By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

Having shaken up the market with its very first IONIQ, in 2020 Hyundai did so again with this far more sophisticated IONIQ 5. This IONIQ was only an EV - and it was quite an arresting one, aimed at premium compact hatch and Crossover models then typified by cars like Volkswagen's ID.4, Ford's Mustang MACH-E, the Polestar2 and this Hyundai's close cousin, the Kia EV6. You have to offer something interesting and different in that kind of company. The IONIQ 5 very definitely did. Here we look at the earliest 2021-2023-era versions.

Models

5dr Hatch - EV (Premium, Ultimate]

History

Exactly what is the EV automotive sector generally lacking - apart from extended battery range? Here's our nomination: design character. Most family EVs are about as interesting to look at or sit in as a wet day at Brighton Beach: in lockdown. But this one, Hyundai's IONIQ 5, isn't. The name might ring a bell. The very first IONIQ model, launched back in 2016, was the first car to be available in hybrid, electric and plug-in forms - a Prius rival that went further. And this one, launched in the UK in early 2021, aimed to go further still, the founding member of Hyundai's then-new IONIQ EV sub-brand, a line-up that shortly afterwards was bolstered by the IONIQ 6 (a mid-sized saloon). This IONIQ 5 was less easy to pigeonhole, not least because of its arresting looks, penned by Luc Donckerwolke, the man who styled most modern-era Lamborghinis. Larger than its predecessor, it was a family hatch with aggressive SUV overtones. And it made quite a statement. In a way that close rivals being targeted here, comparably priced mid-sized EV Crossovers like the Volkswagen ID.4, the Tesla Model Y and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, rather didn't. And that statement extended to the technology beneath the futuristic panelwork. This car's E-GMP electrified platform, shared with its close cousin the Kia EV6, accommodated the kind of uber-sophisticated 800-volt electronic architecture for super-rapid charging that back in 2020 we had only previously seen on mega-expensive Porsche and Audi super sportscar EVs. On top of that, there was an astonishingly spacious cabin that'll definitely get your passengers talking; you really will feel like you're in some sort of motorshow concept car. But Hyundai built this model and it could be sitting charging happily on your driveway if you were to be convinced by its charms. It's the earlier 2020-2023-erra versions of this model we look at here. A fast IONIQ 5 N performance model was introduced in early 2024.

What You Get

Where do we even start in explaining what the IONIQ 5 looks like? This Hyundai looks like nothing else. Well, almost nothing else. Designer, ex-Lamborghini stylist Luc Donckerwolke, said it was inspired by a 1970 Hyundai Pony, a model remembered as the brand's very first production car but more representative, you'd think, of an aesthetic era the company might prefer to forget. But no, here that old car was in the IONIQ 5, reinterpreted with avant garde swagger for our new electric age and a faithful translation of the eye-catching 'Concept 45' car that Hyundai had revealed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. One thing's for certain: there'll probably still be nothing like this on your street. Approach it and you realise the smoke-and-mirrors effect of all this dramatic detail, disguising a profile perspective that might look Golf-sized in the pictures but turns out to be closer to the size of something like a BMW X3 SUV in its 4.6-metre length, though with the curious quirk of a 3-metre wheelbase between the axles larger than a hulking great X5. And inside? Well Hyundai doesn't call it a cabin; what you get instead is a 'living space'. However you brand it, this is quite different from anything you'll have tried elsewhere, light, airy, spacious and, like the exterior, rather self-consciously avant garde. There are though, a few elements of design that might feel dimly familiar. The walk-through footwell is a throwback to old Minis and Beetles; there's the same kind of weirdly-shaped two-spoke wheel as you'll find on a Honda e; and what you'll notice first and foremost is a similar kind of widescreen twin-monitor dash layout as is used by larger Mercedes models, with a couple of joined-together 12.3-inch displays, the 'Driver's Supervision Instrument Cluster' instrument screen complementing a central 'Touchscreen Satellite Navigation & Media Centre' monitor. You sit quite high and SUV-like and unusual design flourishes are almost everywhere you look. There are no door handles for instance - you pull instead on a backlit rail. Gear selection is taken care of by a chunky, rather phallic lower right hand wheel stalk; the pedals get 'plus' and 'minus' designations; and the huge glovebox is actually a slide-out tray. Stretch to the top variant and you get an unusual 'Universal Island' centre storage console that slides back and forth. Original customers could pay extra for glorious 'Relaxtion premium' front seats, which extend right back and feature power-retractable calf rests so that you can comfortably nod off for forty winks while powering up at your local charging station. And in the back? Well if you thought the front of the cabin was spacious and airy, you'll find the rear is on a different level, truly comparable to a much larger car in the next segment up, thanks to the 3-metre wheelbase; to give you some perspective, that's 50mm longer than something of the size of a Porsche Panamera; in a Crossover with the vehicle length of a Porsche Macan. Such are the advantages of creating an EV model platform from scratch rather than botching it together from one designed for a combustion engine - which is the sort of thing that at the time of this IONIQ 5's launch you'd have found in this segment with cars like the Mercedes EQA and the BMW iX3. There's a V2L port in the back that can allow you to charge external devices from the car's drive battery. Using an extra cost adaptor, you can also activate a second 'V2L' port within the powered driver's side charging flap, where you'll find the usual conventional socket, embellished with ten illuminating pixel squares designating battery charge status. This second 'V2L' socket is arguably more useful because you can use it when the ignition's off, so, for instance, when you're camping to power a kettle, a microwave oven, a mini fridge or an air pump. You could even use it to power another EV if a friend or family member who has one should find themselves stranded charge-less at the side of the road, although the 'V2L' port output is limited to 3.6kW so it will only trickle charge. Let's finish by considering the boot, which (providing you avoid base trim) will have a tailgate that's electrically powered - and can be operated with a swipe of your foot beneath the bumper should you be approaching your IONIQ 5 laden down with bags. The tailgate rises to reveal a predictably high load platform - those huge battery packs have to sit somewhere - but a pretty reasonable 527-litre cargo capacity. To give you some segment perspective, that's similar to a Volkswagen ID.4 and a massive 125-litres more than you'd get with a rival Ford Mustang Mach-E. Not all EVs in this segment give you extra storage space for the charging leads beneath the bonnet (the ID.4 doesn't for instance), but you get that here. If you go for the top AWD model with its extra front-mounted motor, this 'frunk' space will inevitably suffer - to the point where you won't be able to fit anything much more than a slim laptop bag inside - but with more common rear-driven variants it's quite a usefully-sized space.

