The retro-futuristic styling and up to 300 miles of range, the Ioniq 5 is Hyundai's answer to the popular all-electric crossover space

Hyundai is really no stranger to battery electric vehicles as they first debuted an all-electric i10 Prototype as early as 2009. Fast forward a few years and the Korean Automaker began selling the Hyundai Ioniq sedan in either Hybrid or all-electric guise. It essentially shared its underpinning with the Elantra. While the Ioniq sedan wasn’t a runaway success, it gave Hyundai a premise to test the waters within the battery electric vehicle space. The Kona Electric also joined Hyundai's B.E.V lineup.

But really, it wasn’t until we saw the 45 Concept at the 2019 IAA did we realize just how serious Hyundai was about the future sustainable mobility. With the discontinuation of the Ioniq HEV sedan in 2021, Hyundai chose to adopt the Ioniq name as its dedicated sub-brand for battery electric vehicles. Enter, the Ioniq 5, Hyundai's very first model developed as an EV from the ground up.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5, bases itself on the dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

You can choose from four different trim levels:

Hyundai offers two different battery packs for the Ioniq 5: The base model gets a 58 kWh battery pack and is only available in rear-wheel drive. Paired to a single electric motor, it produces 168 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims, SE, and up feature a 77.4 kWh battery pack along with an optional HTRAC all-wheel drive. With just the rear motor, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets a healthy 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Opt for dual motor AWD and you’re looking at a combined power output of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The range-topping Limited trim comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

All models feature a single-speed reduction gear with shift-by-wire technology. Also standard across the range are four drive modes:

Coming to the crucial driving range figures, Hyundai claims a combined mileage of 220 miles for the 58 kWh battery pack, while the larger 74 kWh battery gets you a combined range of 330 miles. Go for all-wheel drive and the combined range figure drops significantly to 256 miles. Additionally, the Ioniq 5 has a solar roof as well, which at its worst prevents battery drain and at its best extends the range by additional miles.

As for charging, on an AC Level II 240 volt charger, the 58 kWh battery should take about five hours to go from 10 percent to 100 percent, while the 77.4 kWh battery will take six hours and forty-three minutes to charge. The Ioniq 5 is capable of (800 Volt) 350 kW DC ultra fast-charging right from the base model. This should take the charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.

Regarding the ride and handling package, Hyundai has equipped the Ioniq 5 with good old MacPherson Struts with gas shocks and coil springs up front, and a multi-link rear suspension setup. As a result, you can expect a composed ride. Also, the tow rating for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is 1,650 pounds.

With its retro-modern design, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 sure does have a unique look to it. The Ioniq 5 is also a significant model, in that it marks the next chapter for the Korean brand. Clearly, the 45 Concept, unveiled back in September 2019 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, served as the inspiration for the Ioniq 5’s design. It resembles no other Hyundai model to date.

You get a sleek clamshell hood with a big Hyundai logo up top. The dynamic cube-style LED headlights include two boxy U-shaped daytime running lights on both sides and resonate with parametric pixels, which is a design theme throughout the Ioniq 5’s exterior. The front facia has a black plastic panel (no grille here, this is an EV after all) along with sharp and distinctive silver accents in the front bumper (Limited trim only).

When seen from the side, the Ioniq 5 has a fastback-like style, which makes it look pretty attractive. You have some really sharp crease lines that run along the length of the vehicle. It sure does add a lot of character to the side profile.

Additionally, the doors have flush door handles that pop up as you get closer to the vehicle. All Ioniq 5's come with 19-inch rims as standard. The top-spec Ioniq 5 rides on massive 20-inch rims that don’t just look dope, but also aid with aerodynamics. They are in fact, the largest wheels ever installed on a Hyundai EV. The Limited trim also gets a silver finish on the wheel arches, rather than the plastic cladding on lower trims.

At the rear, you have the same distinctive retro-futuristic style that Hyundai has done a masterful job in execution. Also visible in the taillights are the Parametric Pixels with the branding "Ioniq" in between.

