The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a new player in the field of electromobility, which successfully moves this segment a noticeable step further. Its trump cards currently include an imaginative and well-thought-out design, a spacious interior, 800 V architecture with the possibility of fast charging, decent range values and, last but not least, an interesting purchase price.
We have currently put the very top of the range of this model to the editorial test. The tested Ioniq 5 had a more capacious battery, all-wheel drive and the highest STYLE equipment, including the premium PREMIUM package.
Exterior – imaginative, robust and dynamic
The new Ioniq 5 is an unreal revelation in terms of exterior design, which does not simply leave the eyes of passersby in peace. Personally, I really appreciate its bold shaping combining a futuristic style with retro elements that refer to the historical Pony model.
Of course, I already knew the Hyundai Ioniq 5 from many photos and presentation videos, but meeting the Ioniq in real life will take your experience of this car to a completely different level. Before you focus on all its thoughtful lines, you'll be blown away by the sheer size of the car. The Ioniq 5 is a really big car with a long wheelbase, which hides its volume behind the shape of a classic hatchback.
The side profile of the car will offer a very dynamic silhouette, and the striking line that crosses both side doors and copies the slope of the rear part of the car is interesting. Also worth noting are the 20″ wheels with original shaping or the aerodynamic recessed cranks.
The front part comes with a rather strict and even bewitching look. The interestingly shaped lights, which are presented here as individual "pixels", are inserted into a continuous line effectively cut across the entire width of the car.
The rear part of the car has a similar motif. Here, the distinctive horizontal line is again equipped with individual "pixels", the active of which then creates rear lamps with a completely original light signature.
I was really impressed by the exterior of the new Ioniq. The car cannot be denied a large dose of imagination with a clearly legible reference to the history of the car company. I also have to praise the shape of the car, because the Ioniq 5 is quite robust, yet sufficiently dynamic.
Interior – comfortable, futuristic and spacious
The main advantages of the interior of the new Ioniq are above all the rich interior space, timelessness and high-quality workmanship. The richly dimensioned interior owes its spaciousness to the long wheelbase and completely flat floor, which also applies between the driver and passenger seats.
The seats will offer comfortable shaping and very decent proportions. In addition, the front positions have a relaxing position that you can use not only when charging the car. In this position, the seat is moved back, the seat back is completely folded down and the footrest is folded out from the front of the seat. The car user then has no choice but to play a preset sound of, for example, a crackling fireplace from the infotainment system and relax in peace.
An original shaped armrest is located between the front seats, which very imaginatively transitions into the storage box. All this forms one compact unit, which is also movable.
The rear positions really offer a lot of room not only for the knees, in the tested piece these seats were also equipped with an electronically adjustable backrest. The very comfortable rear positions offer a socket for both 12V and 230V, to which you can connect, for example, your laptop.
In the case of the new Ioniq, the topic itself is its dashboard. It will offer quite a futuristic and minimalist design. Its discreet and strictly horizontal division provides very good orientation and clarity. Its central theme is a pair of 12" displays, which together with the magnetic surface (bulletin) form one compact unit. The pair of displays has a graphically mastered and traditionally clear environment.
The multifunctional steering wheel is also interestingly shaped. Above all, its center and connection with the crown requires a moment of getting used to. The individual controllers evoke touch control, but this is a "button" classic. Within the steering wheel, the individual driving modes are changed, the steering wheel is equipped with a controller, the shape of which encourages you to turn, just as is the case with premium cars. However, the opposite is true, even the controller shaped like this remains faithful to the classic "button" switching.
The steering wheel is also equipped with "paddles", which are ergonomically well placed and look very good. In the case of the Ioniq, the car's recovery rate is controlled with them, so from the user's point of view, they are in considerable permanence.
The direction selector is located under the steering wheel, and this location is one of the things that contributed to the absence of a central tunnel and the achievement of greater airiness and spaciousness in the front seats.
The Ioniq 5 will therefore offer a timeless interior, which is also made from ecological materials. These are, for example, ecologically processed leather, or raw materials extracted from sugar cane, which are used for carpets, ceiling upholstery or seat covers.
The volume of the luggage compartment will offer a decent 527 liters of volume (497 in the case of the premium audio system) and decent floor plan dimensions, however, the loading edge is quite high and the luggage compartment is quite shallow. The Ioniq 5 will also offer storage space under the front hood, in the case of driving only the rear axle, this is 57 liters. In the case of driving both axles (4 x 4), only 24 liters of volume are available.
Electric propulsion system
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 stands on the new E-GMP chassis modular platform, which it shares with its half-sibling, the no less successful Kia EV-6. This platform uses 800 V architecture, which allows not only fast charging of the car.
