Hyundai has taken the wraps off what will instantly be one of the most distinctive cars on American roads, the 2022 Ioniq 5. A compact SUV on the outside, its interior dimensions push it close to the midsize SUV market. Performance numbers are quite competitive, but let’s face the truth – anyone buying this thing is buying it for its singular style.
We already knew that the Ioniq 5 would contrast curving sheetmetal with deliberately boxy lights and design elements. We didn’t know about the dramatic diagonal door crease, which echoes the redesigned 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The sharp character line repeats where the bumper meets the front fenders. Combined with a nose that comes to a point above the bumper, the Ioniq 5 sports an angular look despite its curves. Lighting elements and wheel hubs take their cue from a pixel, Hyundai says. This lends an 8-bit gaming look to a much more modern vehicle.
Overseas, the Ioniq 5 is available with small, low-drag cameras in place of traditional side mirrors, but the U.S. won’t get that feature. We will see the solar roof that can partially charge the battery.
The interior is tastefully minimalist. The infotainment screen and driver’s instrument screen share a single pod. The dash in front of the passenger is magnetized so that owners can pin notes or photos to it with fridge magnets. A heads-up display provides augmented reality navigation, projecting turn arrows into the driver’s vision at locations the navigation system is suggesting a turn.
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Spacious Cabin
It takes advantage of the unique design opportunities presented by electric cars in a way most EVs have not. The running gear fits entirely beneath the flat floor, meaning there is no need for the transmission tunnel. Hyundai has used the flat floor to full effect here, creating a very spacious feel. The front seats recline more fully than most and include lower leg supports that can be raised, making them the auto equivalent of a recliner.
The central console can be moved backward or forward for nearly the entire length of the cabin.
The Ioniq 5 is available with either a single motor powering the rear wheels or two, one powering each axle. The single motor setup makes 215 horsepower, while the dual-motor version makes 302. Two batteries will be offered, a 58 kWh version and a larger, 72.6 kWh version. Hyundai has provided a range estimate only for the larger-battery, single-motor configuration, which it says should get 298 miles. We should note, however, that that number comes from the European testing model. It’s normal for American range estimates to be lower.
The Ioniq 5 also offers two-way charging – you can charge the car, or use the car to charge things. A charging port beneath the rear seats is active even when the car is off.
No pricing information is available. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 will be offered in “select markets” in the first half of 2021.
