The Hyundai the Ioniq 5 compact crossover made its debut Monday evening and it’s another win for the brand’s styling department. Despite being known as budget-minded automakers by Hyundai and Kia have delivered some of the most interesting designs the industry has to offer and with surprising consistency. The Ioniq 5 simply carries that formula into a product line that offers a healthy variety of battery, powertrain, and charging options without aiming too high or low.
Based on the Hyundai 45 EV concept from 2019, the Ioniq crossover looks as though it could be a show vehicle. But Hyundai has confirmed that this is actually the production version. The model’s angular design is interesting in itself and requires minimal embellishment, though the Parametric Pixel headlamps are a great touch and really help set the vehicle apart. While it won’t be the car for everyone, it certainly has its charms and will turn plenty of heads until more automakers decide to ape its style.
Underpinned by the manufactures’ new Electric-Global Modular Platform, the Ioniq crossover (more of a hatchback, really) was intended to be an EV from inception. This helped Hyundai maximize interior volume by not having to worry about pesky items like a transmission tunnel and promises that the Ioniq 5’s interior is airy and cavernous. It also allowed for the vehicle to have a longer wheelbase (118.1 inches) than the Palisade, despite the model’s overall dimensions placing it just a step above the Tucson. For those who don’t want to break out the measuring tape, that’s 182.5 inches long by 74.4 inches wide with a relatively short height of just 62.2 inches.
Alleged to be offering 18.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, the Ioiniq 5 really sweetens the pot with the seats folded down so drivers can enjoy 56.2 of storage bliss. European models also come with another 2 feet of space in the frontal trunk while the North American units halve that space.
Trim has been broken down into four categories. The Standard Range 2WD (rear) configuration offers a compact 58-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that juices up the 160-kilowatt rear motor. Hyundai claims the setup offers 218 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque (converted from Nm). The standard model can also be had in all-wheel drive, though this comes with the added benefit of a second motor capable of driving the front wheels and a not-so-modest bump in output. Standard AWD units come with 235 hp and 446 lb-ft of immediate torque.
Long Range variants come with a larger 77.4-kWh energy source, though some markets (not ours) will get a slimmed-down version of it. Sadly, the latter is the only one Hyundai has any test data for at present and it’s using the famously optimistic European WLTP testing cycle to estimate range. But it’s hardly a disaster at 300 miles and may even sway a few shoppers who have been underwhelmed by other electric vehicles with a smaller operating area.
While the Long Range 2WD uses the same rear motor as the Standard Range, AWD versions get a beefed-up front motor resulting in a combined output of 306 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai said it has managed to clock the crossover hitting 60 mph in 5.2 seconds (vs the Standard Range 2WD’s 8.5 seconds).
The Ioniq 5 is said to be capable of recharging at up to 350 kW, if you can find the applicable DC fast-charging solution. While 240-volt and 110-volt will also be available, the manufacturer wants to flaunt its maximum charging capacity. Hyundai is claiming 350 kW should allow the car to absorb enough energy for 62 miles of range in a 5-minute fast charge scenario or get you back up to 80 percent (from 10 percent) after 18 minutes. You can even use the vehicle to recharge other devices, something the company promised it would discuss at length in the near future. All we know now is that output will be about 3.6 kW with the possibility of more with the correct adaptor.
Outside of the brand equipping it with all the latest digital bells and whistles (Hyundai’s SmartSense, Remote Parking Assist, augmented reality HUD, BlueLink, 12-inch touchscreens), we’re still sitting in the dark on a few issues. Pricing, passenger volume, economy figures, and recharging capabilities are all supposed to be forthcoming. But Hyundai did let slip that the interior would be blessed by a column-mounted shifter, which is the only way to fly for laid-back and spacious cruising.
Availability could be a little wonky with everyone suffering from parts shortages and these EVs never seem to launch without some kind of trouble. But Hyundai would like to make the Ioniq 5 available in the most receptive markets by summer, with the U.S. launch scheduled for autumn.
[Images: Hyundai]
The front got my attention, in a positive way!
But too bad about that big, diagonal goober along the side.
The side view is very Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon.
It’s a good-looking vehicle, and looks post-modern because it’s missing the license plates and door handles. The white interior (with passenger doors removed for effect) is sharp, but not practical in the real world.
H/K is putting very strong competitive pressure on all other automakers. They had better be paying attention, especially if the quality control issues are reined in.
I like it. interesting. a little polarizing without being confrontational about it. gj.
I agree. Very sharp looking vehicle, but that crease doesn’t do it any favors.
That’s my favorite feature. Reminds me of a fighter jet from the Sixties, the Delta Dagger. Or was that a rock band!
