2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5

The Hyundai IONIQ burst onto the scene for 2017 as the brand’s Prius-fighting hybrid. But quickly, a plug-in and even an all-electric version arrived to show Hyundai had much bigger things in mind.  And that was eventually spinning IONIQ off into Hyundai’s all-electric sub-brand.  And now we’re driving its initial offering, the IONIQ 5 SUV.

As unique as it appears, this 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is clearly a glimpse at the future of the Hyundai brand. Built upon Hyundai/Kia’s new EV-specific E-GMP platform, which is designed to maximize interior volume, as well as completely exploit the low center of gravity as much as possible; the IONIQ 5 combines midsize SUV-like space and hot hatch-like handling in a compact SUV.  

Max range is 303-miles if you stick with the standard 225-horsepower, 2-wheel-rear-drive, single motor powertrain. Adding a second motor to the front axle means all-wheel-drive and a boost to 320-horsepower and 446 lb-ft. of torque, but drops the range to 256-miles. In our test all-wheel-drive IONIQ 5, we observed a real-world range in mixed driving of 244-miles while in eco mode with regen braking at its most aggressive setting. Government Fuel Economy MPGe Ratings are 110-City, 87-Highway, and 98-Combined; with a good efficiency rating of 34kWh/100 miles.  

But Eco mode does seem to rob some power, and only adds another 10-miles or so of additional range; so, we prefer the additional urgency of normal mode, as it delivers a more balanced driving experience. And, you can always take advantage of regen braking where appropriate to add a few more miles back in.  

In addition to maximizing range, speeding up charge times is where a lot of advances are taking place these days. The IONIQ 5’s 800-volt multi-charging system can get the 77.4-kWh battery to 80% in under 20-minutes. Just enough time for coffee and donuts. And if you’ve seen any of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 advertisements, they are clearly touting the fact that since you’re essentially driving around a huge rechargeable battery, you can use it to charge and power lots of things other than just your commute.  

There are plenty of eco-friendly materials in the cabin, as well as nature-inspired colors like Obsidian, Pebble, and Dove Gray. Plus, we truly love the large amount of space that’s freed up in front without a bulky center floor console. And there is a lot of floorspace, as despite its small stature, the IONIQ 5 boasts a longer wheelbase than any other vehicle in their lineup, at 118.1-inches. That’s almost 4-inches more than the three-row Palisade SUV, yet the IONIQ 5 is over a foot shorter overall.

A pair of 12-inch widescreens are housed side-by-side in a single dash-top enclosure; the one on the right, a touchscreen for infotainment, while behind the steering wheel is the configurable digital gauge setup. 

It is definitely unique looking outside, and we’re not just talking about those 20-inch Parametric Pixel-inspired wheels.  The sleek face features plenty of eye-catching lighting elements. While bodysides display an exaggerated diagonal slash pointing from the base of the A-pillars to the rear wheels. Flush door handles, smooth surfaces, and an expressive rear, all provide a very sophisticated vibe. And there’s room for 27.2 cubic-ft. of cargo behind the rear seats, 59.3 with seatbacks folded. So, we loaded up our test gear, and had more than enough range for a full slate of testing at Mason Dixon Dragway…

…where it launched like a bat out of hades. Tires chirp briefly, but there’s plenty of grip to put some serious power down and hit 60 in just 4.6-seconds. But, like some other EVs we’ve tested recently, after that initial exhilarating pull to 60, power seems to taper off as you build speed. A 13.4-second ¼-mile time is certainly decent, but we were traveling at just 102 miles-per-hour when we tripped the lights. Top speed is limited to 115 miles-per-hour, and Hyundai claims you can also tow up to 2,000-lbs.

The IONIQ 5 felt smooth, stable, and quite fun through our handling course. Nice direct steering and good amounts of grip gave us confidence to push fairly hard through the cones; where we found only moderate body roll, and just the slightest amount of understeer. And beyond all of that, it’s just an enjoyable car to drive.  

Pricing starts at $44,895 for a rear-wheel-drive SE; SELs begin at $47,145, top Limited going for $51,845. The cost for adding dual-motor all-wheel-drive varies with trim level.

The 2022 IONIQ 5 is indeed very impressive and is the first vehicle from what will soon be an entire family of IONIQ EVs from Hyundai.  And as we’ve come to expect, they’ve clearly done their homework, as well as put in an extraordinary amount of R&D time that has them well-positioned to be leaders in the electric vehicle field for years to come.