Hyundai Ioniq 5 First Drive Review - Retro-Futuristic Parameter Changer

Updated: Saturday, February 11, 2023, 10:59 [IST]

It was in September 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show that Hyundai took the wraps off a concept EV dubbed simply the 45. The 45 concept car celebrated 45 years of the original Hyundai Pony car that was revealed at the Turin Motor Show in 1974.

Two years and a pandemic later, Hyundai revealed the Ioniq 5, the production version of the 45 Concept to the world. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained almost all of the retro-futuristic looks and came with multiple battery packs and enough range and insane fast charging speeds that made it an attractive alternative to the Tesla Model 3 in international markets.

Nearly two years after the Hyundai Ioniq 5 made its international debut, the South Korean EV was finally launched on our shores at Auto Expo 2023. We finally got behind the wheel of the Ioniq 5 in Goa to see if this retro-futuristic Hyundai is the premium EV that we've all been waiting and longing for...

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Design & Features - A Drool-Worthy Mix Of The Past & The Future

The Hyundai Ioniq 5's design was inspired by the Pony Coupe concept from the 1974 Turin Motor Show. But Hyundai didn't just copy and paste that concept's design to this EV. Instead, it took those old-school design cues and married them with something you'd love to see in the future.

The result is an EV that reminds you of an 80's hot hatch (despite its massive size) that would look at home in both Back To The Future and Tron which turns heads everywhere you take it in the present day.

The Ioniq 5 still looks like that supersized hatchback that was the 45 concept car from Frankfurt 2019. At the front, the clamshell bonnet extends across the width of the Ioniq 5 EV and ensures that cuts down on panel gaps and gives the front end a clean look.

The parametric pixel LED headlights are rather distinct and are made from 256 individual 'pixels'. They turn heads everywhere the EV goes with the DRLs doing double duty as the turn indicators. Lower down on the front bumper, active aerodynamic flaps open up to let in the air when needed to keep the electric powertrain cool.

The sides of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 ensure to continue with the styling highlights. The large 20-inch parametric pixel design alloy wheels that sit under the slightly bulbous wheelarches raise the styling quotient of the EV that also sports flush door handles.

The sides also feature two major design lines both starting at the front door; with one heading to the taillights while the other runs diagonally across the doors to the rear wheel arch.

At the rear, the integrated spoiler helps with the aero profile of the Ioniq 6 and houses the third brake light. The rectangular parametric taillights are pure theatre and up the coolness quotient of the Ioniq 5.

The Ioniq nameplate is found between the taillights above which sits the Hyundai badge. The rear bumper features some ventage with the lower section angling downwards towards the flat floor of the Ioniq 5.

The brilliant exterior design of the Ioniq 5 also hides just how massive the EV actually is. This becomes evident when you open the doors and step into Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The cabin of the Ioniq 5 is massive and features quite a bit of sustainable and recycled materials including recycled paperette and plastic on the doors, sugarcane and corn components for the headliner and carpet fabric and the usage of flaxseed oil to dye the leather upholstery.

The Ioniq 5 features a rather minimalistic cabin with the dash sporting a Dark Pebble Grey theme. Sitting atop the dash are two 12.3-inch displays for the instrumentation and infotainment setups.

The infotainment display is a very responsive touchscreen unit that comes paired with a premium 8-speaker sound system from Bose and offers support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The infotainment also supports onboard navigation and over-the-air updates for the Ioniq 5.

The infotainment system is also where you'll find Hyundai's Bluelink setup with over 60 connected car features. These include Home 2 Car which allows owners to command the Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa to control features Remote Door Lock/ Unlock, Remote Climate Control among others.

The cabin of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the place to be with all four seats offering memory function and reclining. The front seats are ventilated and heated and also sport leg rest for extra support when you want to really relax. The lounge-like nature of the Ioniq 5's interiors is further enhanced by the sliding centre console which allows for a walkthrough cabin and the large panoramic glass roof.

Other features on board the Ioniq 5 include dual-zone climate control with auto defogger, rain-sensing wipers, and a wireless phone charger among others.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes packed with all the safety kit you can think of including 6 Airbags (Driver & Passenger, Side & Curtain), all-wheel disc brakes, multi-collision avoidance braking, a virtual engine sound system and an electronic parking brake among others.

