2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5

In what is becoming a highly competitive class of battery-powered SUVs, the compact Ioniq 5 continues to wow us. It has claimed our top honor of Best Electric Vehicle in its class for the past three years in a row, thanks to its strong feature set, variety of trims, eager driving manners, ample range, and, of course, its charming retro-yet-futuristic design. For 2026, this multi-year Best Buy Award winner becomes an even better value thanks to a hefty price cut. If you’re dipping your toe into the EV waters or planning for your next one, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a superb choice. Also available is the bonkers Ioniq 5 N high-performance variant, which we review separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric vehicles, including the Ioniq 5.

The biggest news for the 2026 Ioniq 5 is a welcome one for your wallet: Hyundai has reduced the price of this model by up to $9,800. The discount is meant to ease the financial impact now that the $7,500 federal tax credit incentive for electric vehicles (EVs) is gone. We applaud Hyundai for the move, which keeps our favorite electric vehicle attainable. The only other change of note is that the included charging cable is now a Level 1 and Level 2 combo unit.

With its reduced pricing for 2026, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 remains among the most affordable compact electric SUVs you can buy. Still, the Chevrolet Equinox EV starts slightly below it, as does the Toyota bZ. The Subaru Solterra starts around $40K, which has also been the starting point for the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The top-selling Tesla Model Y, meanwhile, starts in the mid-$40K range. However, feeling the pricing pressure, it just introduced a new base model, the Model Y Standard, which begins just below $40,000.

Before buying an Ioniq 5, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying. The Ioniq 5’s resale value is about typical for the segment.

We really enjoy driving the Ioniq 5, and we think you will, too. Like all electric vehicles, the Ioniq 5 benefits from instant torque, which means it’s ready to jump off the line as soon as you prod the accelerator pedal. Unlike many other EVs, though, the Ioniq 5 is rear-wheel drive by default, similar to a sports car. And like a sports car, that means it behaves in a livelier manner. Another benefit of this setup is you needn’t worry about torque steer, which happens when you ask the front wheels to both put power to the ground and steer. Under hard acceleration, such a scenario can mean fighting with the steering wheel to hold steady. Not so in the Ioniq 5.

Of course, you can also get the Ioniq 5 in all-wheel drive, which puts a motor at each axle and provides enhanced grip in both wet and dry conditions. It can also mean a lot more power and even faster acceleration. An Ioniq 5 SEL with all-wheel drive, for example, can go from zero to 60 mph in a blistering 4.5 seconds thanks to its 320-horsepower powertrain. Base models make do with 168 hp, while others get a more gratifying 225 hp.

Conversely, we really like the way in which the Ioniq 5 stops. It uses regenerative braking that transfers energy back into the battery, and the levels at which it does so can be adjusted on the fly via steering wheel-mounted paddles. We love using these like one would shift paddles in a sports car to, say, increase regen to slow the car as you head into a curve. And unlike some other EVs, the Ioniq 5 allows one-pedal driving, in which regen braking can bring the vehicle to a complete stop without you having to touch the brake pedal.

Range and Charging

If the 2026 Ioniq 5 keeps the same numbers as the prior year, it achieves up to 318 miles on the high end for a rear-drive, long-range model and 259 for an all-wheel-drive XRT. These numbers, especially for models falling in the 270-290 range, are more than acceptable and competitive with rivals, though still far shy of the Tesla Model Y’s 357-mile max range. As for charging, at its best, the Ioniq 5 can go from 10% to 80% in 20 minutes on a DC fast charger. Home charging on a Level 2 system takes a bit over five to seven hours, depending on model. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 uses a NACS charge port, making it compatible with Tesla’s network of Supercharger stations.

A benefit of electric vehicles is that, since their battery is mounted low in the frame, the floor can be flat — no ungainly or obtrusive transmission tunnels here. The Ioniq 5 smartly capitalizes on this with an interior that feels more airy and expansive than its exterior footprint would lead you to believe.

Up front, there are two 12.3-inch screens — one for the instrument cluster, the other as a touchscreen for infotainment duties. Below the center screen are controls for climate and audio, a good mix of physical buttons and dials, along with touch-sensitive controls. Even the way you put the vehicle into gear is smart: It’s a steering wheel-mounted stalk that you twist to put into drive, reverse, etc. This saves space on the floor and console, allowing you to slide your feet all the way across if you want to play footsie with your passenger. Please, though, not while driving.

In back, there’s a generous amount of legroom — 39.4 inches — and the seats both fold in a 60/40 split and recline. Behind the seats is a good 26.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which expands to a very useful 58.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 2026 Ioniq 5 also has a frunk — a front trunk — with just under a cubic foot of storage. That’s enough to store the charging cable or takeout from the fast food joint that would otherwise smell up the interior.

We confess to being smitten by the Ioniq 5’s design ever since it seemed to step out of a 1980s video game into reality. Angular, squat, with moody and pixelated lighting treatments, we just love the thing. It’s arguably more hot hatch than SUV, which only makes us dig it more. For a more rugged approach, there’s the Ioniq 5 XRT model, with chunkier all-terrain tires, a smidge more ground clearance (7 inches, vs. 6.1 for other models), and specific front and rear treatments that include red tow hooks and “digital camouflage” cladding. For 2026, the Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl paint colors that were previously reserved for the XRT are now available on all trims.

Ultra-fast charging
The Ioniq 5’s batteries can cope with an 800-volt DC fast charger. On a 250-kilowatt unit, all it takes is 20 minutes to go from 10% to 80% capacity, making the Ioniq 5 one of the fastest-charging EVs out there. It’s still a quick 24 minutes on a 400-volt, 150-kilowatt charger.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
This is becoming more common, yet we are still glad to see it as standard in the Ioniq 5. Wireless phone charging becomes standard with the SEL trim.

Hands-free tailgate operation with auto-open
Detecting the key’s proximity, the powered tailgate opens automatically, so there’s no need to wave a foot under the bumper. This comes in at the SEL trim level.

Driver’s relaxation seat
In the short-ish time it takes to recharge an Ioniq 5 EV, drivers can relax by reclining their power-adjustable seat and extending the leg support — like an airplane seat in business class. This is exclusive to the Limited trim, though.

Reverse charging
The official term is vehicle-to-load, or V2L. It means that electricity can also be taken out of the battery (as long as it has more than 20% juice) to power an air fryer while camping or keep the fridge running during a power outage, for instance. It’s another standard feature in the Limited model.

Remote Smart Parking Assist
This feature allows drivers to inch their Ioniq 5 into or out of a parking space using remote control, while standing outside the vehicle. It’s standard in the XRT and Limited trims.

The Ioniq 5 uses either a 63 kWh battery in base models or an 84 kWh unit in the others. Rear-wheel drive and one motor is the standard setup, or you can opt for two motors and all-wheel drive, which is standard on the XRT model.

The Ioniq 5 earns mpg equivalent (MPGe) ratings of up to 115 for a standard-range model or 94 for the XRT.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Hyundai has some of the longest warranties in the business. The company’s new-vehicle coverage lasts five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains and the Ioniq 5’s battery have warranties of 10 years or 100,000 miles. Hyundai also includes three years of free scheduled servicing.

Safety Ratings

The Ioniq 5 has earned the Top Safety Pick+, the highest possible rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and Safe Exit Assist.