It would be remiss for any of us to try and deny that electric vehicles are very much heading to the forefront of automotive design right now, even if there is still room for other methods of propulsion such as hydrogen. Car companies all across the world are trying their utmost to be able to get on top of each other when it comes to electric vehicles, with the vast majority setting their sights on dethroning Tesla as the current electric vehicles king.
When it comes to EVs, though, one company looks like they could be on course to really put Tesla under pressure, and that company is Hyundai. Whilst the vast majority of the company’s electrically powered lineup is formed of hybrids, the company does have two electric cars on its books in the form of the Kona Electric, an EV version of the Kona hybrid, and the Ioniq 5. And it is the latter that is our focus point in this feature, with the Ioniq 5 possibly being the best EV that is currently available on the market, and certainly one of the most impressive EVs of recent years.
A Winner In The Looks Department
First things first, we have to take a look at how the Ioniq 5 looks. We live in a world where, let's be honest, a lot of electric cars look incredibly dull and sometimes just plain ugly. The Škoda Enyaq for example. It's an EV that is just way too big for its own good, it has a grille when it doesn’t need one and just looks like a puffed-up pufferfish. Even the nicest Tesla’s look too much like a regular car, with only the Honda e offering any form of creativity when it comes to the styling.
What makes the Honda e so good is that it is a bespoke design for an electric car, and this is also what makes the Ioniq 5 such a stylish machine. It's not based upon an existing model, it is its own unique design and, like the Honda e, it has a strong retro vibe to it that makes it pop out from the crowd. It's easy for car manufacturers to get lost in the fog when it comes to car designs, with everything now looking almost the same as someone else’s car, but Hyundai has absolutely nailed it with the Ioniq 5. It’s a simple design, refreshingly clean, and with a very elegant front end with no grille. Simply put, it is a stunning-looking car.
The EV Magic Under The Hood
The Ioniq 5 is a weighty little machine, weighing in roughly around two tons, which is of course going to be every EV's drawback of lugging big batteries around. However, the Ioniq 5 still can pack a bit of a punch. The Ioniq 5 is powered by two very powerful electric motors, the top of the range versions packing in 301 hp and a 0-60 of 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 115 mph, which is more than enough for the everyday driver.
Plus, what the car has going for it too is that it is now upon the new Hyundai E-GMP platform or Electric Global Modular Platform. This allows new Hyundai EVs of the future to enjoy fast charging and increased driving range to rival whatever Tesla can throw at them and a more spacious interior. In effect, the Ioniq 5 doesn’t compromise over an internal combustion engine car. Hyundai offers two different battery sizes with the car and the maximum range on offer is from 230 to 298 miles, ranges that will keep most families and owners very happy.
A Very Spacious Interior
When Hyundai says that their new E-GMP platform should allow for larger interior spaces, they certainly weren’t kidding. Just take a look at any interior shot of the Ioniq 5, and you will see a vast interior, perfect for everyone. The front seats fully recline to allow you to chill out when charging the car, and the center console can even slide to the back if you aren’t driving the car. The cockpit is complimented by a very stylish and user-friendly 12.3-inch infotainment wide-screen system that looks to have plenty of viewing angles for the driver.
A Class Apart
To put it simply, the Ioniq 5 is just a class apart from pretty much every other electric vehicle that is currently on the market. It offers something very different in the looks department over many of its rivals, and the strong reputation for build quality, comfort, and usability that Hyundai has built up recently has transferred very nicely over to the Ioniq 5. Plus, it can apparently roast a turkey with its power supply, even if that's a gimmick, it's a fun one! It has already won awards, plaudits have been lucky enough to have had some fantastic reviews done on it, and it's clear that it is one of the most anticipated and impressive EVs of recent years. Hyundai has built a fantastic car, now let's see where they go with it from here.
Source: Hyundai