What You Pay

Prices for this pre-facelift original IONIQ 5 model start typically at around £20,400 (around £22,750 retail) which gets you a '21-plate 125kW Premium 58kWh model. Values for a 'Connect'-spec version of the same car with a late '23-plate rise to around £22,900 (around £25,250 retail). If you want the bigger-battery 160k 77kWh version, then on a '21-plate with 'Premium' trim, you're looking at prices from around £23,000 (around £25,250 retail). Values for the same car with a late '23-plate rise to around £28,500 (around £31,250 retail). All quoted values are sourced through industry experts cap hpi. Click here for a free valuation.

What to Look For

There's not too much. We've come across reports of infotainment glitches and charging irregularities. And there was a recall for the electronic parking brake, which was found in a few cases to be disengaging unintentionally. We've heard reports of thermal throttling. And one owner had a tyre issue in which foam from the inside of the tyre carcass was disconnecting from the inside of the tyre, wrapping itself into a ball and bouncing inside the tyre. If you find steering vibration on your test drive, this is what could be causing it. One owner had issues with the charging door opening. And an issue with the active front wing vents getting stuck open. We've heard lots of reports of general rattles, so look out for those on your test drive. Tailgate rattles are the most common, solved by some owners by putting a pair of rubber washers under the two top bumpers. The drive battery should have quite a bit of life in it, unless you happen to be looking at one of the very earliest '21-plate versions. When the battery is on its way out, you'll obviously find that it won't go as far on each charge - and when it starts to run low on charge, you'll find that the car will particularly start to struggle going uphill. When it gets old, the lithium-ion battery used here can suffer from the ionised liquid in the battery freezing certain cells; those cells are then unable to receive charge. Before going to all that trouble though, make sure the issue really is the battery. If the car won't charge, it could be a problem with your home electrics (or those at the public charge point you're using). Check the charge light to make sure that electricity really is going through the charge port. And make sure there really is charge in the socket you're using to power from - plug something else into it to see - say, your 'phone. If that charges OK, it could be that your charging cable is demanding too much power, so try another power source. Another problem could be that the circuit may have tripped due to a circuit overload. Or perhaps there could be a problem with the charge cable: this needs to be cared for properly. Repeatedly driving over it (as previous owners may conceivably have done) will damage it eventually. Make sure you do a charge-up before signing for the car you're looking at. When you do this, make sure that when you plug in to start the charge cycle you hear the charge port and the cable locking and engaging as they should; that's all part of the charger basically confirming with the car's onboard computer that everything's good to go before releasing power. But if the charging cable fails to lock as it should, then that won't happen. If there is a failure to lock, the issue could be actuator failure, caused by a blown fuse. Otherwise, it's just the usual issues we tend to brief you on. Check all the media tech on your test drive - and the workings of the navigation system to see if it's been kept up to date. As we said, check the touchscreens and Bluetooth connectivity. Check the leather upholstery for cuts and stains. And inspect the alloy wheels for kerbing damage. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2021 IONIQ 5 58kWh - Ex Vat - autopartspro.co.uk) Front brake pads sit in the £19-£82 bracket; rear pad sets are around £20-£31. Front brake discs sit in the £60-£100 bracket; rear discs are around £56-£100. A cabin filter is in the £15-£28 bracket. Wiper blades are in the £7 to £9 bracket.

