In 2020, Korea’s largest carmaker, Hyundai Motor Company, announced its plan to roll out 23 pure electric cars by 2025. While we don’t know much about other vehicles in the works, the 2022 Ioniq 5 is the first to debut. The all-electric compact SUV pairs adroit handling with impressive performance and cutting-edge technology. What about the futuristic, state-of-the-art styling that is evident both on the outside and the inside? But the incredible battery technology and its insane charging speeds are more likely to blow your mind.
The 2022 Ioniq 5’s numerous selling points have made the new EV a trophy-laden car. It won three awards at the 2022 World Car Awards, including the World Car of the Year. Global SUV believes the hype about the 2022 Ioniq 5, and here are some of its outstanding features.
State-of-the-Art Styling
There are many intriguing details about the exterior of the Ioniq 5, part of which are the design, inspiration, and proportions. Judging strictly from pictures, the EV appears like a small hatch. But its overall length of about 182 inches and width of about 74 inches means it is bigger than many SUVs in the compact SUV class. And that includes the stylish and practical Volvo XC40.
The Ioniq 5’s attention-grabbing, pixel-inspired lightning compliments the front and rear profiles of the EV. Designed as horizontal strips, the pixel graphics provide additional illumination on the lower rear bumper. A clean, horizontal character line flows above the auto-retracting flush door handles. And a diagonal crease joins the line to pixel-inspired horizontal side strakes to create an attractive ‘Z’ graphic on the side profile. The twin array roof spoiler at the end of the roofline will also catch your attention. With its commendable design details and alluring build, the Ioniq 5 carted away with the 2022 World Car Design of the Year award.
Engineered To Deliver
The Ioniq 5 offers multiple motor configurations, but they are all powerful enough to get anyone going. Combining the standard-range battery with an RWD motor configuration generates 168 hp. Pair the same motor configuration with the longer-range battery to get 225 horsepower and 258 lb. ft of torque. The AWD configuration with the longer-range battery is the most potent combination, delivering 320 hp and 446 lb. ft of torque. Hyundai says the Ioniq can go from 0 to 62 mph in about 5.2 seconds. Adding its top speed of 115 mph, the Ioniq is faster than the fantastic VW ID.4.
But it’s not just about how it forges forward. Using the control paddles behind the steering wheel, the driver can switch between levels of regenerative braking. Setting it to higher levels captures more energy at the expense of smooth coasting when decelerating. The lower level of regenerative braking captures less energy, giving better performance while decelerating. But we recommend Smart Regenerative Braking because it adjusts the system automatically according to the distance and speed of the vehicle ahead.
No Delays
By estimation, the Ioniq 5 can offer 220 miles of range with the standard 58.0kWh battery pack. The other battery option is a 77.4-kWh battery pack estimated to provide 303 miles with a single motor and 256 miles with dual motors. But in addition to its impressive range, the EV is also a fast-charging champ.
Hyundai claims that the Ioniq 5’s battery pack can handle charging speeds up to 250kW. With 800v ultra-fast charging, the battery can go from 10 to 80% in about 18 minutes. The battery technology also allows vehicle-to-load (V2L) 120V charging outlets inside and outside the SUV. Those charging outlets can power larger electric appliances and charge another EV.
More Than A Cabin
Hyundai wanted the inside of the Ioniq 5 to feel like a smart living room. And there was no better way of achieving this than a marriage of spaciousness and comfort in an “open” environment. When you add the available Vision Roof to that, the Ioniq 5 feels like a mobile lounge.
Hyundai leaned more towards simple than artsy with the design of the cabin. The digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and the landscape-oriented 12.3-inch infotainment display has a single housing. The result is a horizontal architecture that visually enhances the cabin’s width. With comfort being a priority, the front seats recline and utilize footrests for relaxation while charging or waiting.
But the Electric Global Modular Platform (e-GMP) is what aids one of the most exciting features of the cabin: a completely flat floor. While the Ioniq 5 has a large center console, it can slide back and forth by over 5 inches. When slid to the rear, there is enough space for the front passenger to switch to the opposite door. Also, passengers can access amenities like wireless charging, USB ports, and cupholders. What’s more? The vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability allows the Ioniq 5 to power appliances like laptops through the battery.
A Fascinating Tech Showcase
As expected of a top-quality SUV in the Ioniq 5’s class, it is packed with cutting-edge technology for ease, infotainment, and connectivity. Using the Hyundai digital key, the owner can gain access to the cabin, start the engine, and perform more functions. But the digital key may also give access to non-owners, provided the owner shares the details via text.
The Ioniq 5 features dynamic voice recognition technology, and it supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Safety is also a selling point here, as the EV offers the best driver-assist features. For example, Highway Driving Assist II keeps the vehicle in the center of the lane. It can also identify when someone comes too close and help to change lanes. Other features include a Blind-spot view monitor, a premium Heads-up Display (HUD) that uses AR to project navigation, Smart Cruise Control, etc.
Pricing and Preferred Trim
There are 7 trims, starting with the SE Standard Range and ending with the Limited AWD trim. The base SE trim starts at $39,950, about $3,000 less than the Ford Mustang Mach-E. On the higher end, the 2022 Ioniq 5 Limited with an AWD configuration starts at about $57,000.
But we recommend the SEL trim with the all-wheel-drive motor configuration. Our choice is because the trim offers the chance to get 320 hp, 256-mile driving range, artificial-leather upholstery, a hands-free power liftgate, and many other perks for about $52,000.
Gabriel Olakunori
Gabriel likes to argue (blindly) that SUVs are a part of nature, but he seems to have a point whenever you walk in the snow, through the bone-dry desert, splendid park-like boulevard, plains, and rocky roads. He has over five years of experience writing across a broad spectrum of topics, with quite a number in the automotive industry. If he is not at the desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he is at the wheel d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun. Both activities take him to the same destination: Utopia. He loves SUVs simply because they are all-inclusive, but he cannot turn down an offer to drive or write about any vehicle.
