2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5
The push towards electric vehicle ownership will come from various conditions. One of them is happening right now – the rise in fuel prices. In most of this country, regular fuel has scaled over $4.75 a gallon – the highest pump price we have seen in recent memory.
Is the price of fuel enough to get you into an electric vehicle?
What if you decided to go electric? Which one would you choose?
You may have heard of the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5. It is part of a new family of electric vehicles the Korean automaker is developing, alongside its sibling brands Kia and Genesis.
What’s significant about the IONIQ 5 have been the accolades it has received so far – including being named World Car of The Year for 2022. That is a huge award in the automotive world.
Does the IONIQ 5 deliver on the accolades for you to leave gas-fueled vehicles behind?
It starts with Hyundai’s approach to the IONIQ 5’s design. Hyundai states that it is as long as the current Tucson SUV with a wheelbase as long as a Palisade. Therefore, you get a compact crossover/SUV that offers great practicality right off the bat.
The design is contemporary, futuristic, and nostalgic – all at the same time. It is also tall, which lends to its usefulness. We like the matrix taillights and the rectangular headlamps that make the IONIQ 5 stand out.
In our Limited tester, the 20-inch alloy wheels may cause some debate, but we think it fits the overall design perfectly.
Stepping inside also offers the same design approach than the exterior. The two screens are located on a thin housing attached the dashboard. The left screen houses the instrumentation, vehicle information, charging levels and range. The one of the right houses the infotainment system, which includes smartphone integration. You will find a new transmission “stalk” that uses a knob to change between drive and reverse.
The front seats offer comfort and bolstering for support. The center console divides the front seats offering open space and storage options. Rear seat room si exceptional, for both leg and head room. In the back you get 27.2 cubic feet before you fold down the rear seats. With those seats folded, cargo space expands to 59.3 cubic feet. Up front, there is a small secure storage area – short of a cubic foot - that actually looks like an engine cover.
Our Limited tester is powered by two motors – one at each axle. Total output is 320 horsepower with 446 pound-feet of torque. Therefore, this model has power to all four wheels. The battery pack has a capacity of 77.4 kWh with an output of 272 kW. Hyundai claims that this tester has a range of 256 miles. In reality, we were able to 226 miles on a completely full battery.
The IONIQ 5 is also available with a single-motor, rear-drive set-up offering two power choices. sources of power. The standard range model has just 168 horsepower good for 220-mile range. Or, you can step up to an extended range version with 225 horsepower and the maximum advertised range of 302 miles.
In terms of the driving experience, the IONIQ 5 rides very smoothly. It does handle the bumps well without transmitting them into the cabin, Handling is good – somewhere between soft and solid. Cornering is fine, but you do feel the extra weight of the battery pack, along with the lower center of gravity.
The steering is not as tight as you expect in a smaller vehicle. While there is an absence of feel, it manages will when you point the IONIQ 5 into a turn. On-center is soft, but also very manageable. The brakes are an interesting story. If you apply them, they do respond with good normal and panic stops. Pedal feel is good. There is a one-pedal function called i-Pedal that can be enabled so you not have to use the pedal to intervene. A Smart Regenerative System is designed to maintain charge levels while slowing down, using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Pricing for the 2022 IONIQ 5 starts at $39,950 for the SE Standard Range version. Our Limited all-wheel drive tester came with a sticker price of $55,920.
The IONIQ 5 is part of a growing number of battery electric vehicles that are vying for your investment in the future. Competitors include the Kia EV6, Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X, and Nissan Ariya.
However, if you are looking for something that offers a high degree of practicality without the burden of rising fuel costs, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a smart choice to meet the future of mobility – yours.
Story Credits: CarSoup Editors
