Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the best electric cars around. Here’s what you need to know when buying one

Strengths & weaknesses

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the most desirable and impressive new cars you can get. It’s an electric car that is innovative, well engineered and full of modern tech. It has a unique look, with retro-modern design and lots of space inside, plus it’s even relatively affordable.

There are two versions of the Ioniq 5, a 58kWh model and a 73kWh version. These numbers refer to the size of the battery, bigger being better in terms of driving range. The lesser model can travel up to around 238 miles per charge, while the larger battery version can drive for up to 298 miles per charge.

In our experience, Hyundai’s range claims are broadly accurate, although as with petrol car economy figures, what you achieve all depends on your driving style and the types of roads that you drive on. No matter how you drive, though, the Ioniq 5 can be charged up at a rate of up to 350kW, which means at certain rapid charge points you can charge to 80% in less than 20 minutes.

This means it’s genuinely usable for long trips - since you can add hundreds of miles to the battery in the time it takes to grab a coffee, it’s really convenient. As the charging infrastructure catches up, it’ll only get easier to use the Ioniq 5 like this. Cars from later in 2022-onwards have more power and range (up to 315 miles), too.

It’s not just the range and charging that impress about the Ioniq 5, either. This Hyundai’s smart interior is packed with tech, and it’s comfortable and easy to drive. The cabin is really roomy and there’s a big boot, so it’s a great family car as well.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (not to be confused with the Hyundai Ioniq, which is a smaller electric or hybrid car similar to the Toyota Prius).

Should I get a Hyundai Ioniq 5?

Fantastic range and charging capability
Roomy and pleasant cabin
Good to drive

A lot bigger than it looks
Not as much fun as the Kia EV6
Boot could be a more useful shape

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a fantastic car and you should definitely consider one if you are after an electric family car. It’s really roomy inside, can drive a long way without having to recharge and even when you do, it can top up in double-fast time. The technology is really impressive here, both under the skin and what’s available in the cabin, plus it’s comfortable and easy to drive.

The Ioniq 5 isn’t as enjoyable to drive as the Kia EV6, which is based upon the same technology, so if you are looking for something a little more fun, you could also consider one of those. Both models are among the best cars available at the moment.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2021-present): models explained

Hyundai Ioniq 5

BuyaCar prices from £24,450
Monthly finance from £367.49*

Hyundai Ioniq 5

There’s only one version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It’s a large hatchback car with five doors and seats, although there are two battery sizes: 58kWh and 73kWh. The larger of the two can drive for up to 298 miles on a single charge, though other versions don’t quite match that.

The 58kWh model has a range of 238 miles, and the all-wheel-drive AWD version of the car with the larger battery manages 282 miles.

This version is the most powerful as it has 325hp, so it’s very fast in a straight line. The rear-wheel-drive 58kWh model has 170hp and the rear-wheel-drive 73kWh model has 217hp.

Hyundai announced in mid-2022 that future AWD models will have up to 315 miles of range thanks to a larger 77kWh battery.

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Which Hyundai Ioniq 5 to buy: trim levels

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Trim Equipment Deals
SE Connect Limited stock: Even the basic model is really well equipped. It comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, parking sensors, climate control and two 12.3-inch displays with sat-nav and smartphone connectivity.
Premium Limited stock: The mid-spec model comes with some good extra features including heated seats in the front, a heated steering wheel, front parking sensors, an electric boot door, blind spot assist and junction assist safety tech.
Ultimate Limited stockUltimate adds 20-inch alloy wheels (on 73kWh models), electric ventilated seats, leather seats, tinted windows, a head-up display, a BOSE stereo and an adaptor to use the car’s battery as a power source (you can even charge another car using this system).

 
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Hyundai Ioniq 5 batteries and range

There are only two battery options in the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and which you choose really only depends on your budget. The lesser 58kWh version has a 170hp electric motor, and the 73kWh model has either 217hp or 325hp if you choose the four-wheel-drive version.

We’d go for the 217hp 73kWh model if budget wasn’t a consideration, simply because it has the most driving range and a good amount of performance - but the entry-level model is still a good option and it’s cheaper to buy.

The 58kWh model has 240 miles of range, while the RWD 73kWh version is the best - it can drive for around 300 miles on a single charge. The AWD version with this battery can travel for 287 miles.

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 charge time

The entry-level 58kWh model takes around 9 hours and 15 minutes to charge up from a home wallbox charger (7.4kW), while the larger battery model with 73kWh available takes 11 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge up at home in the same way.

At a public rapid charger, the Ioniq 5 is one of the most impressive electric cars around. Using a compatible charger that’s capable of providing the maximum possible charging, it takes just 18 minutes to charge up from 10-80% in all versions, which is very fast indeed. That’s thanks to the special 800V charging tech present in all Ioniq 5 models.

