The Ioniq 5 is a native electric – that is, there are no thermal or hybrid versions – so Korean engineers and stylists have been able to indulge themselves in taking advantage of the specific advantages associated with “zero emissions”. Thus the result is a car that is different from almost everything that has been seen so far and which offers a rather new interpretation of space in motion. Which, said so, makes a lot of advertising claims, but it corresponds to reality.
First, it shows an unusual relationship between design and size. In the photo it seems to belong to the C segment such as VW Golf, Peugeot 308, Opel Astra and so on, but the proportions are deceiving, even for the choice of hypertrophic 19 or 20 inch stock wheels. In reality it is a 4.6 meter long “coach” (like a three-volume segment D), almost 1.90 wide (more or less a share from segment E) and almost as high as an SUV: 1.60 meters.
The exterior design is an unusual and somewhat provocative blend of tastes and eras: there are some quotes from the ’74 Hyundai Pony Concept designed by Giugiaro, soft and joined surfaces but alternated with games of edges and scratches in the “stealth” genre and a nose and tail of a slightly 90s setting, which seem to want to distance themselves from the modernisms of Nexo and the latest Tucson and Santa Fe but not from the hi-tech effect of the lighting with “pixelated” LEDs.
In the collective imagination, the abundant external dimensions are usually combined with opulent internal atmospheres, while here the cockpit is minimalist, stylized and dedicated to functionality. There is a lot of plastic – albeit mostly well crafted and, of course, recycled – and few concessions to intimacy. Not only for the rectilinear and somewhat “cold” design but also for the abundance of space in all directions for occupants and various objects. It seems to be in a minivan and the problem is not finding a place to store wallets, keys, glasses and smartphones, but remembering where they are put.
The wheelbase is very long and the ratio between external dimensions and internal measurements is very favorable because the batteries are obviously under the floor, the small rear electric motor takes up little space and the floor is completely flat, so the absence of any central relief makes it possible. that any rear central passenger is also very comfortable. The sliding sofa, then, allows you to get a lot of space for the legs of those behind.
Then there are other “cunning”: the front backrests recline almost to become horizontal (the possibility of taking a nap while recharging at a public column can be useful); the sliding center console can also be used by rear passengers and internal and external 220 V sockets allow you to charge a computer, an electric scooter and potentially can also be used for a coffee machine. On request there is also a solar panel roof that recovers energy and, according to Huyndai, if you live in a very sunny city it allows you to gain up to 2,000 km of autonomy per year.
The affectionate interior atmospheres of a limousine are far away, but the feeling is that the Ioniq 5 is very close to the concept of the mobility vehicle of tomorrow: versatile, rational, without affectation, very liveable and ideal to be integrated with an autonomous driving system of high degree that allows the driver to “do something else” and his passengers to behave as if they were in the living room.
The electronic equipment is state-of-the-art, as you would expect from a car like this: two 12.3-inch displays for instrumentation and infotainment, head-up display with augmented reality, advanced voice recognition, advanced connectivity and ADAS a will.
Moving on to more canonical automotive considerations, the Ioniq 5, like all electric, is fine, goes strong and, according to the declared data, goes for 481 km with the more capable 72.6 kWh battery and for 384 with the 58 kWh one. .
It is available with rear engine only or with an additional front engine and all-wheel drive. In the first case, the HP are 170 (124.9 kW) with the small battery and 217 (160 kW) with the large one; in the second they reach 306 hp (224.6 kW) but the battery is only the most capable. For all of them the maximum speed is 185 km / h while the acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes place respectively in 8 “5, 7” 4 and 5 “2.
Prices start at 44,750 euros but the Ioniq 5 which presumably will be the most requested in Italy is the 217 HP one with extended range, which costs from 51,950 to 56,750 euros.
The speed gain ability of this version already impresses in normal driving mode and increases even more in sports mode. The progression is linear and intense and the risk of finding oneself at speeds higher than those allowed without realizing it is always around the corner. The compound structure keeps a weight of two tons at bay already empty, at the price, however, of some stiffening on the slow motion bumps.
The maneuverability is excellent thanks to the low center of gravity and a very maneuverable and light steering. The deceleration energy recovery system has three intensity levels selectable via the levers behind the steering wheel, which can be used to achieve a downshift-like effect and make braking even more effective. And when driving around town, with the maximum regeneration level, the use of the brake is almost always avoided because the Ioniq 5 decelerates very quickly as soon as the accelerator is released.
The width obviously requires a little attention in narrow passages, but visibility is good in every direction and in any case, on request or as standard depending on the specification, there are all the latest generation driving assistance systems.
The 800 V battery – like that of the Porsche Taycan, so to speak – is among the most modern in circulation and with an ultra-fast system like those of the Ionity network, 100 km of autonomy can be recovered in 5 minutes. Unfortunately, however, the stations of this circuit in Italy are today only 19 (plus three under construction) and only five are located south of Florence, while with an already fast 22 kW system it takes 6 and a half hours to fill up.
Hyundai Ioniq 5, the card
What is that: It is the first Hyundai built on the new E-GMP modular platform, specific for electric models, which also equips the Kia EV6. The Ioniq 6 sedan and the Ioniq 7 SUV will be born on the same basis.
Dimensions: length 4,635 meters, width 1,890 meters, height 1,605 meters, wheelbase 3,000 meters.
Rivals: Audi Q4 e-tron, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Lexus UX 300e, Mercedes EQA, Skoda Enyaq IV, Tesla Model 3, VW ID.4.
Engines: electric synchronous with permanent magnets. 125 or 160 kW (170/217 hp) rear, 70 kW (95 hp) additional front.
Advantages: Exceptional interior space, rich equipment, brilliant performance.
Defects: Very basic interior design, shallow trunk, light steering.
Production: Hangŭl (South Korea).
Prices: They start from the 44,750 of the Progress version with 170 HP rear engine and 58 kWh euro battery and reach 60,250 euro of the Evolution with double engine, 305 HP, all-wheel drive and 72.6 kWh battery.
