Chasing Vampire Tacos in a Hyundai Ioniq 5

Fun fact: The average American driver logs 33 miles a day, according to the latest government data. So it’s a little ironic that the notion of range anxiety persists for modern electric vehicles (EVs), whose distance per charge now regularly tops 300 miles. For instance, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, our top-rated EV in its class and a multi-year Best Buy Award winner, has the ability to go nearly 10 times that daily average on a single charge.

To test the real-world flexibility of this EV, on a whim, a work colleague and I decided to take a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to lunch. But we weren’t exactly hitting the local drive-through. We mini road-tripped to a special spot that would see us cover over 60 miles – nearly twice the distance the average motorist travels in an entire day.

Beyond satiating our hunger, the exercise would allow us to see if an EV like the Ioniq 5 could satisfy the needs of converts new to the notion of driving a car that is charged via a plug rather than fueled from a pump.

Oh, and to chase some vampires.

Preying on a Vampire (Taco)

I’d read about vampire tacos in a food magazine, but never actually seen one on a menu. Like the creatures for which they are named, vampire tacos are elusive, even in Southern California, where it seems every other restaurant is a taco shop.

I finally found a spot selling vampiros in Long Beach, some 30 miles from the Kelley Blue Book office in Irvine. We hopped into a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited to chase them down.

Even at roughly 75% battery capacity, the Ioniq showed plenty of range in its digital instrument cluster: Some 200 miles. One very helpful feature in the Ioniq 5 is that it displays not just a real-world tally of estimated miles you can drive, but a literal range of numbers to account for driving manner and conditions. For example, it might display between 180 and 200 miles to account for variables. Switch drive modes, and it immediately adjusts the tally further, showing more range when in Eco mode than when in Sport, for example.

We had no anxieties at all in this respect and were also comforted in the knowledge that EV chargers surrounded our lunch spot, should we need a boost. Spoiler alert: We wouldn’t.

Head-Turning Exterior, High-Tech but Practical Interior

Here’s another fun fact: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has won our Electric Vehicle Best Buy Award four years in a row. Simply put, we find it continues to outshine its rivals, even while its competitive set grows every year. I’ve personally gone on the record to call it my favorite EV, and have recommended it to countless friends, whether they are seeking their first electric car or their next.

The Ioniq 5 bursts with beautiful contrasts. Starting with its can’t-miss exterior, this compact EV has a head-turning design that is both futuristic yet retro. Five years after its introduction, this aesthetic still pops.

The Ioniq 5’s virtues are far more than skin-deep. Its angular exterior translates to an open, airy cabin with countless nifty touches such as a sliding center console and a space-saving twistable steering wheel-mounted stalk that controls the transmission. Tech is modern and aplenty, with twin 12.3-inch screens up front, standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a full suite of active driver aids and safety systems. Thankfully, for all its tech, most everything is easy to control. There are numerous physical dials and knobs to supplement the touchscreen. That means turning on the heated seats and steering wheel happens with the press of a button, rather than digging three layers into a touchscreen.

Brisk Acceleration, Highway Driving Assistance

We’ve long lauded the Ioniq 5’s driving manners, and that remains true with the latest model. If you’ve never driven an EV before, prepare to be elated. Unlike a vehicle with a combustion engine, electric vehicles have lightning-fast impulses. Hit the accelerator pedal, and it’s like turning on a light switch.

Acceleration is immediate and thrilling. Our dual-motor all-wheel-drive test model packs 320 horsepower. Those seeking even more thrills can look to the Ioniq 5 N with up to 641 horsepower, or the ruggedized Ioniq 5 XRT for off-pavement adventures.

With the excellent Highway Driving Assist 2 system enabled and our anticipation to bite into vampire (tacos) in full effect, we quickly and easily made it to our destination, a taqueria housed within the hangar-like LBX Exchange.

Satisfying Experience

No one seems to know how or why Vampire Tacos got their name, but eating them is an admittedly messy, albeit enjoyable experience. They can best be described as a tostada whose shell is coated in melted cheese and topped with various ingredients. Mine had pinto beans, guacamole, chopped onion, and soy chorizo. It was bloody good.

Hunger pangs satisfied, it was time to drive another 30-plus miles back to the office. The Ioniq 5 whisked us there with the quiet, quick efficiency we’ve come to love in this vehicle.

Once back, we could have plugged the Ioniq 5 in to charge at our Level 2 port. But the truth is, there was no need to. The display still showed over 150 miles of range. In other words, there was enough juice left for not just days of the daily commute, but miles enough to chase down more culinary oddities. Now, about those gold leaf-topped desserts…