Hyundai IONIQ 5 2023-2026

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 isn’t just an electric car It’s Hyundai’s attempt at offering futuristic design, new technology and sensibility for family car buyers while also making the switch to zero emission mobility. At its price, it also makes you wonder if you really need to buy entry-level luxury SUVs that cost the same or more.

I’ve driven the Ioniq 5 extensively in a variety of conditions and have also driven it completely to 0 percent charge to see what its real-world range is like. Here’s a detailed review.

The proportions of the Ioniq 5 are more hatchback than SUV; and you’d not be alone if you saw an evolved Volkswagen Golf Mk2 in the silhouette. Here’s the thing — the Ioniq 5 is deceptively large and one needs to see it in person to really grasp how it sizes up against cars you and I drive. In absolute numbers — save for its height— it’s larger than Hyundai’s own Tucson. Mind blown?

There are two parts as to why I think the Ioniq 5 manages to hide its size well: the razor sharp lines that slice through the bodywork and the large 20-inch alloy wheels. Once you’re done acknowledging the deception at play, there are a lot of intricate details for you to admire. The squared-off daytime running lamps, the flush-fitting door handles, the ‘pixel’ treatment for the rear lamps all lend the Ioniq 5 a likeable retro vibe. The paint options are interesting too: matte gold (our pick!), a deep black and a bright white.

Even the paint finish feels like something different and has a bare-steel like touch to it. The Ioniq 5 makes for a great attention grabbing tool.

Getting into the cabin is easy as the doors open wide and the seat isn’t too high. You do have to mind the thicker than usual side sills though. Once inside, what strikes you is the unique cabin design that looks like something we saw in the movies not too long ago. The two-spoke steering wheel doesn’t have the Hyundai logo and instead, is the letter H in morse-code. The floor is completely flat and you can slide from one seat to the other with no floor console to get in your way. The grey and ivory interior looks premium and you can get it in all black as well if you’d prefer.

Quality-wise, it feels well built. The plastic quality isn’t as rich as say, a Mercedes-Benz GLA or BMW X1, but everything from the window controls and paddle-shifters to the aluminium-detailed transmission stalk and steering-mounted controls use high quality materials.

Front Seats

You can walk inside this cabin and you don’t sink into the seats either. Both front seats are powered (driver gets two memory functions too), and the steering can be adjusted for rake and reach. All-round visibility is great, courtesy the low and compact dashboard. With the front seat setup for a six-footer, another can be comfortable at the rear as there’s ample kneeroom and headroom. The seat also gets an adjustable thigh support for improved comfort.

That being said, the gap between the seat and floor is a little lesser than we’d have liked. It sets you in a more knees up position and you may find yourself pulling your seat further back to get better under thigh support.

Rear Seats

For the aforementioned reason, the rear seat experience is slightly less comfortable than comparable German luxury SUVs. There’s also little room under the front seat for your feet, and the middle occupant sits slightly higher than the other two causing a pinch in headroom. Cabin space is generous though and even tall users will have ample legroom. The Ioniq’s rear seat is powered as well and you can play around with the recline and move the seat ahead if you need a little more boot space. The rear left passenger can also move the front passenger’s seat using the dedicated buttons to the side of the front seat. Thoughtful.

Storage Options

Courtesy of the born electric platform, the Ioniq 5 has practicality touches that are in many cases, quite unique. There’s a magnetic pad on the instrument console where you can stick photos or toll tickets. The front door pockets can hold a 1-litre bottle and some knick knacks but you also get a massive movable console in between the front seats. This console can hold 2 large bottles or cups, and there’s a big space that can even hold a small backpack! Below the central screen, there’s another storage pocket big enough for a large bottle and the glovebox that comes out like a drawer is possibly the biggest glovebox in any car.

Rear seat occupants get a storage area in the middle, door pockets to hold 1-litre bottles, a fold out armrest with two cupholders and seatback pocket/nets.

Charging Options

This is a long list! At the rear, you get 2 x type-C charging ports along with a 250V 16A 3-pin socket for the vehicle-to-load feature, which you can use for household appliances or perhaps, a cooler. Up front you get 2 more type-C charge ports, a USB type-A port, a 12V socket and a wireless phone charger.

Features

Hyundai is offering the Ioniq 5 in a single, fully loaded variant. Highlights include dual 12.3-inch displays, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, an 8-speaker Bose sound system and a fixed glass roof with a split-sunshade.

A unique feature is the ‘relaxation’ function on the front seats. At the touch of a button, the seats move backwards, recline completely and the ottoman is raised. This is perfect for when you want to catch a quick nap in the car while it’s charging.

