Hyundai gives Ioniq 5 bold design, state-of-the-art charging speed

Hyundai has given the new Ioniq 5 quick acceleration and rapid charging but decided to limit the top speed on the first model family from its electric-only subbrand to 185 kph. By comparison, the top-of-the-range 585-hp EV6 GT from sister brand Kia reaches a top speed of 260 kph.

Both crossovers, which share parent Hyundai Motor Group's Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) underpinnings, can support either 400- or 800-volt charging thanks to an on-board inverter, which boosts a 400-volt current to 800 volts without needing adapters or additional equipment.

This means the Ioniq 5 offers charging speeds that challenge the Porsche Taycan as well as a bold design that mirrors the striking looks of the 45 Concept that Hyundai launched in 2019.

Like the Taycan, the Ioniq 5 has an 800-volt electric system, which means the midsize crossover recharges from 10 percent to 80 percent in 18 minutes. It can also add the equivalent of 100 km of range in less than four and a half minutes, Hyundai says.

The Taycan can go from a 5 percent charge to 80 percent in 22.5 minutes and add 100 km of range in a little more than 5 minutes, according to Porsche.

While the Taycan starts at 83,520 euros in Germany, the Ioniq 5, which went on sales in Europe in July, will have a base price of 41,900 euros in Germany, about 4,000 euros less that the Kia EV6 ,which starts at   44,990 in Germany.

Most direct rivals to the Ioniq 5, including the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID4, have 400-volt electric systems, which take longer to recharge.

Size-wise, the 4635-mm long, 1890-mm wide and 1605-mm tall Ioniq 5 matches the size of the VW ID4 (4585 mm/1852 mm/1636 mm) but offers considerably more legroom because at 3000 mm it's wheelbase exceeds the ID4's by 234 mm.

Giugiaro-inspired design

Ioniq's mission within the Hyundai Group is to become the electric-only subbrand of Hyundai, with a distinctive design and state-of-the-art electric system intended to move the entire brand more upscale.

To style the angular Ioniq 5's shape, Hyundai designers took inspiration from the Pony Coupe, a wedge-shaped concept penned by design legend Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was leading Italdesign in 1974.

Giugiaro was tasked with creating the look of Hyundai's first range of cars. The South Korean automaker debuted as stand-alone brand with the 1975 Giugiaro-styled Pony compact hatchback.

Before that Hyundai assembled models based on the Ford Cortina.

At the 2019 Frankfurt auto show, Hyundai unveiled the 45 concept, with the number choose to pay homage to the original Pony concept's debut 45 years before.

At the time, Hyundai also said the 45 concept previewed a forthcoming production car. This turned out to be an understatement as the Ioniq 5 is the 45 concept in production form.

Rarely do concepts, which are often used to exaggerate a brand's future design plans, so closely match the final product. The result is that the Ioniq 5 has a more radical look than rivals such as the ID4.

This philosophy is extended to the Ioniq 5's interior, which is dominated by dual, curved high-definition audiovisual screens that extend from the steering wheel to the center of the car. The EV6 also has a double screen.

Power of choice.

The Ioniq 5's base model comes with a 58-kilowatt-hour battery offered either with rear-wheel-drive and 170 hp or all-wheel drive and 225 hp.

The long-range variant has a 72.6-kWh battery. The rwd variant has 217 hp while the awd version has 305 hp.
The WLTP-certified range is 384 km to 643 km, Hyundai says.

For the test drive, that occurred in early July in Valencia, Spain, Hyundai only offered the range-topping, fully equipped Uniq variant that costs 53,750 euros in Germany.

The Ioniq 5 used 17.9 kilowatts per 100 km during the test, a result that falls within the 16.7 kW -19.0 kW range promised by Hyundai.