Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
Every automotive brand is stepping into the electric lane as the automotive industry continues to move in that direction. This week I was able to see what Hyundai has stepped out of the gates with. The 2023 Hyundai is a subcompact crossover SUV that ready to make its mark. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a battery electric compact crossover SUV. The Ioniq 5 was revealed globally in February 2021 and is the first product to be marketed under the electric cars-focused Ioniq sub-brand, and the first model developed on the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The Ioniq 5 has a dual-motor with AWD and 239 kW (325 PS; 320 hp) power output. The Ioniq 5 equipped a marker inside the headlamps, and tail lights that blink completely as turn indicators.
The exterior of the Ioniq 5 has some unique history to it because it is inspired by the original Hyundai Pony. The Ioniq 5 features the Parametric Pixel design that is applied to the LED headlights, LED tail lights, and 20” alloy wheels. The vehicle’s clamshell hood spans the entire width to make a sleek look, while the front and rear lights as carry a “kinetic cube” theme. The model that we reviewed came in a Lucid Blue hue. Onlookers enjoyed that look and stopped me for conversation at every chance.
The Ioniq 5’s interior promotes a lot of eco-friendly materials. A head-up display with augmented reality that can project navigation directions on the windshield. The front seats recline and incorporate footrests, which is a great relaxing tool when parked. The Ioniq 5 has ample front- and rear-seat passenger room due to the long wheelbase. The interior of the vehicle has a cargo capacity of 18.8 cu. ft. behind the rear seats that can be increased to nearly 56.5 cu. ft. with the second-row seats folded.
The Ioniq 5 infotainment system features onboard navigation, The Ioniq 5 has a host of innovative infotainment and connectivity features all in a 12.0-inch touchscreen that shares a panel on the dash with a 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster. The infotainment system includes advanced voice-recognition software, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apple and Android’s smartphone integration requires wires to successfully connect. A premium Bose sound system is a great addition to the vehicle.
The Ioniq 5 is powered by a dual electric motor supported by a 77.4kWh Lithium-Ion battery system with a power output in the all-wheel-drive version of 320 horses and a substantial 446 pound-feet. This offers a range of 110 MPGe in the city, 87 MPGe on the highway and 98 MPGe combined. This was great for getting around the city but range anxiety kicked in while it did not fair to well on the highway. Acceleration was hard and drained mileage from the battery, missing the regenerative braking. Up to 80% charge can be achieved within 30 to 40 minutes via 37 kW DC charging. Overall, it steers, handles and brakes with precision. I would say that it is a fun vehicle to drive.
Hyundai takes safety serious and equips the Ioniq 5 with more advanced tech, including an adaptive cruise control system with a lane-centering feature with 360-degree surround-view camera, Blind Spot Assist, Front cross-traffic alert, Forward collision mitigation, Adaptive cruise control, Rear parking sensors, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, Rear automatic braking and a Heads-up display.
The 2023 Ioniq 5 sits in a competitive class with the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2023 Kia EV6, 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 and the 2023 Tesla Model Y. Hyundai provides one of the best warranty plans in the industry and it comes with complimentary scheduled maintenance. The Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles, the Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles, the Battery is covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles and complimentary maintenance is covered for three years or 36,000 miles Please enjoy the photo gallery.
