If you would have told five-year-old, Gran Turismo obsessed me that the car I would be most excited about reviewing for 2022 would be a Hyundai, and an electric one at that I would have probably shed a tear or two from laughter. However, twenty years later here we are, and the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 definitely has me saying “dibs!”.
First things first, the looks. I truly believe that this will be one of those cars that people will either love or hate the look of. Personally, the retro-futuristic, iDog reminiscent styling has won me over, it manages to be nostalgic and different but not just for the sake of being so all at once and in your face – I absolutely love it.
Some highlights of the exterior are the unique LED headlights and parametric pixel taillights. There is an overarching theme of aerodynamics focused design too, the flush mount door handles, clamshell hood and the fractal 20-inch wheels, which are included in our tester’s Ultimate package are quite good looking compared to the usual mundane shoes fitted to most EVs.
Moving inside, the IONIQ 5 feels modern. In place of standard analogue dials, you are greeted with two bright 12.3-inch displays. The usual boring black plastics are either soft touch, leather, or some sort of sustainable material, and of course one of the biggest draws to an electric vehicle is the lack of the transmission tunnel which frees up a lot of interior space. The designers took advantage of the free space to include a spacious center console with two USB charging ports, and can be optioned with a wireless charging pad. The center console can also slide back and forth to add some space. The rear of the IONIQ is spacious even for six-footers, and with the optional panoramic glass roof you are sure not to feel cramped.
As far as tech goes, the IONIQ 5 impressed us. Our top-trim tester came with all of the goodies, such as augmented reality head-up display, which projects important information such as speed, turn by turn directions and even blind spot monitoring information right on the front windscreen. It should be noted that some key features such as the heated seats are buried in a submenu, and what would normally be a tactical, one-press affair turns into multiple button presses and unnecessary distractions.
It’s a little odd that with such great self-driving tech, drivers still have to take their eyes off the road for simple tasks. That being said, all of the self driving equipment worked exceptionally well even in inclement winter conditions. Some features such as the turn signal cameras are a little finicky, as they work well and are high resolution, but the placement of the displays in the gauge cluster means that they are usually blocked by the steering wheel just enough that they feel a little useless.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present, however are unfortunately not wireless. And of course, no home button – ugh. The 360-degree cameras or Surround View Monitor as Hyundai calls it is available as part of the Ultimate package, as is forward collision avoidance, a 120V outlet located in the rear seat, Bose premium sound, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, and that fantastic head-up display. For the $5,000 price tag, the sole package available for the IONIQ 5 is exceptional value for money.
When you’re not having the IONIQ 5 drive itself (sort of, anyway), you’ll be pleased to find that it is a competent little runabout. As with all EVs, the two big natural advantages are instant torque which means the IONIQ feels genuinely fast, and the low center of gravity thanks to the heavy batteries being mounted down low. This of course translates to decent handling when tossed into a corner.
The one strange driving characteristic that we noticed was over large uneven sections of pavement at highway speeds, the suspension would oscillate and feel a little less car and a bit more boat, and on more than one occasion it was even unsettling enough to trip the Highway Driving Assist off. Other than that, we found the IONIQ to be a treat to drive, and familiar Hyundai/Kia features such as the on-the-fly regenerative braking paddles are nice to see. On that topic, there is a true one-pedal driving mode, and it works well.
We also must address the storage space, or lack thereof. The IONIQ 5 does not feature a front trunk or cargo area, however it does offer a minuscule storage bin which could perhaps be used for packing away the included 110V charger. The trunk floor is quite high and the area is rather small, but when compared to the main competitors like the VW ID.4 and the Ford Mustang Mach E, the Hyundai is average.
When compared against the competitors for range – one of the most important specifications for most first-time EV buyers, the IONIQ 5 is average. Without the all-wheel drive system, it will max out its range at 488 kilometers. When equipped to be driven by all four, you can drop that down to 414KM under ideal conditions. Volkswagen‘s ID.4 varies from 386KM to 400KM and the Mach-E with the larger battery pack and RWD matches the IONIQ’s 488 figure.
One place where the IONIQ shines is charging times. When using a DC fast charging station, you can expect an astonishingly short 18 minutes to get from 10-80%. For comparison, the Mach E will take 45 minutes to do the same. Also impressive is the five-minute charging figure, which yields 100 kilometers of range in ideal settings.
Overall, there’s lot to love about the IONIQ 5. Other than a few small annoyances which will hopefully be resolved in the next update, the car manages to look great, drive well and offer a ton of tech for the price point. For first-time EV buyers, push the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 right up to the top of your list.