On the Road

As usual with this class of EV, an IONIQ 5 spears away from rest, though not in quite as pointlessly frantic a manner as some of its rivals. Most original buyers chose the mid-range rear driven model with a 217PS electric motor and the larger 73kWh battery, good for up to 298 miles of range. The same battery powers a top 305PS AWD variant with electric motors at both front and rear (that's good for 285 miles). Or you can choose a rear-driven variant with a smaller 58kWh battery, which is restricted to 238 miles. Whichever version you choose, on the move, you'll find this car set-up primarily for comfort, though it does clatter a bit over nastier tarmac tears. Things smooth out a bit on the highway though, where you'll find yourself more inclined to appreciate the ride and handling benefits supposedly inherent in this car's market-first adoption of integrated drive axle technology, which combines driveshafts and wheel bearings, supposedly to the benefit of ride comfort and handling stability. Another IONIQ 5 first - for this segment anyway - was the adoption of the 800 volt charging infrastructure made possible by this car's sophisticated E-GMP electrified platform. That allowed this car to use the new generation of super-rapid battery stations that could charge at up to 350kW: many rivals at the time of this car's launch were limited to charging at 125kW. Use the 50kW public charger you're much more likely to find and you'll be able to charge the 73kWh battery from 10-80% in 56 minutes and 30 seconds (no harm in being exact); it'd take 10 hours and 53 minutes to charge the 73kWh battery from 0-100% using a home 10.5kW 3 phase garage wallbox. Preserving charge will be that much easier to do if you make frequent use of the car's 'i-Pedal' feature, the most extreme of the various brake regen settings you can select using the provided steering wheel paddles. A wheel-mounted mode button also gives you settings ('Eco', 'Normal' and 'Comfort') that tailor steering feel and throttle response.

Overall

Is any brand faster at translating advanced concept to reality? What's even more impressive is that here with the IONIQ 5, Hyundai did so without diluting extreme stylistic expression into something more palatable. That certainly didn't happen here. Park an IONIQ 5 in the High Street and people are still going to look. Invite others to join you inside and passengers are going to comment. If that isn't the feel you're after with your EV, lots of other brands will better satisfy you. But if it is, this car is one you need to try. And when you do, you'll find that so much about it is different, clever yet at the same time somehow familiar, futuristic but in a way that manages not to be overtly odd. For someone bored with the clinicality of EVs, the IONIQ 5's certainly a breath of fresh air, especially once you step inside the futuristic cabin. Of course, this car isn't perfect. You might find some rivals a little sharper to drive, but that's because, rightly, this Korean maker has prioritised ride comfort and for the most part, that was been achieved here. This car sired a whole range of EVs, not only from Hyundai but also from its group partner marques Kia and Genesis. But it's even greater importance lay in the way that it redefined what people could expect from its brand. A confident statement of intent.

Body Glass

Tinted rear windows

Electric front/rear windows with drivers one touch/anti-trap

Automatic windscreen wipers with rain sensor

Aero blade wiper

Windscreen auto defog function

Heated and tinted rear windscreen

Tinted front windscreen and windows

Solar windshield

Brakes

Anti-lock brake system

Electronic stability control

Hill start assist control (HAC)

Electric parking brake with auto hold function

Regenerative brake shift paddles

Smart regenerative braking

Communication

Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition

Wireless phone charging pad

Driver Aids

Power assisted steering

Driver attention warning

Smart cruise control with stop and go functionality

Lane follow assist

Drive modes select (Eco, normal and sport)

Blind spot collision avoidance assist

Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) - Car, Pedestrian and Cycle

Parking - rear view monitor with parking guidance dynamic

Intelligent speed limit assist (ISLA)

Rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist (RCCA)

