Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review; EV At Its Electrifying Best

Having been showcased over a year ago, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was finally launched in India, at Auto Expo 2023, with prices starting at Rs. 44.95 lakh (ex-showroom). Without a doubt, it is the new flagship model from Hyundai, not only for India but globally as well. It had some solid pedigree too! It was crowned the World Car Of The Year in 2022, edging out two other EVs in the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Kia EV6! But what made the Ioniq 5 the best car in the world? Well, that is precisely what we intend to find out!

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Specifications

(The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was launched in India at Auto Expo 2023, at a price of Rs. 44.95 lakh)

Now, we already have an exclusive and a comprehensive review running on carandbike.com of the international spec model. You can look it up as well. But for now, let us start with the dynamics and the performance of the car, because this is the India-spec model and it comes with just one powertrain. 

Also Read: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Launched In India

Getting the numbers out of the way, the India-spec Hyundai Ioniq 5 is equipped with 72.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, mounted between the front and rear axles. The car is rear-wheel driven and the permanent magnet synchronous motor can churn out a maximum of 215 bhp and a significant 350 Nm of peak torque. The ARAI certified range is of up to 631 km, but the real world range should be around 450 to 470 km, which should see you getting done with your driving comfortably. 

Also Read: Hyundai Gets Over 650 Bookings For Ioniq 5 In India

(The Ioniq 5 EV can be charged fully in 7 hours, from a 7 kW AC charger)

The battery on the Ioniq 5 can be charged fully in 7 hours from an 11 kW AC charger and if you do have access to a 50 kW DC charger, then it takes just about an hour to charge from 10 to 80 per cent. The 800 volt system on the Ioniq5 can accommodate a 350 kW charger too, which further drops down the charging time to just 18 minutes, but those aren’t available in India. 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Drive

(It is a fast car, lots of pull right from the get-go! 0-100 kmph comes up in less than 8 seconds)

As is the case with all EVs, the Ioniq 5 goes full-throttle, straight off the bat! There is no waiting, no lag, just sheer pull, which means that the 0-100 kmph sprint comes up in just 7.6 seconds. That is fast! May not be sportscar fast, but not very far behind either. This also means is that overtaking is going to be a breeze on this car! And if you are missing the growl of a regular petrol or a diesel engine, the car has a virtual engine sound system too. 

(The car feels poised and stable at high speeds, even when cornering)

The Ioniq 5 definitely surprised us with its poise and handling, it tackled the narrow lanes of Goa with ease and dispatched the not so odd speed-breakers, potholes and bumps nonchalantly. Yes, it has a plush ride quality, that will keep the occupants comfortable on the go! The regenerative brakes work very well too and there is decent feedback from them under normal and panic braking situations.

Hyundai Ioniq 5: E-GMP

(The E-GMP architectecture will spawn many more models, after the Ioniq 5)

Now would be a good time to talk about the E-GMP or the electric global modular platform. It is a bespoke platform for new ‘born electric’ vehicles from the Hyundai Motor Group and yes, that includes Kia as well. The EV6 is based on E-GMP architecture too. 

(Excellent packaging, thanks to E-GMP. Flat footboard at the rear means the rear bench can accommodate three people)

The advantages of the E-GMP architecture is the fact that the packaging is neat and tight! For example, the HVAC system is located up front, which frees up space for the front seats. Similarly, the slim battery pack, mounted on the floor, means there is no transmission tunnel that interferes with the space at the rear. Plus, you also get a front trunk or frunk with 57 litres of space. The centre console between the front and rear seats can be moved up by 140 mm, liberating more space at the rear. It is a smart piece of architecture, the E-GMP. So overall, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can easily accommodate up to 5 people. 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Interior

(Clean, minimalist design on the interior, single trim. Materials made from recycled plastic and eco-processed leather)

The interior on the Ioniq 5 is done in dark pebble grey and it definitely looks premium! Moreover, the materials used in manufacturing of the interior are eco-friendly too and are made using methods and processes that are kinder to the environment. The leather for example, has been eco-processed, while the fabric is made from recycled plastic. Lots of soft-touch materials used inside the cabin, no knobs anywhere, and a magnetic dashboard, which can be used to put up photos and other such paraphernalia. It’s a cool feature to have!

(There are two 12.3-inch screens on the dashboard. One is the instrument cluster and the other is the touchscreen for the infotainment system)

The other key USP on the Ioniq 5 is the boatload of technology that it offers. The centrepiece is of course the two 12.3-inch screens, one serving as an instrument cluster and the other as the touchscreen for the infotainment system. Then, there is an 8-speaker Bose audio system and Hyundai’s Bluelink connected technology with over 60 features, having Alexa and Google Voice Assistant as standard. 

(The V2L or vehicle-to-load technology can be used to power up electric appliances and charge laptops)

In case, you are out on a road trip with the Ioniq 5 and wish to use an electrical appliance like a coffee machine or charge your laptop, well, that provision is there too, with the V2L or vehicle-to-load technology. The V2L function can support up to 3.6 kW of power, so that is again, a nice added convenience.

(Lots of features aboard, on the Ioniq 5. There are 21 Level-2 ADAS features on offer)

In terms of safety, Hyundai offers a bunch of active and passive safety features on the Ioniq 5, which include 6 airbags, disc brake on all four wheels, an electric parking brake and a variety of level 2 ADAS features. 21 to be exact! Other features include ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, dual-zone fully automated climate control, heated mirrors, wireless smartphone charging and so on. 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Design

(Clean cuts, sporty silhouette, design inspired by the Hyundai Pony Car of the '70s)

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is easy on the eye! The overall design is inspired by Hyundai’s Pony Car, which was made between 1975 and 1990. While Hyundai calls it an SUV, we peg it as a crossover! The design language is equal parts retro and futuristic.

(The Ioniq 5 was also awarded the World Car Design of the Year in 2022)

The silhouette of the car is retro, but the cuts and creases along with the parametric pixel concept which shows in the LED headlights and the alloy wheels are the futuristic bits which make the overall design downright modern, that will age well. Which is why, the Ioniq 5 also won the World Car Design of The Year along with being the World Car of The Year too.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Verdict

(Excellent, well-rounded package, and is assembled in India too)

The very fact that Hyundai launched the Ioniq 5 here in India shows that the company treats the Indian market at par with other countries, which have more robust EV infrastructure in place. The company is of the belief that India is ready for premium EVs and which is why the decision to assemble the Ioniq 5 in India was taken, rather than getting it imported. The Ioniq 5 looks beautiful, offers terrific features and conveniences along with more than decent performance and comfort. The Ioniq 5 scores really high on desirability and that’s what made it a winner at last year’s WCOTY awards.

(Its main rivals in India will be the Kia EV6 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge)

Bringing all of it together is the price point of Rs. 44.95 lakh, which undercuts the competition by a huge margin, namely the Kia EV6 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge. Yes, it is a premium model, but it is a good indication of the capabilities of Hyundai and the way forward for the company!