 | Positives: Fresh styling that has held up well, open and modern interior, ample space for five, fun to drive, good steering and handling. |
 | Negatives: Squirrely handling in emergency situations, no wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, infotainment response needs improvement. |
 | Bottom Line: The IONIQ 5 is one big reason to go electric. It's great to drive and look at, and it feels truly premium. Range is more than adequate, and the AWD setup is perfect for inclement weather. |
Driving Experience
EVs are quick because of the low center of gravity and the immediate torque. We were surprised how quick our Ioniq 5 tester was and how well it drove in everyday circumstances. When called upon to perform, the Limited trim was a rocket but a very comfortable one. Steering, handling, and braking were very impressive what what is, effectively, an EV hatchback crossover. It just seems to do so much, so well.
Ride Quality: The Ioniq 5 is remarkably smooth to drive over uneven surfaces, and it feels composed and connected. It's not cushy, and it feels both truly solid and comfortable.
Acceleration: The dual-motor version is very quick, getting to 60 mph in a scant 4.5 seconds. Torque is immediate, and it pulls hard even at highway speeds.
Braking: The regen brakes are excellent, and you can control their effort with the Regen Braking Control Paddles on the steering column. The brakes don't feel as artificial as some of the competition.
Steering: There is some solid steering effort and it feels more natural than other setups we've used. There's not much feedback coming through, but there's good precision and on-centeredness.
Handling: The Ioniq 5 corners pretty flat, and the all-wheel drive setup and low center of gravity equate to good balance, road-holding, and gobs of traction. The problem occurs when you make a quick directional change, at which point the car gets squirrely.
Technology
The tech setup in the Ioniq 5 is great. Two large 12.3" screens take up the dash real estate and manage instrumentation and infotainment. Everything is easy to use, and the system is crisp and clear. The touch controls for climate are also very good.
Infotainment System: The color screen is big, easy to read, and decently responsive. We like the main menu that's almost instantaneously decipherable on a single screen. The instrument cluster shows all the relevant information, and you can configure it to your liking. Overall, it's one of the best setups we've come across.
Controls: There's a lot to love about the way the interior of the Ioniq 5 has been set up in terms of controls. The gearshift stalk is one of the best, and it operates by rotating the end with satisfying clicks. It's far better than the version from Mercedes that operates like a turn-signal stalk and is very confusing. The climate controls are touch-operated but very easy. The audio controls are physical in a linear setup above the climate controls, and they're super-easy to use.
Styling
The Ioniq 5 is one of the freshest automotive designs to come along in a while. It doesn't borrow styling from any other brand, and it also brilliantly taps into the '70s Hyundai Pony, as well as '80s pixels in the head and taillights. The interior is also clean, fresh, and properly quirky. There's a lot to love about the design, and the world agrees, having given it the 2022 World Car Design of the Year Award and deservedly so.
Front: The Ioniq 5 has more character in its front fascia than most cars. The squared off LED DRLs look awesome, and the clean hood creases, the clamshell hood style and Tron-like lower fascia look fantastic. We wish the side mirrors were more squared off, to be honest, but that's not exactly aerodynamic.
Rear: The back end is even better than the front. The taillights match the headlights and the pixilated bar between the outboard taillights is very cool. the lower rear fascia nicely matches the front, as well.
Profile: Everything from the side view looks great, an the big downward body crease draws the eye and makes the most of the matte paint job. Scalloped fender trim, flush door handles, and rocker panel styling that matches the lower fascias are great touches. We especially love the super-short overhangs that give the Ioniq 5 tight proportions.
Cabin: The interior is light, airy, minimalist, and modern. Everything about the interior is wonderful, including the light-colored screen frame with the integrated audio speaker, the elegant armrests, and the red accents. The only thing we can criticize is the steering wheel hub/horn that's a bit boring.
Comfort
We love the cabin of the Ioniq 5 and not just because it looks great. Designers thought about occupant comfort with great seats, visibility, and ergonomics. The center console even slides back in Limited Trim, a nifty feature that creates space and opens up the atmosphere. The Ioniq 5 also happens to be a very quiet ride.
Front Seats: Seats are well-cushioned and very supportive. They even have footrests, so you can recline and take a nap with your feet up while you're waiting for it to charge (though you won't wait long).
Rear Seats: The floor is totally flat, which makes it excellent for middle passengers. All positions are very comfortable, as well. There's no bulging seatback for the middle spot, not something you see often.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): The Ioniq 5 is very quiet and not just because it's an EV. Good sound deadening and excellent build quality help, as well. It's very quiet even at highway speeds.
Visibility: The big windows and the seating position provide good visibility with only some obstruction from the C-pillars.
Climate: The climate system works very quickly from battery power, so there's very little lag. The heated and ventilated front seats also work quickly and effectively.
Safety
On its first outing, the Ioniq 5 outperforms most vehicles out there, nabbing top awards for safety. The slew of standard safety features is also very impressive.
IIHS Rating: The Ioniq 5 earns the Top Safety Pick+ award with small demerits in the LATCH ease of use, seat belt warning, and headlights in some trims. It matches the awards won by the VW ID.4 and the Tesla Model 3.
NHTSA Rating: Not tested.
Standard Tech: Our tester came standard with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist & Lane Following Assist, Safe Exit Warning & Driver Attention Warning, Park Distance Warning Front & Rear, Downhill Brake Control, Hill Start Assist Control, Tire Pressure Monitor w/ Individual Tire Indicator, Premium Head-Up Display, Surround View Monitor, Blind Spot View Monitor, smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.
Optional Tech: None.
Storage/Cargo
The Ioniq 5 makes the most of its interior dimensions by providing a solid amount of cargo space and great small storage item compartments and binnacles. While it's not the most capacious in the EV crossover segment, it does more than a respectable job.
Storage Space: Smart storage options like the sliding center console with its large lower tray, big door pockets, and a front floor binnacle provide easily reachable areas for small items.
Cargo Room: In the back, there are 27.2 cubic feet behind row two and 59.3 cubes with the seats folded flat. It's pretty much on par with the Ford Mustang Mach-e but a few cubes shy of the VW ID.4. The Ioniq 5's frunk isn't huge, but it provides a few cubes of storage under the hood.
Fuel Economy
The top-trim AWD dual-motor version provides 266 miles of range, down from the long-range single-motor version that provides 303 miles of range (the base single-motor provides 168 miles of range). The biggest battery in our tester can charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 18 minutes via Ultra DC-fast charging. It can also supposedly add 68 miles in around five minutes.
Observed: 95 MPGe.
Distance Driven: 197 miles.
Audio
The Ioniq 5 in Limited trim comes standard with a Bose Premium Audio system that sounds great. It had excellent clarity, good bass, and no distortion at higher volumes.
