Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review - Is this the EV to help you take the plunge?
The electric car conundrum
Electric cars. I have a love-hate relationship with them. I love the way they drive, I love their green credentials, but I hate the constant charger lottery.
I rocked up at Newport Pagnell services on the M1 the other day to charge my latest test car, the newly updated Hyundai Ioniq 5. The car was showing 68 miles left in the battery, so I decided to top-up as I was heading north for a further 200 miles before I reckoned I’d need to stop again. I always put in more charge than I probably need, just in case there’s a problem with the chargers. On a couple of occasions, I’ve arrived at a service station only to discover that all of the chargers are out of action, meaning I need to rejoin the motorway and aim for the next service station which could be, say, 30 miles away. A mild panic can start to set in.
On a long-ish journey (320 miles for me), you need to allow for probably two hours of sitting in service stations, assuming everything is hunky dory.
Critically acclaimed and now more affordable
I rated the outgoing Hyundai Ioniq 5 model as one of the best electric cars around so it was time to see what the new version was like. It seems to have been a hit with critics too, winning multiple awards over the last couple of years.
If you’re interested in getting one, the good news is that the price has dropped in recent times. Prices now start at a tempting £39,900 (Dec 24).
Range, performance and charging times
Battery sizes (and therefore range) have now improved. Entry-level trims get a choice of 63kWh (168bhp) or longer range 84kWh (228bhp). Add £3500 for the longer range set-up. Move up the trim range, and you get the option for an 84kWh battery with a higher output rising to an impressive 321bhp, as well as all-wheel drive. Hyundai reckons that the lowest power battery will deliver a range of around 270 miles with a 0-60 time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 114mph.
Go for the bigger battery and you’ll see your range climb to 320 miles, with 0-60mph now achievable in 7.5 seconds. The all-wheel drive model sees the 0-60mph time drop to a brisk 5.3 seconds and although your range takes a bit of a hit, it only drops to a still decent 307 miles. You also take a hit in the pocket with starting prices rising to a shade over £50k, although you do get improved levels of kit.
Another plus is that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has terrific charging capacity and can get you from 10-80% in a shade under 20 minutes. Pretty good going.
Minimal exterior changes
Talking of added kit, anyone who has driven an SUV or hatchback will know how dirty the rear screen can become. Thankfully, Hyundai has seen sense and now fits a rear wiper. Other than that, exterior changes are minimal. There are slightly different wheel designs, and the lights have had a bit of tinkering, but the design was terrific when the car first arrived on our shores, and it still looks fresh, so there was no need to do anything drastic.
Interior
The interior gets an updated infotainment system. It’s a good’un, clear and with loads of physical buttons to keep things simple when you’re on the move. The twin 12.3-inch digital screens look good too.
There’s a seriously premium feel to the interior. It looks great, and is roomy and comfortable. There’s a decent size boot too.
Every Ioniq 5 is well appointed. Even the entry-level Advance trim comes with goodies like heated front seats and steering wheel, electric lumbar support for the driver, keyless entry, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, air con, sat nav, and a raft of safety equipment.
Out on the road
One minor gripe I originally had with the outgoing Ioniq 5 was its soft-ish ride. Hyundai has addressed this and tightened up the suspension settings. You can really tell. It’s now much more settled on undulating roads, but it’s still not harsh at slow speeds. A handy compromise.
When I’ve been testing this car, I often notice that it gets admiring glances. Yes, the exterior is ultra-modern, but it’s not too shouty and it’s easy to see why it has been such a critical success.
Say goodbye to petrol or diesel power
The bottom line is that if you are looking for an all-electric car which can transport you for realistic distances yet be charged in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, then this could be the car which makes you finally take the plunge to say goodbye to petrol or diesel power.
It’s decent value too in comparison to other electric cars. The smallest battery will be perfectly adequate for most people but the long range power unit gives you added flexibility as well as a performance boost. It’s probably worth the extra outlay.
It’s a tough call but I reckon Hyundai is arguably leading the race when it comes to developing a range of electric cars for the future.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Hyundai