Hyundai has cleverly masked the proportions of the Ioniq 5. Although it appears like a scaled-up hatchback, you’ll find that it is surprisingly large when you see it in person. The Ioniq 5 is 182.5 inches long, 74.4 inches wide, and 63.2 inches tall. Given its length, the wheelbase stands at 118.1 inches.

For convenience, you’re got two charging ports; one on each side. Also, in order to showcase its sustainability, the Ioniq 5 features an eco-friendly Color Material Finish. Despite its odd aesthetic, the Ioniq 5’s design sure will help it stand out amongst the sea of crossovers. There is something undeniably cool about the design.

Step inside, into what is a minimalist cabin. You get a high-quality soft-touch dash with a two-spoke steering wheel. You have paddle shifters that allow you to control the level of regenerative braking. You'll also appreciate the metallic accents on the stalks.

In keeping with the times, two 12.0-inch screens dominate the Ioniq 5's dash. Housed in a panel with a white bezel, one screen serves as a digital instrument panel while the other works as the main infotainment system. You also get Hyundai's Bluelink connected car services support.

Coming to the cabin colors, you can choose from three unique combinations:

- Obsidian Black and Dark Pebble Gray/Dove Gray

The Ioniq 5 follows a ‘Living Space’ theme and space really is the highlight of this cabin, thanks to that generous wheelbase. In fact, the Ioniq 5's wheelbase is nearly four inches longer than the considerably larger Palisade SUV.

The flat floor of the Ioniq 5 is a result of the absence of a transmission tunnel. It has allowed Hyundai to include a flexible center console. You can move it by 5.5 inches to free up more space. Jumping into the rear seats and you’ll have no trouble fitting 6-foot adults in here with ease.

The lack of a sloping roofline at the rear is a beneficial feature because it preserves rear-seat headroom. In order to provide the back seat passengers with even more legroom, Hyundai has also reduced the front seat thickness by 30 percent.

Finally onto the cargo room and the Ioniq 5 offers 27.2 cubic feet of space, however, the raked rear windscreen does rob some space though. With the back seats folded, that expands to 56.2 cubic feet. A frunk is also included and it provides two cubic feet of room in the two-wheel-drive model, and just 0.8 cubic feet on the all-wheel-drive variant.

Once again, for sustainability, the automaker has stated that surfaces like seats, the headliner, door trim, the floor, and the armrest feature environmentally friendly materials like natural wool yarns, PET bottles, and plant-based yarns.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 in base SE Standard Trim carries a sticker price of $39,950 excluding a freight charge of $1,295. The top-spec Limited trim costs $51,100. The prices listed above do not take into account the $7,500 Federal tax credit. Here's every electric vehicle that currently qualifies for the US federal tax credit.

Here are some of the additional features that are standard on the Top Limited trim:

- Integrated Memory Seats for Driver

- Premium Heads-Up Display with Augmented Reality

The Ioniq 5 is on sale right now and you can check it out at your local Hyundai dealer. The Ioniq 6 sedan and Ioniq 7 SUV will follow suit in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn't rated the Hyundai Ioniq 5 yet.

However, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ for 2022 in the Small SUV category.

The EV comes with many safety and driver-assistance features. This includes:

Today, customers can choose from a wide variety of all-electric crossovers. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 takes on models like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Volkswagen ID.4, Toyota BZ4X the Volvo XC40 Recharge, and of course, the Tesla Model Y. The Ioniq 5 also competes with the KIA EV6. The Blazer EV is the latest entrant to this space, but the Chevy is still some time away. Here's how the Hyundai Ioniq fares against the competition.

Overall, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a comprehensive package. It has a ton of features inside the cabin, a futuristic appearance along with numerous powertrain and battery configurations. It pretty much meets all the requirements of a typical urban commuter.

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Khris is a classic car aficionado and adores his Jags and Alfas, although he keeps tabs on everything from super exotics like an old EB 110 to the latest from Lucid. Formula One is very close to his heart, and he diligently makes time to tune in for the Grand Prix on Sundays. Khris also loves his road trips and he prefers a stick shift over an auto any day.