Alternator management system

Lane keep assist (LKA) - Line and road edge

HDA - Highway Drive Assist Level 1.5

Bluelink Connected Car Services

Driver Convenience

eCall emergency system

Hyundai road side assistance

77kWh battery

Driver Information

Digital clock

On board diagnostics

Outside temperature display

RTTI - Real time traffic information

12.3" touchscreen satellite navigation and media centre

Phone connection with apple carPlay and android auto

12.3" Full TFT drivers supervision instrument cluster

Driving Mirrors

Body colour door mirrors

Indicator light on door mirrors

Frameless rear view mirror

Electronic chromic rear-view mirror

Engine

Shift by wire - E shift

Battery heating system with pre conditioning

Entertainment

2 front/2 rear speakers

Steering wheel audio controls

2 x USB ports for row 1

DAB radio

Exterior Body Features

Chrome bodyside mouldings

Anti-corrosion treatment

Shark fin roof aerial

Body coloured door handles

Anthracite side sills

Standard door scuff plate

Tailgate up lift opening

Headlamp surround

Rear side wing doors

Rear boot

Power opening tailgate (height adjustable)

V2L (Vehicle to Load) - Inside

Fabric lined frunk - under the bonnet storage

Exterior Lights

LED daytime running lights

LED third brake light

Auto headlights

LED rear fog lights

Intelligent matrix LED headlights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Heat pump

Dual zone climate control air conditioning

Interior Features

Luggage cover

Cloth upholstery

Luggage hooks

Rear grab handle with coat hook

Height/reach adjustable steering column

Heated steering wheel

Leather wrapped steering wheel

Sliding centre console box

Metal pedals

Front cup holders

CCS Combo rapid charge port (50kW)

12V power outlet in front console

A/B/C Pillar trim - Cloth

1x USB connectivity port in front

Interior Lights

Interior mood lighting

Luggage compartment light

Safety

Height adjustable front seatbelts

3 point rear seatbelts

Childproof rear door locks

Impact sensing auto door unlocking

Front passenger airbag deactivation switch

Front and outer rear seatbelt reminder and pretensioners

Front center side airbags

Front thorax and pelvis + curtain airbags

Tyre pressure monitoring system with individual tyre pressure warning

FCA-JT - Forward Collision Avoidance Assist - Junction ( Turning)

Battery fire delay system

Seats

Heated front and rear seats

Driver's seat height adjustment

4 way electrically adjustable drivers seat

Front passenger seat isofix location point

3 rear seat adjustable head restraints

Driver/passenger front seatback pockets

ISOFIX child seat anchorage points attached on outer rear seats

Front head restraints with vertical and horizontal adjustment

Front passenger's seat manual height adjustment

Second row outer head restraints vertical adjustment

Manual sliding rear seats

Single front passenger seat

Driver and passenger power seats with passenger lumbar support

60/40 split folding rear 3 seat bench

Security

Immobiliser

Remote control central locking

Drive away door locking

Thatcham category 1 alarm

Rear occupant alert

Smart Key - Keyless entry with Power On/Off button

Vanity Mirrors

Driver/passenger sunvisors + illuminated vanity mirrors (drivers with ticket holder)

Vehicle Charging

Emergency 3 pin connector charging cable (ICCB)

Charging cable - 7 pin type 2

10.5 kWh 3 Phase On Board Charger

Wheels - Alloy

20" Pirelli Pzero alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 430

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 73

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 50

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 18

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 350

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: N

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 77

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 520

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 16.9

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 3.7

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 323

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Left Side Rear

Usable Battery Capacity: N

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 350

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: Premium AWD

Coin Description: N

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 5

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 41E

Service Interval Mileage: 20000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 97

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 87

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 66

NCAP Safety Assist %: 90

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5

Badge Power: 325

Badge Engine CC: 0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 5.1

Top Speed: 115

Engine Power - BHP: 325

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 239

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 446

Engine Torque - NM: 605

Engine Torque - MKG: 61.7

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 245/40 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 245/40 R20

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Wheel Style: PIRELLI

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4855

Width: 1880

Wheelbase: 2950

Height: 1495

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 2096

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2520

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: N

Max. Loading Weight: 424

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): N

No. of Seats: 5

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): N

Exterior Body Features

Matt paint

Additional metallic paint

Additional pearlescent paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Ultimate red

Additional Metallic - Curated silver

Additional Metallic - Nocturne grey

Paint - Special

Matte - Gravity gold

Additional Pearl - Abyss black

Additional Pearl - Biophilic blue

Additional Pearl - Serenity white

Additional Pearl - Transmission blue

Matte - Nocturne Grey

Trim - Cloth

Cloth - Black