Yahoo Autos 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review | The (retro) future has arrived
The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 marks a new era for the Korean automaker, and based on how all-around fantastic this all-electric SUV is, we think it’s a sign of great things to come. Though technically a midsize crossover, it’s styled like a big hatchback – and a very retro futuristic one at that. And based on its performance, especially in the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version, this big hatch is hot.
In addition to its good looks (though its styling may be a little polarizing), the Ioniq 5 checks off the EV boxes with compelling performance, ample range and super-fast charging capabilities. It’s also quite comfortable and loaded with great infotainment and driver assistance tech. If you want an EV with a well-rounded combination of room, range, refinement and power, the Ioniq 5 is hard to beat – yes, even compared to the Tesla Model 3. If you need a little more ground clearance and rugged capability, you might want to check out the new Subaru Solterra, while the Ford Mustang Mach-E is a good choice from a performance perspective and if you’re not quite sold on the Ioniq 5’s looks. Ultimately, though, if you consider one other EV, it should be the Kia EV6, which is mechanically related to the Ioniq 5. Their EV credentials are very similar and they share many features. It looks completely different inside and out, however, and is probably less polarizing. It is also more widely available than the Hyundai.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Range
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Features | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2022?
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an all-new model for 2022.
What are the Ioniq 5’s interior and in-car technology like?
The Ioniq 5’s cabin is big, bright and airy, with a minimalist design aesthetic that doesn’t lose sight of functionality. Everything isn’t controlled and displayed on one screen, and there are still conventional buttons and switches for things like the windows and climate control where you expect them to be. Even the touch-sensitive buttons and electronic shifter, which are usually a source of frustration, are reasonably well-executed.
In the Limited trim, the center console is moveable, sliding forward and backward. That console is home to a pair of cupholders, a large cargo tray, a slot for a phone — with an available wireless charging pad — and a pair of USB ports. It’s a clean and calming space that’s surprisingly spacious and airy. The color palette is limited: black monotone and two-tone gray with a two-tone green only available with the Digital Teal or Shooting Star exterior on the SEL and Limited trim levels.
Every Ioniq 5 features dual 12.3-inch displays, with one serving as the instrument panel, the other as an infotainment touchscreen. It’s one of the better infotainment systems on the market. The menus make sense, simple tasks like changing a radio station are easy, responses are quick, and it looks good. We also like the 60/40-split screen functionality that lets you look at audio and navigation, for instance, at the same time. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available, which obviously means you have to plug in your phone to use them. Unfortunately, the data USB port is under the dash down by your shin (below right), meaning your phone will end up stranded down there, too. The non-data USB ports and the available wireless charger are located in the center console (below left).
The Limited trim gets a head-up display with integrated augmented reality. In addition to the usual HUD duties, it can also project images to highlight the car ahead of you, give alerts about lane safety and help indicate where and when to make the next turn on your route. If that sounds like a lot of visual information, it is, but you can tailor the content shown in your HUD through menu selections. At present the only other cars out there with this type of technology are the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS.
How big is the Ioniq 5?
It’s way bigger than it looks. While it looks like a hatchback in photos, seeing it in person, you can better understand why the Ioniq 5 is better classified as a midsize crossover SUV. Its wheelbase is about 3 inches longer than that of the three-row Hyundai Palisade. As such, the Ioniq 5 is fabulously roomy inside. There’s tons of foot room for both front and rear passengers. The front row is very open, and the available sliding center console opens that lounge-like space up even more.
As for the cargo area, the footprint is big, but the aggressively raked rear window means taller items could impede the closure of the liftgate. The rear seats can slide forward to allow a little more luggage space, at the expense of second-row passenger space. The Ioniq 5 claims 27.2 cubic feet behind the second row, which is a slight disadvantage compared to the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s 29.7 and the Volkswagen ID.4’s 30.3. Max cargo space expands to 59.3 with the rear seats folded. It's on-paper volume is greater than that of its Kia EV6 cousin, but in our Ioniq 5 Luggage Test, we found that the shape/slope of the hatchback impedes loading, shrinks usable size and ultimately makes the cargo less spacious than the EV6 and the other electric crossovers. There’s no front trunk (or “frunk,” if you prefer) under the hood apart from a small space (0.85 cubic feet) only big enough to stash the mobile charging cable or other small items. This is basically due to a packaging decision made when designing the Ioniq 5 to ensure the biggest passenger compartment possible. That’s a fair trade as far as we’re concerned.
What are the Ioniq 5's range and performance specs?
There are three drivetrain configurations for the Ioniq 5. The base standard-range version has a 58-kilowatt-hour battery good for 220 miles of driving. It is only available as a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive model with 168 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. It’s rated at 127 miles-per-gallon-equivalent (mpg-e) in the city, 94 mpg-e highway, and 110 mpg-e combined
Then there are two versions with the 77.4-kWh long-range battery. The single-motor rear-wheel-drive version provides 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That’s good enough for a sprint from 0-62 mph in 7.3 seconds, which would be an average time for a midsize SUV. With a driving range of 303 miles, it’s rated at 132 mpg-e highway, 98 city and 114 combined.
The all-wheel-drive version’s dual-motor setup provides a total of 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, which will motivate the Ioniq 5 from a stop to 62 mph in a rapid 5.1 seconds. That’s roughly the same as the comparable Kia EV6 and all-wheel-drive Mustang Mach-E. That extra power comes with a sacrifice in driving range, at 256 miles, and it’s rated at 110 mpg-e city, 87 mpg-e highway and 98 mpg-e combined.
