There will never be one best car, just like there will never be one best cheeseburger. Different people like different things. And stop putting anything under the patty, you monster. They’re called toppings.
But almost everyone likes a good burger. And if you ask around in any good-sized town, people can point you to the best one around. There’s usually something that works for most people.
In that spirit, the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 may be the best all-around electric vehicle (EV) you can buy in 2024. That doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you. But a week driving Hyundai’s electric midsize SUV convinced me that there is an EV equivalent of a blend of chuck, brisket, and short rib grilled to medium by a journeyman line cook who still cares about her craft.
My tester was an Ioniq 5 Limited Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Long Range with just one option – floor mats. It retails for $58,985 after a mandatory $1,375 delivery fee.
It had a range of up to 260 miles. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) Ioniq 5 models can travel as far as 303 miles between charging sessions.
It Has Artistic Flair
The Ioniq 5 looks quirky. That’s a good thing.
Photos can be deceiving. Its basic shape is that of an old-school hatchback, which can lead you to think this is something like an electric Volkswagen Golf. But it’s bigger in person than photos would have you believe – Hyundai calls it an SUV and gets away with it.
Its design blends hard angles and gentle curves to create something genuinely cute. Pixelated lights add a subtle 1980s vibe that feels retro-cool.
It’s not easy to pack a lot of personality into what is essentially an oversized hatchback, but Hyundai designers managed it.
Designers Maximized Interior Space
For a simple two-box design, the Ioniq 5 is remarkably spacious inside.
Again, we have a quirk of electric car design to thank. EVs lack transmissions, so they lack the transmission hump that divides driver from passenger in most cars. Hyundai wisely left this space open in the Ioniq 5 rather than giving us a faux transmission tunnel.
There’s a center console with cup holders, a phone charging pad, and storage space. But it slides back and forth, and the space in front of it is just floor.
I’m not sure this gives you much more usable space than in other cars, but it makes the cabin feel light and airy.
The dashboard uses a design scheme that’s ubiquitous in new cars, but that you might not have seen if you haven’t been car shopping lately. It houses two screens – one for the driver and another in the center to control climate and infotainment – in a single mount as if they were one wide screen.
That’s common now. But Hyundai’s use of it is better than most. I particularly like the way that, when you signal a turn, it shows a camera view of your blind spot.
It Gives You Zip On Demand
On the lower left-hand side of the Ioniq 5’s steering wheel is a big round Drive Modes button. Make good use of it.
In this trim, the Ioniq 5 makes up to 320 horsepower. Other versions make as little as 168 or as much as 641 (for the blistering Ioniq 5 N).
But the car’s best trick is those drive modes. Eco is sedate and perfect for running to the pharmacy. Normal is a little sporty and fun. Sport has exceptional scoot. Electric motors don’t need to spool up power gradually like gasoline engines. They can give you peak torque in a millisecond. Sport mode uses that fact to make this workaday hatchback feel like a sports car.
The handling doesn’t do the same imitation of a sports car. But it’s crisp for a family hauler, with light steering feel.
It Charges Faster Than Most
Tesla established Americans’ expectations about electric vehicles. But some companies that came to the game later have brought newer technologies that change those expectations.
Tesla EVs are built on a 400-volt architecture. Hyundai uses an 800-volt system. Among other things, that means it can accept electricity faster. You’re still limited by how fast any charger you use can put out energy. But, connected to a sufficient DC fast charger, the Ioniq 5 can charge its battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.
In day-to-day driving, you’re unlikely to use a DC fast charger often. They’re generally found at highway rest stops and only used when you’re driving further than your car’s range that day. But the option to top off quickly makes road trips in the Ioniq 5 a realistic option.
But You Might Want To Lease This Burger and Fries
The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a cool factor most cars lack, a lot of space in a compact footprint, and can change from a practical grocery-getter to a fun-to-drive sporty machine at the touch of a button. It also charges faster than most electric cars.
As basic, mid-priced, mid-sized transportation, it may be the most practical EV on the road right now — the best basic burger in town.
Still, it has one minor flaw.
Since it’s built in South Korea, the Ioniq 5 doesn’t qualify for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit if you buy it. Those credits are limited to cars built mostly in North America.
Leased versions, however, generally do qualify. Hyundai has lease deals with payments as low as $209 a month in July.
