Hyundai’s impressive Ioniq 5 offers long range and fast performance

ÇWhen I first saw the Hyundai 45 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, I described it as a “pure and unique concept vehicle”. Now I’m ready to swallow those words, as Hyundai has unveiled the impressive production crossover EV of the Ioniq 5 which is closely based on the 45, right up to the diagonal crease on the doors. It has many advantages under the sheet metal too, with an 800 volt electric drive system that should offer excellent range and decent performance.

The Ioniq 5 is built on Hyundai’s new modular Electric-Global platform, with drive- and steer-by-wire technology and an empty battery. Very similar to other recent EV platforms, which allowed to maximize the interior space, keeping the external dimensions reasonably compact. It will also come with an optional sunroof that can directly charge the main battery.

There are several configurations determined by the size of the battery, two- or four-wheel drive and power. The Standard Range 2WD model starts with a 58 kilowatt-hour and 160 kilowatt battery (218 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque), providing a 0-60 MPH time of about 8.5 seconds. The standard-range AWD adds a second electric motor, increasing power to 235 horsepower and 446 foot-pounds of torque.

For long-range options, a 77.4 kWh battery will be offered in the United States, with a smaller package of 72.6 kWh in other parts of the world. They will be available with the 160-kilowatt rear engine mentioned above, delivering about 300 miles per charge on Europe’s WLTP cycle with the smallest battery (probably less in the US based on EPA standards, even with the larger battery). At the top end is the Ioniq 5 Long Range AWD with 306 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, propelling it from 0 to 60 MPH in 5.2 seconds – at the price of a slightly lower range.

You will be able to charge the Ioniq 5 using DC fast charging up to 350 kW, which theoretically will increase the charge from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes, while adding 62 miles of range in just 5 minutes. It also supports bidirectional and “Vehicle-to-Load” charging, allowing you to charge phones, computers and even e-bikes via the car battery by up to 3.6 kW. Of course, this will drain the car’s battery, although it can recover some charge through the sunroof.

Approximately the size of a Toyota RAV 4, the Ioniq 5 is larger than it may appear at first. In addition to the unusual bodywork, Hyundai brought the square headlight and the concept’s rear light treatments, albeit in a more practical way. It has the same 20-inch wheels as the 45, although they do not fit as well in the wheel cavities. It has some additional bodywork parts around the edges – something that Hyundai got rid of Kona Electric. Some markets (except the US) will have OLED screens and rear view cameras instead of mirrors.

The 45 concept was based on the idea that you can rest and relax while the car drives you. The Ioniq 5 cannot do the latter, but it comes with Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist 2, with features such as lane centering assistance, lane change assistance and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. It also comes with Remote Smart Parking Assist, allowing you to jump out of the car and park alone via smartphone.

The interior, of course, has completely changed the concept, since the modernist style of the 45s would not be enough in a real world with security rules. Still, there are some interesting touches. The front seats actually recline and even have a footrest, while the center console can slide backward 5.5 inches. This can open up more space on the floor, while giving rear seat occupants access to it as a kind of table.

At the front, the panel features a flat 12-inch digital instrument panel, along with a 12-inch touchscreen information screen powered by Hyundai’s BlueLink connected surfaces. It is also Hyundai’s first 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 will not reach North America until the fall. The price has not yet been announced, but we should get this information when the launch approaches.