The Hyundai Ioniq 5 might be the most recognizable EV outside of your usual Teslas. It’s easy to see why; the retro-futuristic styling is still hard to miss even after being on our Canadian roads for a few years now. We’ve sampled essentially every iteration since its inception back in 2021, including the positively ridiculous Ioniq 5 N. This 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 we have here is a bit tamer, being the Preferred trim with the Ultimate package, but it’s nonetheless a fantastic product on its own.

’80s style from the future

Retro-futuristic is such an oxymoron. You can’t have something be both retro and futuristic at the same time, yet the Ioniq 5 embodies the word to a tee. It’s like what a designer from the 1980s would envision a future car to look like. The Ecotronic Grey paint contrasing with the revised-for-2025 silver bumpers and wheel surround look rad, and the square pixel theme feels like video game graphics from a bygone era.

It isn’t a half-assed attempt, either. The square pixel motif carries throughout the exterior, including on the front bumper, in the side mirror LEDs, on the door handles, and in the front and rear lighting elements — which also happen to be among the coolest on any vehicle today. The headlights have chunky squared DRLs that are very unique and the rear matrix-style LED tail lights have become a signature across the Ioniq lineup.  The fact they are monochromatic when off adds to the retro vibes.

Pixels aren’t the only styling trick. There’s turbine style accent lines over the wheel arches, and additional horizontal accent lines that carry on the silver trim from the front bumper to the doors.  On paper it sounds gimmicky and too much, but in person it hits the mark rather perfectly. There’s also a new rear spoiler to go along with a revised rear bumper, updated wheel designs, and finally a rear wiper. All of the 2025 changes don’t amount to much unless you’re really in the know, but the Ioniq 5 remains fresh.

Hatchback vibes, crossover-ish utility

The overall look gives off hatchback vibes, and it’s easy to mistake the Ioniq 5 as one if you don’t have a banana for scale. But it’s firmly a crossover, with the requisite space and practicality to show for it. For comparison sake, the Hyundai Tucson is both shorter and slimmer than the Ioniq 5. Passenger space isn’t compromised, with ample space both front and rear for adults, and enough room for a child seat and little toddler legs.  The front seats are comfortable and feature both heated and cooling functions, with the driver seat adding a reclining function with leg rest, as part of our tester’s Ultimate package.

The cabin utilizes space well, both physically and in its design.  The stony white leather and grey fabric trim give off Swedish minimalist vibes, and the clean layout of the dash keeps things feeling airy. Cabin materials feel solid, with not a single creek to speak of during my week. There are some cheap-feeling plastics here and there, but you have to be actively searching for them. The main touchpoints, like the steering wheel, silver-trimmed shift knob, and physical controls all feel price-appropriate and then some. If you want me to nitpick, the centre console has some flex to it, but why would you be pushing and leaning on it regularly?

Hyundai hasn’t skimped on the pixels inside, either.  The door trim features a slew of pixels, as do the seats. The steering wheel has four illuminated pixels in place of a Hyundai logo. This is clever not only for tying into the pixel theme, but also because those four pixels are meant to represent an “H” in morse code, a stand-in for Hyundai’s logo. They also illuminate upon charging and change colours based on driving mode or even if you’re in reverse. Neat.

The one drawback to the interior is cargo capacity.  With the battery being under the floor, the cargo area is raised, which is problematic enough without the sloping roofline carving into space as well.  This can make it challenging to fit larger objects vertically. The Ioniq 5 falls short on cargo capacity not only against ICE rivals, but also EV rivals, such as the Mustang Mach-E or even its platform-mate, the Kia EV6. That being said, the seats can fold flat and there’s enough space for a weekend getaway for a small family, just don’t expect to lug your construction business equipment back there.

Vintage vibes, modern tech

As expected, technology is abundant in the Ioniq 5. It’s all useful, too, with the requisite adaptive cruise control and active safety features being present as well as a passable Bose audio system. Two 12.3-inch screens form the gauge cluster and infotainment, both of which are crisp and responsive.  I’ve always been a fan of Hyundai’s clean UX that’s easy to get familiar with. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay worked flawlessly. Ambient lighting is of the indirect glow variety, and it could use a touch more brightness, but it has a relaxed feel and the illuminated speaker surrounds are a cool touch.

Electrons? You bet

The Ioniq 5 is powered by two electric motors powering all four wheels.  It’s a well-tunedm rear biased system that is both fun to play with and efficient in its operation.  Total system output is pegged at 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, numbers that may not make your jaw drop but are perfectly attuned to what a vehicle like this needs. The all-wheel-drive system ensures winter weather won’t be an issue.

The range from the 84 kWh battery has been bumped to nearly 450 kilometres on a full charge, up from a tick over 410 previously. Although Hyundai is committed to switching from the CCS charging infrastructure to the Tesla NACS system, our tester still came with a CCS charging port with a supplied NACS adapter. The Ioniq 5 features 800V architecture which allows for up to 350 kW charging speeds, but good luck finding a charger that can provide the juice. Oh, and even the charge lights inside the charge port are pixels.

Power delivery is smooth, with easy to modulate throttle response. The steering is on the lighter side, and you aren’t going to get much feedback from the front tires, but this is a heavy EV, so keep those expectations in check. The suspension is well-tuned, balancing both comfort and athleticism, and the Ioniq 5’s inherent rear bias makes it rather fun to chuck around corners. Wind noise is subdued, no doubt aided by the clamshell style hood and flush door handles on the exterior.

Should you buy one?

There aren’t many reasons why you shouldn’t.  At $63,749 as-tested, you get a practical, well-built, head-turner of a vehicle, one that Hyundai clearly takes a lot of pride in building.  And enhancements like an updated infotainment, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay and heck, even a new rear wiper addition show that Hyundai is committed to ensuring the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 remains a smart buy.