Hyundai’s electric crossover Ioniq 5 may be the best matchmate

Hyundai has introduced the brand new Ioniq 5, an electric mid-size SUV with nearly 300 kilometers range and a two-way charging feature that will definitely make it a popular EV for outdoor activities.

The Ioniq 5, which will go on sale in the first half of 2021, is the first vehicle built on Hyundai’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) which, according to the carmaker, will serve as a base for an entire family of planned EVs. Hyundai and its sister company aim to sell 1 million motor vehicles in 2025 in an effort to gain ten percent of the global EV market.

The Ioniq 5 looks like a promising start to the effort. The sharp-edged crossover sport utility vehicle takes some of the design directions from the carmaker’s 45 motor vehicle, first launched in 2019, which was a tribute to the 1974 Pony Coupe, Hyundai’s first mass-produced car and first output.

Instead of a traditional grille, the front of the car is equipped with Hyundai’s first roof hood and a front bumper with a distinctive V-shape that contains a set of unique daytime running lights. These small, pixel-like clusters also appear at the rear of the vehicle.

But Hyundai packed the interior with a number of very interesting surprises. The center console can slide backwards up to 140 millimeters, allowing driver or passenger to go in and out through the door of their choice. This ‘universal island’, as Hyundai puts it, can be useful in particularly severe parking situations. The movable console also provides access to the vehicle’s integrated 15 watt cordless phone charger, in addition to tons of extra storage space.

Most of the Ioniq 5 touch points inside – seats, headgear, door decoration, floor and armrests – use environmentally friendly materials, such as recycled PET bottles, vegetable yarns and natural wool yarns, eco-processed leather with plant-based extracts, and biopainting with plant extracts. . But unlike other cars like the Polestar 2, Hyundai does not go so far as to claim that the interior is one hundred percent vegan.

That said, it can be comfortable enough to take an afternoon nap (but of course not while driving). Hyundai claims that the driver and passenger seats lie enough to provide a “weightless” feel. The design theme is ‘living space’, which is meant to emphasize the spacious interior where you can kick up and relax.

The Ioniq 5 comes in standard and long-range configurations, with either 58 kilowatt-hours or 77.4 kilowatt-hours of respective battery capacity. Hyundai estimates that the driving distance will be between 470-480 kilometers or just under 300 miles, based on the European Global Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Hyundai has yet to validate its calculations, but it is helpful to remember that WLTP estimates are usually more optimistic than the EPA, so expect the number to be less when the Ioniq 5 reaches the states.

This still represents a serious improvement over Hyundai’s previous EV offering. The Ioniq 5 range is almost 20 percent higher than, for example, the Kona EV, which previously had the longest range under Hyundai’s EV range.

EV ownership is often defined by the amount of time you need to charge the battery, and according to the benchmark, the Ioniq 5 sounds like it could be a winner. Hyundai says the EV supports up to 350 kW DC fast charging and can get up to 80 percent within 80 minutes.

The Ioniq 5 supports both 400- and 800-volt charging. In fact, Hyundai’s E-GMP platform offers standard 800V charging, along with 400V charging, without the need for additional adapters. Hyundai says this multi-charge system is a “world-first patented technology that drives the motor and converter to increase 400 V to 800 V for stable charge compatibility.”

But the charging capacity flows both ways – literally. The Ioniq 5 has a two-way charging feature that Hyundai calls ‘vehicle-to-load’, which can deliver up to 3.6 kW of power. There are two loading gates, one under the second row of seats and the other at the loading gate on the outside. Using a converter, customers can charge a range of electrical appliances, including electric bicycles, scooters or camping gear. The outside gate provides power even when the vehicle is turned off.

(An ad for the EV features actors using the Ioniq 5 to power a convection oven, treadmill, and half a dozen speakers while camping.)

This two-way charging feature is not unique to Hyundai, but it is rare for a passenger vehicle. The Ford F-150 Powerboost, a hybrid version of its truck, can deliver up to 7.2 kW of power through a built-in generator. But 3.6 kW is a reasonable amount of production. To be sure, the Ioniq 5 does not generate its own energy, and so any power drawn from its battery will eventually come from the vehicle range.

If you’re wondering how the price of the Ioniq 5 compares to other electric crossover SUVs, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID 4 or Tesla Model Y … well, so are we. Hyundai has unfortunately not released any pricing information for the EV, although we expect it to be in the range of $ 30,000 – $ 40,000, before tax incentives.

Unlike Tesla or General Motors, Hyundai is still eligible for the full $ 7,500 federal EV tax credit, which would help the carmaker move many units. Customers will also be looking for a range of EPA certification and more details on partnerships with EV charging stations, before deciding.

For the first time in, well, forever, customers will have a variety of options when buying for medium-sized electric sport utility vehicles. And the Ioniq 5 already looks like it will be a strong contender.