The electric crossover segment is booming with new releases currently. The latest entrant of this segment is the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The pioneer of Hyundai’s all-electric Ioniq subbrand, the Ioniq 5 will take on Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4 and Ford Mustang Mach-E. There have been some impressive features announced for the Ioniq 5 as well. Two days ago, YouTuber ‘Asian Petrolhead’ got a chance to review the interior and exterior design of the latest Model Y challenger.
Dimensions, Specs and Possible Cost
The Ioniq 5 is 182.4″ in length, 74.4″ in width and 63.1″ in height. The most interesting feature of the exterior design is the long wheelbase. At 118.1 inches, it is more than Hyundai Palisade’s, which is a seven-seater vehicle.
The Ioniq 5 will come in two variants – Long Range and Standard Range. There are two different battery options according to variant. The Long Range contains a 72.6-kWh battery pack, while the Standard Range has a 58-kWh option. According to Hyundai, the Long Range Dual Motor variant will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in just 5.2 seconds.
The charging system can be plugged into a 400-volt or 800-volt output. This gives the Ioniq 5 a charging power of 350 kW. To put things into perspective, Tesla Model Y gets a charging power of 250 kW. This helps it charge from 0 to 80% in 18 mins. Or you can plug it in for 5 minutes and get a range of 62 miles (100 km). That’s quite impressive.
The possible cost of the Ioniq 5 will be around $45,000.
Interior Design – Rear Row
The guy started off by sitting in the second row, which one would expect to quite spacious. And it most definitely is. A 6′ 2″ person sitting in the second row has very good headroom as well as legroom. The seats also move forward or backwards up to 5 inches. You can adjust it according to the requirement of the second-row passenger and the trunk space.
Other features include air vents on the B-pillar and fast USB charging ports on the centre console. The centre console can move up to 5 inches backwards, thanks to the flat floor in the centre as well. This means the centre console can be used for the front-row as well as back-row passengers. The arm rest is rigid and comes with 2 cup holders.
At the bottom of the rear-row seats, there is a 220V charging port. This is for the vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature that Hyundai offers. Any modern household equipment can be charged using this port. The giant sunroof at the bottom improves the spacious feeling.
In the first row, the fit and finish are very clean. The guy in the video said it feels better than the Model Y. Hyundai has claimed the use of eco-friendly and recyclable materials in the cabin, and the final touch is very good. There are digital mirrors on either side, with a small screen on either side. This feature, however, may be limited to the Korean market.
Interior Design – Front Row
The 12″ touchscreen infotainment system complements the 12″ digital instrument console behind the steering wheel. There are also lots of physical buttons, instead of touchscreen buttons normally used in new electric cars. The flat bottom is evident across the entire vehicle, thanks to Hyundai’s Electric-Global Modular Platform. There are also some fast USB charging ports in the front, as well as an armrest with 2 cup holders
There are paddle shifters to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking. The levers on the side of the steering wheels have twist dials for selecting the drive mode. There is also leg support for the driver under the front seat.
Exterior Design
The front view of the Ioniq 5 looks very good with the parametric pixel headlights. There is a modern and futuristic feel to it. There is a frunk under the hood, but there isn’t much space there for the dual motor variant.
The wheelbase makes the Ioniq 5 look very different from other crossovers. At 3000 mm, the wheelbase of the five-seater is longer than the seven-seater Palisade. This improves the interior space of the car considerably. But in spite of the long-wheelbase, its overall length is reduced because of the very short overhang in the front and rear of the vehicle. Thanks to the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), most of the components fit between the axles, which means that the part of the vehicle beyond the axles is short.
The body lines on the Ioniq 5 remind those of the Hyundai Tucson, giving a free and flowing look to the car. The 20″ rims add a uniquely large perspective to the otherwise compact car. There is a wing-type spoiler on the top of the rear windshield. The pixelated taillights and turn signals on the rear once again make it look futuristic.
The trunk is quite large and there is an option to extend it slightly as well. The second-row seats fold full flat too, giving it a lot more space in the rear.
According to the guy in the video, Hyundai will give test drives to some car reviewers in early April. After that, we can compare the performance of this car to the Tesla Model Y. Right now, on the basis of interior and exterior design, Ioniq 5 adds a fresh face to the crossover segment.
You can view the full video here:
I am intriqued by the design of the Ioniq 5, primarily because of the long wheelbase which, most assuredly, means a good steady ride. I hope that the cross-section of the tires on the 20 inch wheels is not too thin, id to od. The design is fresh and these vehicles will stand out among the crowd of others. The price is high which should impress many potential customers. Who wants a common looking car, I say.