The Hyundai Ioniq 5’s design looks to the future, but it might just be the car that we need today
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is testament to just how much things have changed in recent years. A decade ago, the Korean firm was still shaking off its image as a budget brand, while the only electric cars that most of us had encountered came with a set of AA batteries and a remote control.
Now, millions of us are looking to go electric with our next car purchase, and Hyundai has one of the most striking and technologically-advanced offerings on the market.
UNDER THE BONNET
The Ioniq 5 starts at £36,995 with a single 170PS motor driving the rear wheels and a 58kWh battery. Our test car sits at the opposite end of the range, with a 73kWh battery and dual motor four-wheel drive, giving a combined total of 305PS and impressively potent performance. Perhaps more importantly, it will do 267 miles on a full charge, while the 800-volt battery can be charged (from 10 to 80 per cent) in as little as 18 minutes.
INSIDE
At first glance, the Ioniq 5 looks like a compact hatchback. It’s a neat trick that works just as well in the flesh. Until that is, you park it next to another car, when it becomes apparent that the Hyundai is a lot larger than it first appears.
Fortunately, you reap the benefits of this inside. The rear seats offer far more room than you’d find in a traditional hatchback, as does the boot. It’s clever too, with a sliding and reclining rear bench that can be slid backwards and forwards to maximise legroom or boot space. Likewise, the centre console can be slid backwards to give a completely flat floor for the front seat occupants. The front seats can also be fully reclined with an airline-style footrest if you want to catch 40 winks while you’re charging.
Overall, it’s a bright and airy cabin with a suitably high tech feel. All models come with a giant dual-screen display, while there are enough power sockets and USB ports dotted around the cabin to keep even the most tech-obsessed families occupied.
HOW IT DRIVES
In dual motor form, the Ioniq 5 sprints from 0 to 62mph in 5.2 seconds – just a tenth of a second shy of a Porsche Boxster. Overtaking performance is similarly vivid, with instant response and vast reserves of torque.
It’s surprisingly fun in the bends too. The Ioniq 5 rides with a loose-limbed pliancy that does result in a touch of body roll, but the chassis feels nicely balanced, while the steering loads up progressively and offers more feedback than you’d get in most of its competitors.
Around town, the Hyundai emits a faintly sci-fi hum to alert pedestrians to your presence, but at higher speeds there’s only a distant rumble from the tyres and a touch of wind noise, making it an excellent long-distance cruiser.
FINAL SAY
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is practical, distinctively styled and crammed with technology. If you’re on the lookout for an electric family car, it deserves to be on your shortlist.
SPEC AND TECH
Price: Ioniq 5 £48,145 as tested (range from £36,995)
Powertrain: Dual electric motors, 305PS combined power, 73kWh battery, single-speed transmission
Performance: 0 to 62mph in 5.2 seconds; top speed 115mph
WLTP Range: 267 miles
Efficiency: 3.1 miles per kilowatt hour (test average)
