As an automotive journalist with a quarter-century of experience, I’m on record as both a fan and a skeptic of electric vehicles (EVs). My message to friends has long been the same: You should eventually plan to make the switch. But wait as long as you can.
Why not tell everyone to jump in now? In part, because I always encourage people not to buy a new car too soon. The best car for you is often the one you’ve already paid off.
But, in part, I say it because I genuinely have been skeptical. We are early in the EV era, and the earliest EVs are likely not the best EVs. Just as gas-powered cars improved quickly, EVs are getting better fast. Waiting, I have long argued, means ending up with a better car.
But it’s time for me to change my recommendation. The tipping point? A recent drive in our Best Buy Award Winner among EVs, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5.
I’ll argue my case with a study in mind.
A 2024 study by Kelley Blue Book parent company Cox Automotive found that the major factors holding back EV skeptics are price, a lack of charging infrastructure, range anxiety, and the inability to charge at home.
All four concerns are now gone for most of us. Using the Ioniq 5 as a sample, let’s explore them:
Prices Are Now Pretty Reasonable, and This One Starts at Just $36,600
The 2026 Ioniq 5 starts at $36,600, including a mandatory $1,600 delivery fee. Even a high-end, dirt-road-ready XRT model costs $47,875.
The average new car buyer in January paid $49,191.
Our Best Buy Award winner among EVs now costs less than the average new car. Yes, the value proposition was better last year before the end of the federal government’s $7,500 EV tax incentive. But many states offer their own incentives to further cut prices, and Hyundai often has its own incentives to drive down prices as well.
In my role at Kelley Blue Book, I can drive more than 50 new cars every year. It tends to make me a bit cynical about their value — a well-made, inexpensive car impresses me more than a well-made, high-priced one. EVs have long been on the expensive side. But the Ioniq 5 that impressed me costs less than the average new car buyer pays today. That’s before incentives that can lower the price.
This month, they include a $6,000 cash discount on many in-stock models, or 0% financing for some buyers.
Charging Infrastructure Is Improving
I’ve been skeptical of EV purchases because charging infrastructure has long been patchwork. But that is rapidly improving.
A recent study found that the number of publicly available fast chargers grew by nearly a third last year. That happened even with much federal funding for chargers on hold.
But perhaps the biggest news in charging is that most automakers have standardized on a single plug shape. The 2026 Ioniq 5 now uses a Tesla-style North American Charging System (NACS) plug. That lets owners use Tesla Superchargers – the most common type of fast charger – without an adapter. An included adapter lets them use less-common Combined Charging System (CCS) plugs, too. Now that most rivals are following suit, most chargers built in the future will be NACS chargers. You’ll likely be able to use every charger you see without an adapter before long.
Range Anxiety Is Not Much of an Issue Anymore
Charging is also less of a hurdle than you might think. Owning an EV means making a mental shift – you no longer stop mid-trip to fill up often. Instead, you fill up for less money at home. It’s like waking up to a full tank of gas every morning and rarely thinking about it.
Ioniq 5 buyers and lessees can choose between a Level 2 charger or a $400 public charging credit. You’ll have to pay installation costs if you opt for the charger, but the cost of the home charger itself is included with the lease or purchase of the car.
On those rare road trips when charging is a must, the Ioniq 5’s 800-volt architecture is a gift. Range anxiety is really time anxiety. The Ioniq 5 is built to accept energy faster than the 400-volt system of Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, meaning charging stops don’t take as long.
The Driving Experience Is Just Better
One point on which I didn’t need any convincing, but you might: the EV driving experience is simply thrilling.
If you haven’t driven an EV, you may have some misconceptions about what it’s like.
Before you try it, it can sound clinical and removed. It’s actually thrilling. Gasoline engines spool their power up gradually over a few seconds. Electric motors make 100% of their power available instantly.
You can buy a 2026 Ioniq 5 with 168, 225, 320, or 601 horsepower. But 225 electric hp feels quicker than 225 gas-powered hp.
The Ioniq 5 also has communicative steering and some of the most useful drive modes I’ve experienced in a car. Sport feels much more alive than Normal. Eco really does increase your available range. At the touch of a button, you can have a sedate commuter car for traffic or a sports car for a winding road.
This Thing Has Character
Lastly, the Ioniq 5 simply has style.
Its exterior blends straight lines and curves in a playful way. Add in the pixelated lights, and it has the effect of an 8-bit video game car come to life because of a wish.
Inside, one of the unique features of EVs is the lack of a transmission hump down the center of the car. Hyundai designers have used that space well, creating a cabin that feels uniquely spacious.
Put it all together, and what do you have? I got into the Ioniq 5 knowing I liked its look and feel, but inclined to say pricing, infrastructure, and range issues still make it a niche answer. It isn’t anymore. Prices have come down, infrastructure has drastically improved, and its range will easily meet the needs of most drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is range anxiety still a problem with the 2026 IONIQ 5?
Up to 318 miles of range — nearly 10x the U.S. daily driving average of 33 miles — makes range anxiety a practical non-issue for most drivers.
How long does it take to charge the 2026 IONIQ 5 at a public fast charger?
At a 350kW DC fast charger, 800V architecture supports 10–80% charging in approximately 18 minutes — comparable to a gas station stop.
How much can a driver save on fuel by switching to the 2026 IONIQ 5?
Up to 103 MPGe city eliminates gas costs for most daily driving and significantly reduces annual fuel spend vs. comparable gas vehicles.
Is the 2026 IONIQ 5 worth buying?
Starts at $36,600 (below the $49,191 avg. new car price), includes NACS port for Supercharger access, and offers a Level 2 home charger or $400charging credit with purchase.