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Best Hyundai Ioniq 5 model for…

The Ioniq 5 range consists of three motor options and three trim levels. All models are electric-only and this means they have automatic single-speed gearboxes and are really easy and smooth to drive. Here we’ve picked out a handful of models for a variety of situations.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 58kWh RWD 170hp SE Connect: The entry-level model is a great option for those with a smaller budget, as it comes with loads of standard kit and still has plenty of performance and range.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 73kWh RWD Premium: Families might want to choose the longer-range 73kWh model as you’ll be able to travel further between charges. Plus, the Premium trim comes with heated seats, which are great for early-morning school runs in the winter.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 73kWh AWD Ultimate: The fastest model is the 325hp AWD model, which goes from 0-62mph in just over five seconds. All versions are really quick, though.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 58kWh RWD 170hp Ultimate: If you have the money to choose the top-spec Ultimate trim level, don’t bother with the lower-range battery. We’d pick a lower trim level and a bigger battery every time.

 

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 rivals

Kia EV6

BuyaCar prices Limited stock

Volkswagen ID.4

BuyaCar prices from £23,980
Monthly finance from £330.56*

Skoda Enyaq

BuyaCar prices from £24,900
Monthly finance from £350.20*

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has plenty of rivals, the most notable being the Kia EV6. This model uses the same battery and motors as the Hyundai, since these car makers develop their cars together. It’s a more sporty option, though, and it’s more fun to drive and a tiny bit less practical than the Hyundai.

Other rivals include the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq iV and Audi Q4 e-tron. All three of these use the same battery and motor tech, so they drive similarly and have about the same amount of range, which is - like the Ioniq 5 - up to around 300 miles in top versions.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is another option you might consider, plus there’s the popular Tesla Model 3 as well.

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 practicality: dimensions and boot space

Hyundai Ioniq 5 dimensions

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is much larger than it looks. It’s not a normal family hatchback, as it’s much larger than something like the Volkswagen Golf. It’s 4.6m long, 1.6m tall and 1.9m wide (excluding the door mirrors). Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Golf is approximately 4.2m long and 1.8m wide.

This means it’s very roomy inside, though. Parking sensors and cameras help make it easier to park this large car, and the plentiful rear legroom and headroom means it’s a really good family car. You can even recline the seats to a large extent if you need to have a quick nap when charging up.

CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 DIMENSIONS

Length 4,635mm Width 1,890mm
Height 1,605mm Weight 1,830kg - 2,115kg

 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 boot space

No matter which version you choose, the Ioniq 5 has 527 litres of boot space. This is great to see, as there’s no drawback to choosing a model with the bigger battery. It’s not the best-shaped boot, however, as bulkier items may not fit, but it’s a big area and adds to the practical appeal of the car.

Fold down the rear seats and there’s 1,587 litres of space available in total. You can read more about the Ioniq 5’s boot space, dimensions and more on our dedicated page linked to below.

CLICK TO READ OUR FULL STORY ON HYUNDAIO IONIQ 5 BOOT SPACE

Seats up 527 litres Seats down 1,587 litres

 

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 reliability

 

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is is an electric car, and since these have far fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel cars, we would expect it to be very reliable. Not only that, but it’s a Hyundai, a car maker with a reputation for building very reliable cars. The maker finished 16th overall in the 2021 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, which was mid-table, so the ownership experience is likely to be average.

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 warranty

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes with a five-year warranty like all other Hyundai models. This is one of the best warranties in the industry, as it’s also covered for an unlimited number of miles in that time. Most car makers only offer a three-year warranty for 60,000 miles or so.

The Ioniq 5 is also covered by an eight-year battery warranty that covers you against loss of capacity and failure of the most important part of the car’s power system.

5 years Unlimited miles

AVERAGE REPAIR COST PAID BY WARRANTYWISE: £577 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON USED CAR WARRANTIES

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Used Hyundai Ioniq 5: should I buy one?

If you are looking for an electric family car then the Hyundai Ioniq 5 should definitely be one of your top considerations. Not only is it stylish and upmarket, it’s also really well equipped, good value for money, spacious inside and comes with loads of standard equipment. It’s an excellent choice for even those who do long trips fairly often, since it has a long driving range as well as a super-fast charging system.

The Kia EV6 may be a better choice for those who want something fun, but the Hyundai is comfortable, smooth and easy to drive. The long warranty and expectations of reliability mean that it’s a fantastic used buy.

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Best Hyundai Ioniq 5 deals

Even the lowest-spec Ioniq 5 with a 58kWh battery is a great option. It’s good value and comes with loads of standard kit, plus performance is decent from the 170hp motor and you still get more than 230 miles of range.

The Premium version comes with some nice kit including heated seats, plus if you choose the 73kWh battery then you can drive for around 300 miles on a single charge. This is our pick as the best all-round version.

The most powerful version is the 325hp AWD all-wheel-drive model, which is fast but also has a decent amount of range. We’d choose the more enjoyable Kia EV6 for something fast and fun, though, but the Ioniq 5 at least retains its better practicality and smart cabin.

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*Representative PCP finance - 2018 Ford Fiesta 1.0 ST-Line Hatchback:

  PCP representative example     APR rates available    
  Cash price £12,000 APR 7.90%   Value of loan From  
  Fixed monthly payment £218.12 Annual mileage of 8,000pa   £25,000+ 6.9%  
  Total cost of credit £2,755.55 Term 48 months   £12,000-£24,999 7.9%  
  Optional final payment £4,285.79 Loan value £12,000   £8,000-£11,999 8.9%  
  Total amount payable £14,755.55 Deposit £0   <8,000 9.9%  

 

BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.