Hyundai IONIQ 5 – What you need to know

Electrification as a vehicle power source is gaining favour, and when you combine that with Australians’ love of SUVs, it’s easy to see why the Hyundai IONIQ 5 – the Korean brand’s first dedicated EV model – is already a sell-out.

The IONIQ 5 was also named carsales’ 2021 Car of the Year.

The five-seat, mid-size SUV is propelled by a pure-electric permanent magnet synchronous motor and is offered in two configurations.

A rear-mounted single-motor unit driving the rear wheels powers the first variant, while the second features two electric motors – one driving the front wheels and the other driving the rear wheels, making it all-wheel drive.

Both offer ultra-fast recharging capability, a 410-450km range and up to 225kW and 605Nm.

Add to that a vast array of safety, comfort and convenience features, plus practical packaging, and the IONIQ 5 delivers plenty of everything that matters to buyers wanting the latest and greatest in automotive tech.

So let’s go shopping for the car of the future for you.

Entree to the IONIQ 5 begins at $71,900 plus on-road costs for the rear-drive 160kW variant that has the following as standard:

• 12.3-inch infotainment screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• Adaptive cruise control
• 3D-pixel LED headlights
• Remote self-parking
• One-pedal driving mode
• Virtual engine sound system

Six exterior colours are available on the Hyundai IONIQ 5: one solid, one metallic, three mica and one matte, with just the Gravity Gold matte finish attracting a $1000 premium.

In a nutshell, the safety arsenal of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is comprehensive.

Under the banner of SmartSense technologies, both variants have seven airbags with a central front bag to prevent head clashes between the front occupants.

Stability and traction controls and anti-lock brakes are a given.

There are parking sensors front and rear, a reversing camera with a 3D 360-degree surround view and the park assist function lets you stand outside the car and park it remotely using the smart key. Very James Bond.

The adaptive cruise control has a learning function to get a feel for your driving style. You also get driver attention warning, lead vehicle departure warning, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus lane keep and lane follow assist.

We aren’t done yet with the IONIQ 5 in this department as it also features blind spot assist and a junction (intersection) forward collision avoidance with turning or crossing system that brakes to avoid a collision if you don’t – forwards and left or right.

Completing the safety equipment are automatic high beam and dimming headlights, auto wipers, parking collision avoidance assist, rear cross traffic alert and safe exit assist. Tyre pressure monitoring and a virtual engine sound are also standard.

A 12.3-inch colour capacitive touch-screen with satellite navigation underpins the infotainment system in the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility, AM/FM and digital (DAB+) radio and a Bose eight-speaker premium audio system are all standard.

Another 12.3-inch digital display serves as the instrument cluster, which features a speedometer, power and charge gauges, energy flow, range, AWD distribution (where specified) and the driving mode being employed.

Through the IONIQ 5’s infotainment screen you can set scheduled charging times to make use of on- and off-peak electricity rates.

You can also limit the AC/DC charging, set the climate control temperature and limit the air flow to driver-only mode, as well as select the high-voltage battery to power the vehicle’s electronics in lieu of the 12V battery.

Stepping into the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the first thing you notice is the flat floor followed by the spaciousness.

Are you wanting a leather interior? The IONIQ 5 interior uses eco-processed leather on the multifunction heated steering wheel centre and door arm rests and seats.

Heated and powered seats a must? The front seats are heated and ventilated but only heated in the rear. The front seats have 12-way power movement, including lumbar and calf support, while the powered back seats move in two directions, for extra leg or storage space.

A NASA-style relaxation (zero gravity) function is another feature of the front seats.

A centre console with a difference is a further highlight in the IONIQ 5. Like others it has a storage facility, an arm rest and USB ports, but this one slides backward and forward to maximise space. Clever.

Privacy glass, I hear you ask? On both variants it’s standard, along with a glass roof and powered sunshade. To minimise outside noise, the windscreen and side windows are made of acoustic laminated glass. And the rear door windows have sun shades.

Climate control? Of course, and the dual-zone system has automatic defogging, dehumidifying and an air filter as well.

The IONIQ 5 minimises its environmental impact using eco-friendly and sustainably-sourced materials and there are 64 ambient lighting colour choices.

For extra convenience there’s a powered tailgate hiding the cargo compartment with an additional front compartment of 57 litres (2WD) or 24 litres (AWD).

Lighting the way at both ends of the IONIQ 5 are LED lights for all functions, even the rego plate light.

Completing the hi-tech look are 20-inch aero alloy wheels on low-profile tyres.

Rare for an EV is an ability to tow much of a load, but it’s not an issue for the IONIQ 5, which can tow up to 1600kg braked or 750kg unbraked, with a maximum tow ball weight of 100kg.

Driving an EV is a new experience for many of us and to minimise the transition the IONIQ 5 has many familiar features like four drive modes (Eco, Sport, Normal and Snow) plus two brake modes (Eco and Sport) along with a virtual engine sound system so you can be heard.

To make the most of the EV driving experience the IONIQ 5 also has an ‘i-Pedal’ mode that enables you to accelerate and brake using the one pedal. Here’s how it works: In i-Pedal mode the regenerative braking is increased so that when you take your foot off the accelerator the brakes operate strongly enough to bring the IONIQ 5 to a standstill.

Is all-wheel drive a must? Then head to the IONIQ 5 with the dual electric motors pumping out a healthy 225kW. Exclusive to this variant is an under-bonnet insulator.

Powering the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a 72.6kWh lithium-ion battery that, in the rear-wheel drive model, feeds a 160kW/350Nm permanent magnet synchronous motor and offers a range of up to 451km.

All IONIQ 5 variants have a single-speed reduction gear transmission.

Standard charging takes six hours and six minutes, however ultra-rapid charging for a 100km range takes a shade over 17 minutes and a top-up from 10 to 80 per cent capacity takes just 57 minutes. The energy consumption is 17.9kWh/100km (WLTP).

The all-wheel drive variant has the same-capacity lithium-ion battery but boosts its output with a 70kW front axle-mounted electric motor for a total output of 225kW/605Nm and a 430km range.

Standard and ultra-rapid charging for an additional 100km is identical to the rear-drive version, with the 10-80 per cent charge taking 62 minutes and the energy consumption rated at 19kWh/100km (WLTP).

And don’t despair if you can’t find a charging station as the IONIQ 5 is equipped with a portable charger for emergency situations so you can charge it via a standard household 240V power outlet. However, a full charge this way takes around 31 hours.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 combines practically every SUV selling point: a spacious cabin, fast recharging and excellent performance, but with EV cred.

For the substantial boost in performance and surefootedness of all-wheel drive, the extra outlay is insignificant, so I’ll have the one with the lot, thanks.

How much does the Hyundai IONIQ 5 cost?
Single-motor rear-wheel drive 160kW – $71,900
Dual-motor all-wheel drive 225kW – $75,900
*Prices exclude on-road costs