HYUNDAI IONIQ 5

 

IONIQ 5 HATCHBACK AT THE HEART 

OF HYUNDAI’S ‘ELECTRIFIED’ LINEUP

Hyundai has embarked on an ambitious program with a goal of selling a million “electrified” models worldwide as soon as the year 2025 to fulfill the public’s growing demand for more eco-friendly vehicles.

Loren Wong, Assistant Manager for Product Planning for Hyundai North America, made that point last month in a visit Miami last month to talk about the South Korean automaker’s plans.

“Today’s consumer is lot more demanding and has many more transportation options to choose from,” he said. “State, city, and municipalities are making greater demands for more environmental friendly and economical transportation solutions.

“At Hyundai we ave embraced this challenge and are ready for the future.”

Cox Automotive, a global conglomerate that tracks industry trends, recenty reported that electrified vehicles, which includes standard gas-electric hybrids (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), or cars with all-electric drivetrains (EVs), are the fastest growing segment in automotive sales through the first half of this year.

That translates to a market share of about 12 percent, Wong said,  and that demand doesn’t figure to slacken.

“About one in three people,” he said. “are considering an electrified vehicle for their next vehicle purchase.”

At the heart of Hyundai’s electrified lineup is the all-electric 2022 Ioniq 5, a small hatchback the company began easing into U.S. markets late last year. It is offered in four trims with a range of over 300 miles in rear-wheel-drive configuration to ease fears of range anxiety, the No. 1 concern most people have when it comes to electric vehicles.

All-wheel-drive models don’t get quite that much on a full charge but still offer a respectable 256 miles of driving range.

Even with the reduced range, AWD models have been a popular choice for Ioniq 5 buyers.

“Surprisingly more than half of our Ioniq 5 sales have been for the all-wheel drive Ioniq 5s,” Wong said. “Range is a little less at little over 250 miles but a lot of customers like that tradeoff with increased driving performance for the all-wheel-drive model, which has 320 horsepower versus  225 for the rear-wheel-drive model. And you also get that peace of mind of all-wheel drive traction.”

This review is based on the top-of-the-line of the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited trim with AWD which comes fully packed. It carries a base MSRP of $54,500, which is a pretty good hunk of change, but you can save nearly $4,000 by going with RWD. SEL trim, which also has an extensive list of standard equipment, starts at $49,750 with AWD and $46,250.with RWD.

SE models start at $44,000 for RWD models and $47,500 with AWD.  Also available is an SE Standard Range model that starts at just under $40,000 but doesn’t offered AWD and has a more modest driving range of 220 miles on a full charge.

Designers have given the 2022 Ioniq 5 somewhat of a futuristic look both inside and out, which some may not find to their tastes. It does stand out, and the Limited has lots of friendly features when it comes to comfort and convenience.

Handles remain flush to the sides both front and rear doors until activated by the approach of the key fob, making for a clean exterior side surface. With a wheelbase of 118.1 inches and 182.5-inch length, there is good passenger room.

Infotainment systems on the Limited trim work off a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation and Android Auto/Apple CarPlan connectivity. Smart cruise control with automatic stop/start technology, a Bose premium audio system, a head-up display, surround view camera, and leatherette trimmed heated and ventilated seats are among features that often are not offered or are available only as options on typical econo hatchbacks.

Push-button start is included, and the 2022 Ioniq 5 Limited rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with a very distinctive design.

In addition to the excellent maximum driving range that the larger battery pack provides for SE, SEL, and Limited models, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 also has the capability to shorten charging times, another common concern for potential EV buyers.

Built on the company’s E-GMP platform (Electrification Global Modular Platform), the Ioniq 5 can reach from 10 to 80 percent capacity in about 18 minutes when connected to a fast-charger, Hyundai’s Wong said.

Hyundai also has a partnership with Electrify America, which has charging stations throughout the country, that will provide Hyundai owners with two years of free 30-minute charging sessions.

“That 30 minutes should be sufficient for these customers to get where they need to go when connected to a DC fast-charger,” Wong said.

What I liked abou
t the 2022 Ioniq 5 Limited: As is typical of EVs, the immediate torque response (446 pound-feet on AWD models, 256 lb.-ft. with RWD) makes driving a fun experience. The max driving range is over 300 miles on a full charge on RWD models. Tech features are easy enough to catch onto. I like the way the door handles pop out when you approach the car while with he key fob in your pocket or purse and then retract after you get in, leaving a clean exterior.

What I didn’t like about the 2022 Ioniq 5 Limited: Both exterior and interior styling in general are be a bit too funky for me and possibly older buyers (a neighbor mocked its look), but that may be an age thing. Hatchbacks generally appeal more to younger consumers. It’s a minor thing but gears are selected by turning a knob that sticks out from the steering column and the gear sequece has D (drive) at the top spot where R (reverse) would instinctively be found. You’ll typically find reverse at the head of your console’s gear shift, for example.

Would I buy the 2022 Ioniq 5 Limited? Again, I’m waiting for the infrastructure to catch up to provide more options for faster charging before I buy an EV even though the Ioniq 5 does have faster charging capability than many other EVs. But the range is good, and you can use the money you save on buy $4 or more gas to rent a car for longer trips.