The Ioniq 5 is available with a battery with two capacities (ECO and POWER), and also with three power settings. a battery with a smaller capacity (56 kWh, ECO) is only available with the weakest electric motor (125 kW power). The estimated range of this combination is 384 km. A battery with a higher capacity of 77.4 kWh (POWER) and in connection with an electric motor with a power of 160 kW will offer a range of up to 480 km. The top and also tested variant is a combination of a more capacious battery and a pair of electric motors, which offer the drive of both axles and a power of no less than 225 kW. The estimated range of this variant is 460 km.
The already announced 800 V architecture has so far only been available in premium electric cars, so the Ioniq comes with it in more affordable electric cars as well. Its advantage is double the voltage, which enables higher charging power (up to 235 kW). In reality, this means faster charging of the car or more subtle and lighter cables, which then heat up less.
Charging and driving impressions
The 800 V charging architecture used allows the Ioniq to charge really fast. Of course, the charging speed always depends on the chosen charging station and its performance. However, the most powerful charging stations are capable of charging the Ioniq 5 from 10 to 80% battery capacity in 18 minutes, or increasing the range by 100 km in just 5 minutes.
Another option to restore battery capacity is the traditional recuperation, which I really used a lot when driving with the Ioniq. The recuperation here is controlled through the paddles under the steering wheel and is excellently set, from zero (sailing) you "click" through three other levels of recuperation up to the fourth, which functions as the so-called i-PEDAL. A function thanks to which you are able to control the car only with the gas pedal in most situations. The user therefore works very well with recuperation.
An equally interesting function that only small electric cars offer is the so-called Vehicle To Load. The Ioniq 5 can be transformed into a mobile power bank with the help of an adapter and thus charge other electrical appliances with an input of up to 3.6 kW.
The Ioniq 5 takes the main advantage of electric cars, i.e. quiet driving, one step further. The car will offer a very comfortable chassis and excellent soundproofing of the interior. Really sufficient comfort prevails on board even in the case of the tested 20″ wheels.
The dynamics of the car completely exceeded my expectations, after all, we are testing the most powerful version with 225 kW of power (305 hp) and drive on both axles. The front electric motor will offer 70 kW of power, the rear will offer 155 kW of power. Even in this case, however, the car does not have any effective and sharp acceleration in the form of well-known "kicks". Its acceleration is amazing, of course, but it's continuous and completely addictive. In this specification, this over two-tonne vehicle reaches hundreds in just 5.2 seconds and the top speed is limited to 185 km/h. However, don't expect any sporty experiences from the car, the Ioniq 5 does have individual modes that also offer the SPORT mode. Sharper driving, however, comes up against its limits in the form of higher weight and, for me, a correctly tuned chassis for comfort.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is mainly about quiet and comfortable driving, which certainly does not only lead to the charging station.
And how is the consumption? I tested the car in weather that was not quite ideal for it, but despite the winter temperatures, a fully charged car achieved a very decent range of around 350 km, which turned out to be very realistic. The average consumption of the Ioniq 5 during the fully comfortable weekly test was around 23 kWh/100 km.
In conclusion
Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes with a very decent price policy, you can buy this not only imaginative electric car from CZK 1,099,990 including VAT. This is the ECO version with a 58 kWh battery, a 125 kW electric motor, only one axle drive and the SMART trim level. In the same specification and with a higher level of STYLE equipment, the Ioniq 5 is available from CZK 1,269,990.
Another variant offered is the POWER version with a 73 kWh battery, this version is available with a drive of either one axle and a power of 160 kW or both axles and a power of 225 kW. The 4 x 2 version in the STYLE equipment level starts from CZK 1,369,990, the 4 x 4 version from CZK 1,469,990 including VAT.
Additional packages include RANGE and PREMIUM packages. The RANGE package (40,000 CZK) will offer a heat pump for efficient heating and cooling of the interior (it is already standard for the POWER version). The PREMIUM package (CZK 80,000) enriches the car with, for example, 20" wheels, a Head-up display with projection onto the windshield, an assistant that prevents a collision when backing up, a remotely controlled RSPA autonomous parking assistant, 360-degree. camera system, leather seats (ventilated and relaxing in the front) with memory, electrically adjustable rear seats, ambient lighting, BOSE audio system or integrated rear window screens.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an electric car that definitely deserves praise. This car has moved electromobility a significant step further, its main advantages include a decent range, fast charging, an imaginative and innovative design, a spacious interior and, last but not least, a reasonable purchase price.
Source: Author's text
Image source: Author's own photos
