Gone are the days when simply rolling out a new electric vehicle would grab the headlines and automatically give an automobile manufacturer the bragging rights. Customers are a lot more aware and want an EV to fulfill most of their requirements rather than be the third car in the driveway that is limited to buying groceries and office commute. Keeping practicality in mind and still offering the latest technology, Hyundai has decided to take a different route with the Ioniq 5. The Korean manufacturer has put in a lot of thought and numerous hours in ensuring that the people sitting inside the car are comfortable and well pampered, not just surrounded by hi-tech mumbo jumbo. This down-to-earth pragmatic approach is what Hyundai believes will re-create the mobility experience. Apart from introducing the smart living concept in the cabin, which we will get into the details, the Ioniq 5 showcases a progressive clean design and yet with its bold and distinctive character lines, it makes quite a robust statement. Let’s take a look at why the Ioniq 5 is an ideal option for families.
Mind-Bending Optical Illusion
The Ioniq may come across as a compact hatchback or a crossover, but based on Hyundai’s all-new E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform), exclusively made for EVs, its wheelbase is 118 inches, longer than its direct rivals like Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4 and the Nissan Ariya. As a complete package, the Ioniq is 182.5 inches in length and 74.5 inches in width, which will certainly make the EVs in its class very nervous.
Maybe we are throwing around too many figures, so let’s decode what this all means. With a platform specifically for EVs, it's designed from the ground up negating the requirement for an engine bay and transmission tunnel, translating to plenty of legroom space, especially for the middle passenger in the rear bench and additional 57-liters storage space beneath the hood. The Ioniq also boasts a 527-liter boot space. With a flat and lengthened floorboard, Hyundai has also introduced a sliding center console below the armrest between the front two seats creating room to store a knapsack or a bag. This sliding console allows 140 mm front and rear travel. Comfort is the key and the Ioniq’s front seats are electrically adjustable while the rear seats can be manually reclined and slide backward and forwards up to 135 mm.
The Ioniq is a true eco-warrior as it showcases Hyundai’s ingenuity by using recycled materials like plastic bottles, wool, or leather processed with vegetable oil, fishing nets, and marine waste to make seat and door armrest coverings, door panels and even floor mats.
The Ioniq 5 Is Smart And Sensible
The Ioniq’s cabin’s design is clean, unclutter, and futuristic. The center of attention is, no doubt, the dual 12.3-inch displays — one is the multimedia touchscreen and the other is a digital driver’s console. The magnetic dashboard gives a unique option to clip a parking ticket or a photograph on it. It’s equipped with a head-up display that projects turn-by-turn directions and the distance of the destination. It also gets an eight-speaker Bose music system and connectivity technology.
The new Hyundai EV comes with a unique Vehicle to Load (V2L) technology that can supply up to 3.6 kW of power. There is one V2L port located at the charging outlet, which can charge high-power electric equipment like small refrigerators, camping equipment, coffee machine, without switching on the vehicle. There is also a second power outlet underneath the rear seats for charging mobile gadgets.
The Ioniq 5’s is equipped with advanced driver assistance system features like Highway Driving Assist with Lane Changing Assist function, Lane Following Assist, High Beam Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and much more. Hyundai offers additional safety features like seven airbags including a driver seat’s center-side airbag and eCall or an SOS call facility.
Multiple Powertrains For The Ioniq 5
The Ioniq is available in two powertrains and both offer rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. The entry-level trim is paired with a 58 kW battery and a single 170 hp motor on the rear axle. It offers a range of roughly 238 miles. The 235 hp dual-motor version does 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The US market will get the more powerful 73 kW battery that will be available in two trims — the rear-wheel-drive single motor version, which pumps out 225 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the all-wheel-drive variant gets dual motors on the front and rear axle and belts out 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. The former can do zero to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds and offers a range of around 300 miles while AWD hits the 60 mph mark in 5.2 seconds and aims to return a range of around 269 miles.
The Ioniq offers dual charging options both the DC fast charging and the standard AC Level 2 charging. In case of fast charging, thanks to its 800 V battery system, a 350 kW DC station can juice up the vehicle from 10 to 80% range in just 18 minutes and if it’s charged for 5 minutes then it offers a range of 69 miles. The 50 kW DC station, on the other hand, takes 1 hour to charge it from 10 to 80% range and 5 minutes of charging offers a range of 17 miles. The 800V supercharger technology will be a gamechanger in this segment as it is presently available only in premium class cars like the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron range, etc. The Ioniq 5 will make its debut this winter and will be available in three variants and offer five exterior color schemes.