2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD Stands Above the Competition

~ A DriveWays Review ~
by Frank A. Aukofer

The all-new 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 arrives with snappy looks, inside and out, appetizing performance and a confident view of the future, when electric vehicles, and perhaps ships and aircraft, will cleanly move people and property all over the world.

It’s another example of the South Korean manufacturer’s design and engineering expertise, which it shares with its Genesis luxury brand and sister company, Kia, also on the cusp of introducing their own state-of-the-art electric vehicles.

Though the Ioniq picks up a name Hyundai has used before on hybrid and electric models, the 2022 version is a sub-brand, skillfully competing on its own against other electrics like the Volkswagen ID.4, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y.

During less than a week of testing, the Ioniq 5 Limited distinguished itself on every attribute buyers look for in passenger vehicles. It’s handsome, responsive, fast, maneuverable, quiet, roomy, comfortable, convenient, not overly expensive, economical and environmentally friendly in an era of growing alarm over climate change.

Though it has the profile of a compact four-door crossover sport utility vehicle, the Ioniq 5 has a distinct personality, with edgy styling and intelligent standout design.

Start with the wheelbase—an attribute that is mostly meaningless to the average motorist. It denotes the distance between the front and rear axles or, if you prefer, the centers of the front and rear wheels. Though it’s just one factor that interacts with others, it has an impact on the Ioniq 5’s exceptional ride, handling and interior space.

The wheelbase of 9 feet 10 inches is uncommonly long compared to the 5’s overall length of 15 feet 3 inches, which results in the 20-inch alloy wheels being pulled out to the corners with short front and rear body overhangs. The Ioniq 5 has the longest wheelbase of any Hyundai, four inches more than the flagship Palisade, a popular three-row crossover that stretches to 16 feet 4 inches overall.

It enables in a cabin of 107 cubic feet with 27 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, or a total of 134 cubic feet of room for passengers and cargo. The Ioniq 5 is roomier than large sedans, defined as any automobile with more than 120 cubic feet of interior volume.

High on every intender’s concerns is how far an electric can travel on a full charge of the battery, and how long it takes to re-charge. The Ioniq 5 has range anxiety covered.

There are two configurations: single motor with rear-wheel drive, and dual motors with all-wheel drive. With extended-range batteries, the former makes 225 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque with up to 303 miles of range; the all-wheel drive setup delivers 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque with 256 miles of range. Standard-battery range is 220 miles.

Electric motors deliver torque, or twisting force, instantly so there’s no need for a conventional automatic transmission. The Ioniq 5 has a single speed direct drive system. Zero to 60 miles an hour acceleration times are around five seconds for the dual motor models and seven seconds for the single motor versions, with top speeds in triple digits.

The kicker is that the Ioniq 5 comes with equipment to accommodate an 800-volt ultra-fast charger, which Hyundai says can charge the under-floor battery pack from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. Or if you don’t have that much time, five minutes of charging will get you 68 miles of additional range. The Ioniq 5 also can be used to charge electric scooters or run home furnishings like refrigerators and television sets during power outages.

Editor’s note: Car and Driver named the Hyundai Ioniq 5 its EV of the Year in September 2022.

Moreover, Hyundai offers Ioniq 5 owners and lessees two years of free 30-minute fast charging at Electrify America’s 635 stations around the U.S. It is not transferable and not permitted for ride sharing services.

Six versions of the Ioniq 5 are available, starting at $40,925, including the destination charge, for the rear-drive SE model, and topping out at $55,725 for the tested all-wheel drive Limited. All models are eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit.

With heavy investments, Hyundai has gone all-in on electric vehicles. Amid growing public excitement, there are excellent choices, many prohibitively expensive. Even among those, as well as the more affordable, the Ioniq 5 is outstanding.

Specifications

Model: 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD four-door battery electric crossover sport utility vehicle.
Motors: Two permanent magnet synchronous electric; combined 320 hp, 446 lb-ft torque; 77.4 kilowatt hours lithium-ion battery pack.
Transmission: Single speed direct with all-wheel drive.
Overall length: 15 feet 3 inches.
Height: 5 feet 3 inches.
EPA/SAE passenger/cargo volume: 107/27 cubic feet. (59 rear seats folded).
Weight: 4,662 pounds.
Towing capability: 1,650 pounds (2,000 w/ trailer brakes).
City/highway/combined fuel consumption: 110/87/98 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe).
Advertised range: 256 miles.
Base price, including destination charge: $55,725.
Price as tested: $55,920.

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