There’s a new category of car taking over advertisements and space on sales lots – the electric midsize SUV.
Automakers know that Americans buy more midsize SUVs than any other kind of vehicle. So, as they move toward electric vehicles (EVs), they start with the ones they know will interest most people. That means a lot of midsize SUVs with similar ranges and prices.
They’re not all alike, though. Each has its own personality, and each will fit some drivers better than others.
We’re fans of both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Volkswagen ID.4. But they’re very different machines.
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 won our Best New Model Award for 2023 and surges into 2024 with a new high-performance model and a few minor improvements. It combines great style with an efficient use of space. Many trim levels mean buyers can equip it as anything from a comfortable commuter to a sleeper performance car. Prices start at $41,650. But, it does not qualify for federal EV tax credits.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Highlights
Standout looks: Hyundai designers did some of their best work on this one. The Ioniq 5 has a presence many cars lack, with a fun, pixelated design theme that feels retro and futuristic at the same time.
Long and longer warranty coverage: If you’re the type to pay off a car and keep it running forever (and you should be), Hyundai’s warranty coverage becomes a form of financial insurance. A 10-year, 100,00-mile powertrain plan is a very good thing to have in year 10 of car ownership.
Available Ioniq 5 N: It will cost you a pretty penny (Hyundai hasn’t even said how many pennies yet). But, later in the year, Hyundai plans to bring out an Ioniq 5 N high-performance model with 640 horsepower and a zero-to-60 time of 3.4 seconds. If you’ve ever needed a practical family car but wanted a rocketship instead, your local Hyundai dealer can give you both in the same parking space. Volkswagen has nothing close.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Hyundai Ioniq 5 models for sale near you.
2023 Volkswagen ID.4
Volkswagen plans a full lineup of electric cars, and the ID.4 is its first. It boasts excellent safety scores, a quirky personality, and a range of up to 275 miles between charges. Pricing starts at $38,995. Most buyers will qualify for a federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 that trims that price significantly.
Volkswagen ID.4 Highlights
Your Uncle Sam may help you buy it: By window sticker, the ID.4 starts at $2,655 less than the Ioniq 5. But the effective price is $10,155 less for most buyers. Because it’s built in Tennessee and uses battery minerals from the U.S. or certain partner countries, the Volkswagen qualifies for the full federal EV tax credit of $7,500. Starting January 1, buyers don’t even have to wait to file their taxes to benefit. They can transfer the credit to the dealership as a down payment.
Clever ID. Light system: The Ioniq 5 has lots of personality from the outside. The ID.4 feels like a robot companion inside. That comes thanks to one of the cutest technologies found in any current car. The ID. Light is a thin strip of LEDs mounted where the dashboard meets the windshield. It pulses from side to side to give turn-by-turn directions, glows to show the battery’s state, and even flashes in front of the driver or passenger when they give a voice command (to show who it’s listening to). It sounds weird, but it makes the car feel friendly.
More cargo space: Most EVs are space-efficient because there’s no need for a transmission tunnel down the center of the space. But the ID.4 offers more cargo space than the Ioniq 5 with the seats in place or folded.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Volkswagen ID.4 models for sale near you.
Similarities
These two have similar power in base models. Each is available with all-wheel drive (AWD), and each, in its own way, is quirky fun.
Conclusion
These are two of our favorite electric cars because each, in its own way, feels unique. There may not be a wrong choice here.
The award-winning Ioniq 5 is simply great-looking, has a flexible cabin layout, and comes with that sensible Hyundai warranty. It also has a performance option the ID.4 doesn’t.
But, federal tax credits make the ID.4 drastically more affordable for most Americans (there are income limits), and it offers more space. The ID.4 light is silly, but some of us love silly.
We’d recommend a test drive of each to see which car’s unique personality suits you.
Specifications
| 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 | |
| Starting Price | $41,650 | $38,995 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Horsepower | 168 hp | 201 hp |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft | 229 lb-ft |
| Battery Pack | 58 kWh | 63 kWh |
| EV Range | 249 miles | 275 miles |
| Also available | Dual-motor, AWD, high-performance N edition | Dual-motor, AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 118.1 inches | 108.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 182.5 inches | 180.5 inches |
| Width | 74.4 inches | 72.9 inches |
| Height | 63 inches | 64.4 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 39.3 feet | 33.6 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.8 inches | 41.1 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.7 inches | 38.4 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.7 inches | 41.1 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 39.4 inches | 37.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.7 inches | 57.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 57.7 inches | 55.9 inches |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 27.2/59.3 cubic feet | 30.3/64.2 cubic feet |
