-spec) models. The base model comes with a single motor at the back. A beefier variant is available with dual motors and an all-paw mechanism. All models can reach speeds of 115 mph (185 km/h), regardless of their configuration.
The Ioniq 5 is equipped with one motor and the smaller of the two battery packs. It produces 168 horsepower (125kilowatts) as well as 350 Newton-meters (258 pound-feet). It can go from 0 to 60 mph (100 km/h), in just 8.5 seconds. The AWD model is equipped with a smaller battery, and the rear motor produces 161 horsepower (120 kW) as well as 350 Nm (258 Lb-ft) when combined with a front motor that produces 71 hp (53.3 kW) or 255 Nm (288 lb-1ft). This configuration allows for a sprint time of 6.1 seconds, and 232 horsepower (173 kW) combined with 605 Nm (446 Lb-ft).
The new Hyundai EV is available with a larger battery and rear-wheel drive. In this case, the electric motor at the back produces 215 hp (161 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) to complete a sprint in 7.4 seconds. The Ioniq 5 with its larger battery and AWD is the most powerful and fastest of all. It has 208 horsepower (155 kW), 350 Nm (258 Lb-ft) and 350 Nm (258 Lb-ft), respectively, and 94 HP (70 kW) & 255 Nm (128 lb-1t) from both the front and rear motors. This allows for the sprint to be completed in just 5.2 seconds. The total output is 302 HP and 605 Nm (446 Lb-ft).
The battery can be charged in as little as 18 minutes if it runs out of juice. This is possible thanks to 800 V charging and a 350-kW charger. According to WLTP, a charge of five minutes will provide enough power for 62 miles (100 km) of range. According to Hyundai’s estimates, the rear-wheel-drive version with a larger battery can reach 298 miles (480 km) of range. However, the final numbers are still in flux.
The Ioniq 5 can be used to charge electric equipment via the built-in V2L function. It can draw power from both the port under the rear seats as well as an external port. The latter works even when the vehicle is off.
The Ioniq 5 will arrive later in the year with nine exterior colors, five of which are exclusive to this model, and four interior colours. It is the first model of the newly created Ioniq subbrand. In 2022, the lineup will include the Ioniq 6 production model of the Prophecy Concept. In early 2024, a larger SUV called the Ioniq 7 will be available.