Hyundai has also fitted the Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV with a host of driver aids. The Ioniq 5 sports 21 Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) including Lane Keeping Assist, Bling Spot Collision Warning, radar-guided cruise control, and High Beam Assist among others.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Specs & Dimensions - Massive RWD Range Monster

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 for India is powered by a 72.6kwh battery pack that delivers a claimed range of 631km on a single charge as per ARAI testing.

The battery pack is connected to an electric motor that powers the rear wheels. The motor is rated at 214.5bhp and pushes out 350Nm of peak torque. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 sprints from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds and has a top speed of 185km/h.

Speaking of speed, the charging speeds for the Ioniq 5 are quite insane as well. If you can find a 350kW DC fast charger, the Ioniq 5 will charge its battery pack from 10-80% in just 18 minutes. On a more widely available 50kW DC charger the time for the same 10 to 80% chargeup takes 57 minutes, enough for most people to go grab a bite to eat. Home charging up to 100% with the 11kW AC charger takes a steady 6 hours and 55 minutes.

The battery pack on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has another trick up its sleeve. Hyundai's e-GMP platform allows owners of the Ioniq 5 to treat their EVs like a massive power bank with the Vehicle 2 Load (V2L) feature. Owners can power anything from household items or even charge another EV with the Ioniq 5's V2L setup.

As we said earlier, the Ioniq 5's design actually hides the EV crossover's massive size. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is 4,635mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,625mm tall. The wheelbase of the Ioniq 5 is 3,000mm long and the EV offers 160mm of ground clearance. The Ioniq 5's boot can hold 527 litres while the smaller front boot under the bonnet adds another 52 litres of storage space.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Driving Impressions - Smooth Electric Operater

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 like every other in the market today offers instant response when you mash the throttle no matter which mode (Eco, Normal, Sport) you're in. Hyundai's claimed 7.6 seconds to 100km/h from a standstill is quite easily believable.

Roll-on acceleration is also brilliant in all three modes and you'll find yourself passing other vehicles with ease. However, we do wish Hyundai had baked in a bit more oomph into the sport mode of the Ioniq 5.

The suspension setup of the Ioniq 5 is a bit on the stiff side due to the rather bulky 1.9-tonne+ weight of the EV. However, despite the stiff setup and the 45-section tyres, the Ioniq 5 rides over the bumps with an ease that belies belief.

The low centre of gravity thanks to all that battery under the floor helps the handling characteristics of the Ioniq 5 which for its weight and size is quite a well-balanced car. While there is a bit of body roll when really pushing at speed into corners, it is something that isn't a dealbreaker.

The steering wheel offers both tilt and telescopic adjustability and is a bit on the heavier side for a Hyundai. While the heaviness is quite appreciated when you mash the right foot down, in slower, bumper-to-bumper it can be a bit annoying.

The Ioniq 5 sports disc brakes all around and they bring the crossover EV to a stop quite quickly. The brakes offer good bite and are quite progressive and the short travel of the brake pedal makes it quite easy to operate. The regen also helps with the braking performance of the Ioniq 5.

The Ioniq 5 offers 4 levels of Regen braking (0-3) with the base 0 dropping regen entirely while Level 3 allows for one-pedal driving which is very appreciated in jam-packed city traffic.

On the move, the cabin is quite well-insulated and shields you from the high-octane world outside. However, at higher speeds, tyre noise does begin to creep up a bit into the cabin.

Hyundai claims that Ioniq 5 will deliver a range of around 631km as per ARAI testing. While we didn't get enough time to really put that number to the test in our limited time with the Ioniq 5, we believe that the EV can easily do at least 470 to 500km on a single charge in the real world provided you drive it normally. Being leaden-footed will see that charge level drop quite quickly.

Final Thoughts On The Hyundai Ioniq 5 - India's Best Premium EV

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 may just be the best premium EV currently on sale in India. Apart from the heavy steering and the lack of a rear wiper and maybe some USB C ports, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 barely put a foot wrong in our time behind its wheel. And with its crazy Rs 45.95 lakh (ex-showroom) price tag, there isn't a premium EV around that offers a better bang for your buck.