Hyundai’s remarkable Ioniq 5 delivers long range and lively performance

When I first saw the Hyundai 45 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, I described it as a “one-off concept vehicle”. I’m now ready to eat those words, as Hyundai has unveiled the stunning production Ioniq 5 EV crossover that’s tightly based on the 45, right down to the diagonal crease through the doors. It also has a lot to offer under the sheet metal, with an 800-volt electric drive system that should provide excellent range and decent performance.

The Ioniq 5 is built on Hyundai’s new electric-global modular platform, with cable drive and steering technology and a flat battery floor. Much like other recent EV platforms, this has allowed it to maximize interior space while keeping the exterior dimensions reasonably compact. It will also come with an optional solar roof that can directly charge the main battery.

There are a number of configurations determined by battery size, two- or four-wheel drive, and horsepower. The 2WD model in the standard lineup starts with a 58 kilowatt-hour battery and 160 kilowatt motor (218 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque), delivering a 0-60 mph time of about 8, 5 seconds. The standard-range all-wheel drive adds a second electric motor, increasing output to 235 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque.

For long-range options, a 77.4 kWh battery will be offered in the United States, with a smaller 72.6 kWh pack elsewhere in the world. These will be available with the aforementioned 160 kilowatt rear motor, delivering around 300 miles per charge in Europe’s WLTP cycle with the smaller battery (likely less in the US based on EPA standards, even with the larger battery). At the top end is the Ioniq 5 long-range all-wheel drive with 306 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, propelling it from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds – at the cost of a little less range. .

You’ll be able to charge the Ioniq 5 using DC fast charging up to 350kW, which will theoretically increase the charge by 10-80% in 18 minutes, while adding 62 miles of range in just 5 minutes. It also supports two-way and “vehicle to charge” charging, allowing you to charge phones, computers and even e-bikes via the car’s battery up to 3.6kW. This will of course deplete the car battery, although it can regain some charge through the solar roof.

Being the size of a Toyota RAV 4, the Ioniq 5 is bigger than it first appears. In addition to the unusual bodywork, Hyundai removed the square headlight and taillight treatments from the concept, albeit in a more practical form. It has the same 20-inch wheels as the 45, although they don’t fit the wheel arches as tightly. It has a few extra bodywork parts around the edges – something Hyundai got rid of on the Kona Electric. Some markets (not the United States) will get OLED screens and rear view cameras instead of mirrors.

Concept 45 was based on the idea that you could lounge around and relax while the car drove you. The Ioniq 5 can’t do the latter, but it does come with Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist 2, with features like Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Change Assist and Cruise Control. adaptive navigation-based. It also comes with Smart Remote Parking Assistance, which allows you to jump out of the car and park it via a smartphone.

The interior is of course completely changed from the concept, as the modernist style of the 45 would not do that in a real world with safety rules. Still, there are some interesting touches. The front seats recline and even have a footrest, while the center console can move back 5.5 inches. This can open up more floor space while still giving rear seat occupants access like a sort of table.

Up front, the instrument panel features a flat 12-inch digital instrument panel, as well as a 12-inch touchscreen infotaintment display powered by Hyundai’s BlueLink connected surfaces. It’s also the first model with Hyundai’s augmented reality head-up display, which can turn your front windshield into a screen.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 will arrive in some regions in the first half of 2021, but it won’t hit North America until the fall. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but we should get that information closer to launch.