Another highlight is the vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that includes a regular three-pin socket under the rear seats. Another way to power up appliances (or another EV!) is by using the charging port of the car. The external V2L adapter is offered as standard too! Other features include retractable rear sunshades, hands-free powered tailgate, drive modes and Alexa home-to-car connectivity.

The safety suite includes the usuals — six airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a high-resolution 360-degree camera, as well as ADAS. It has secured a full five-star safety rating in the Euro as well as Australian NCAP tests.

Boot space is rated at 527 litres which can be expanded to up to 1,587 litres. Do note that the boot is deep, but lacks height. Larger bags will have to be stacked horizontally which isn’t the most efficient use of the space at hand.

You also get a small 57-litre frunk that’s good for small items such as a puncture repair kit, tyre inflator and so on.

In the interest of keeping the asking price competitive, Hyundai India has chosen to offer the Ioniq 5 with a 72.6kWh battery pack and rear-wheel drive only. Globally, you can specify a smaller battery (58kWh), as well as all-wheel drive. Interestingly, AWD is offered in the Ioniq 5’s cousin — the Kia EV6. The ARAI-certified range is 631km which seems far-fetched. In the real world, you could expect the range to be in the whereabouts of 500km.

City Performance

217PS and 350Nm sounds juicy — it’s the equivalent of what a large diesel SUV puts out. It’s quite a lot quicker to 100kmph than your average SUV though, taking just 7.6 seconds. Admittedly, it does not feel like it’s in a super hurry to reach that speed. The acceleration is not ‘violent’ as we’ve experienced in other EVs, it’s progressive rather. This makes it very easy to live with in the city. Everything from basic commuting to overtakes are smooth and quick. As is the case with any electric car, the lack of gear changes makes long commutes even easier to deal with. 

Braking usually takes some getting used to in most EVs given regeneration is involved, but Hyundai has done an impressive job of making this process run seamlessly in the background. There are three selectable levels, but none feel intrusive or harsh. You can also switch the vehicle to a single ‘i-Pedal’ mode, that will let you commute using just the accelerator. Letting go of the throttle will have the Ioniq 5 gradually roll to a complete stop. In daily traffic, you can expect a range of 450km.

Highway Performance

You could get up to dizzying speeds quite easily too if you aren’t paying attention to the speedometer. And yes, since there’s power going only to the rear wheels, you can be naughty and slidey with it if you wish. Highway cruises, overtakes or driving on inclines is easier than buttering bread. The experience is as smooth as it is effortless. 

With higher speeds and lower regenerative braking opportunities, the Ioniq 5 can manage around 420km on a full charge. In both city and highway conditions, electric cars are sensitive to AC load and speed. When the temperatures outside aren’t too harsh and if you drive at say 80kmph on the highway instead of 100kmph, you can easily add 20-30km to your overall range.

Charging

Charge times for the Ioniq 5 are as follows:

Ride quality is expectedly firm with 20-inch wheels and relatively low profile tyres. On smooth surfaces, the Ioniq 5 leaves nothing to complain about. Speed breakers and surface level changes are dealt confidently too — the body settles practically immediately. We didn’t get the chance to experience it on some properly bad roads, so we’d reserve that judgement for when we actually sample the Ioniq 5 in our own backyard. But with 163mm of laden ground clearance, there’s not much to be worried about.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is available in a single, fully-loaded variant. 

As it stands, the Ioniq 5 is a thorough all-rounder. While the design baits you, spending time with it will have you growing fond of it quite quickly. The easy-to-drive nature and a realistically usable range sweeten the deal further. If you’re looking at spending around Rs 50 lakh on your next set of wheels and are willing to look beyond the lure of a luxury badge, the Ioniq 5 will not only meet your needs, but also exceed your expectations.

Other Cars To Consider

Kia EV6

Reasons to consider

• More exciting drive experience with the all-wheel drive

• Even more attention-grabbing design

Reasons to ignore

• Costs a lot more as it is a full import

BMW iX1

Reasons to consider

• Richer interior quality

• Allure of a luxury badge

• Better rear seat comfort

Reasons to ignore

• Not as well-equipped

• Design doesn’t stand out as much

BYD Sealion 7

Reasons to consider

• Much more premium interior

• Stronger performance and more range

Reasons to ignore

• Ride quality is very bumpy on our often unpredictable roads

• Infotainment system isn’t as intuitive to use

• BYD’s limited sales and service reach vs Hyundai’s