Overall, I Iove this styling. Clean, lean and athletic. Very Germanic, too. With a few tweaks, it could be the next Golf.
Why has every car introduced in the last 15 years been required to have an angry face? The roads are too full of aggression and anger as is.
I agree, its subtle but its there. Why can’t we get some more smiles like the Neon (but much better)?
Hi.
(for those old enough to remember the Neon’s ad campaign)
I remember it well, a primitive video about it came on a demo disk for a Star Wars DOS game (TIE Fighter?).
Had one as a rental soon after it debuted.
Literally didn’t want to be seen in it! And my God, the squeaky brakes when cold!
As to the Ioniq 5, it’s got lots of Ford Freestyle mixed with with a touch of Lexus CT.
The 2nd Gen CTS is my favorite “smiling” car. That was a good design GM pulled off.
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This new Ionic 5 has headlights modeled after the eyes of a scowling cartoon bulldog with amblyopia.
“Why has every car introduced in the last 15 years been required to have an angry face? ”
Because of Internet, FB, Twitter and so on. It is a new digital/cancel culture. Angry people are cool again. Angry people win in confrontation, they are are committed to wipe out enemy, no mercy shown. New digital virtual world where you kill enemies with no consequences and get deep satisfaction. It is a dark forest out there in digital world.
I agree, but I don’t miss the grinning Mazdas of yore either. This face seems more neutral, maybe a little grumpy. I’m just thankful it doesn’t have a massive grille.
this didn’t seem overly angry to me. more determined than angry with a subtle hint of being disappointed.
I feel your pain. This car face doesn’t seem angry as much as remote, robotic- and an obvious reference to the giant silver robot in “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” If you don’t remember Gort, look it up!
I do way too much long-distance driving for this… Take this concept, but put a good hybrid/plug-in system in it, I would be interested…
I like it. This could be the car that makes me go electric.
Recliners, white leather, and some slight Delta Integrale flavors?
This is a win.
Maybe not so much from the front but the rest of it looks very euro-French. I don’t know how it’d fare in the US but I suspect it’ll do well in other parts of the world.
Lines look clean to me.
A 3.6 kw UPS function is brilliant.
Please stop saying 110 volts. It’s 120 volts. 2 x 120V = 240 volts. Most homes in the US have split phase 120/240V power. No where can you find 110 volts.
My uncle lived in a home with 208Y/120V, or three phase power. He had three phase motors in his homes air conditioner – very efficient, no capacitors needed for motor starting and running. .
Parts of Europe have had 380Y/220V, 400Y/230V and 415Y/240V but for the last 20 years or more they have been standardizing on 400/230V.
But no 110V – anywhere.
This is the leading candidate as my next EV, if it’s truly ready by fall.
The 800V charging make the quick fillups possible, if you can find such a station.
I’m still not a fan of recessed door handles. They require awkward hand motions, they are overly complex, and they aren’t great in snow and freezing rain.
I’ve seen price estimates all over the place, so I’m not sure what to expect. It won’t be super cheap.
Maybe this time I’ll buy instead of lease, and maybe I’d go for the long-range version. The efficiency is less than I would expect; the Model 3 gets a lot more from its similar-sized battery, at least on paper.
Guess I’ll have to relocate my charger again.
I dont always agree with you however I can say one thing about you. You are n not a brand specific person. You seem to pick product over name with your needs as a driver coming first and foremost. I respect that.
Looks like an Audi, which is a good thing.
It also has an handy “battery to load” feature with a built in inverter for powering household items from the traction battery. Very handy for camping or in a power outage.
Interesting side effect of a dedicated EV platform: The proportions make this thing look high-end. Apparently the wheelbase is longer than the Palisade’s, which also bodes well for ride quality.
Right now we’re a one-car family that does quite a few road trips, so an EV is a non-starter, but as a product this looks really good.
Styling is subjective but the IQ5 looks promising in pictures except for the steeply raked hatch stealing precious seats-up cargo space. A darker minimalist interior probably looks (and wears) better as it seems rather basic in white.
Because renting a ICE vehicle for road trips is a stop gap measure towards BEV adoption, a 300 mile range + fast charging hits the lower end of the sweet spot for 100% ICE replacement capability in most driving situations.
I’ve read measurements indicating the IQ5 is about CRV sized which some commenters say is too large. However, with compact to mid sized CUV’s dominating the market, any mainstream BEV must be at least this size and up to reach the widest audience.
You’re right. It is roughly the size of a CR-V (if not a wee bit bigger) with a lowered ride height.
I’ll take an angry face over the old “smiling fat lip” Mazda had on the last or next to last gen 3 sedan. A vehicle’s looks are pretty far down on my priority list, and I generally like Mazda, but that front end would have been a deal breaker for me.