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Electric cars aren’t what they used to be. The industry has come a long way and companies are coming up with innovative and outrageous things for you to do with their cars besides driving them. For the first time ever, we started our review with a cup of coffee. A cup of coffee that we brewed in the middle of nowhere, using a coffee machine powered by the Hyundai Ioniq 5. (Scroll below for our exclusive video review of the Hyundai Ioniq 5)
Of course, the Ioniq 5 can do more than brew just a cup of coffee. It is one of the newest electric cars to come to Nepal and it comes in at a price tag of Rs 1.16 Crore. It has a few more tricks up its sleeves.
Design
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has managed to pull off the retro styling while still looking space-age. In fact, it looks like a spaceship someone designed back in the 80s. The 80’s styling cues can be traced back to the Hyundai Pony (1975-1990), which provides defining influence for the Ioniq 5. As a result, the Ioniq 5 scores pretty high on the head turn-o-meter. For one thing, there’s absolutely nothing like it on the roads of Nepal, but at the same time, it somehow manages to not look like it doesn’t belong on the roads.
On the profile, you get to see the angular creases that characterize the Ioniq 5. You get power-folding side mirrors with turn indicators. And to keep things minimal the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has flush door handles. While they look great, it might take some getting used to in terms of actual usage.
We also like the wheel arches that mimic the aperture of a camera lens along with the ‘parametric pixel geometry’ alloys. The rear is also equally stunning. Once again, you get pixelated tail lights that reaffirm the retro styling mentality. We love how the light bar looks on the Ioniq 5, the slice rear reflector under the bar adds a nice touch. The rear is slightly busier than the rest of the sophisticated ‘angled and folded’ bodywork. Nevertheless, it maintains a clean demeanor throughout.
What you might not immediately notice about this car though is its sheer size. It may look like a large family hatchback at first glance, but it’s absolutely enormous. The 4.6-meter-long stance, from nose to tail, is massive and the positioning of the battery pack on the floor lifts the passenger position to a height that has led Hyundai to refer to the body style as a crossover.
The three-meter distance between the front and rear axles means that there is remarkable space inside for the passengers. This is made possible thanks to the new E-GMP (the Electric Global Modular Platform) underpinnings which were specifically developed for EVs. This dedicated battery electric vehicle platform enables faster charging, increased driving range, more interior space, and better handling. The battery pack’s position within the wheelbase ensures ideal weight distribution between the front and rear and a low centre of gravity for improved handling performance. This platform also serves as the underpinnings for the closely related but very physically different Kia EV6.
Interiors
Thanks to the E-GMP underpinnings you get incredible space inside. There are acres of space in terms of knee room, even with the driver’s seat adjusted to accommodate a lanky 6-footer. The flat floor bed makes life much easier for the passengers too. If you still can’t find the perfect position, the rear seats also slide back and forth and can be reclined. You get rear AC Vents, charging ports, and storage spaces in the doors for your water bottles.
The real fun is when you’re seated upfront. The ECO leather seat upholstery is supple and sustainable. You get 12-way electric adjustments including lumbar support for both driver and passenger which get heating and cooling. The front seats can be completely reclined, allowing their occupants to, in theory, take naps while waiting for their car to recharge. You can also use this feature to take a moment and lean back so that you can look at the beautiful skies through the massive vision roof; unless you have the variant with the solar roof which uses sunlight to help partially charge the vehicle's battery. It prevents 12V batteries from dying and also charges the high-voltage battery to extend the driving range.
Once in the driver’s seat, you get a view of the incredible cockpit. In almost any other Hyundai you will be greeted with a large and shiny Hyundai Logo on the center of the steering wheel. However, on the Ioniq 5, you get 4 dots that translate to ‘H’ in Morse code and appear exponentially subtler.
While that was a neat addition to the interiors, the star of the show of course are the tech-savvy screens. The massive 12.3-inch touch screen display is super smooth and responsive. You get Apple car play, Android Auto and smartphone mirroring. It also doubles as a screen for the rearview camera which is one of the highest resolution screens we’ve ever encountered. Then you have the 12.3-inch digital cluster that’s easily visible and provides you with information about what’s going on when you’re driving.
The climate control is touchscreen as well. While they look great, many might still have preferred physical knobs and dials in terms of convenience of use. Fancy frills and features can be found in abundance on the Hyundai Ioniq 5. There are more features like rain-sensing wipers, a blind-spot view monitor, and a power tailgate that make it into the mix. There are plenty of storage spaces throughout the cabin, and you also get wireless charging for your phone. The generous passenger space doesn’t come at the expense of a practical boot. You get a massive 527 liters of boot space that can be extended to 1587 L with the seats folded.
The Ioniq 5 also comes with a Vehicle to load functionality. Allows bi-directional charging without requiring additional devices via the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) and the Vehicle Charging Management System (VCMS), enabling the use of general household appliances (110V/220V) outdoors. This means you can use household appliances outdoors by plugging it into the car. For instance, you can brew a cup of coffee, play the electric guitar, blow dry your hair and so on. More realistically, you will probably be using it when you’re out camping and need lighting and other camping equipment.
You can also charge another EV in case of emergencies, although it would not be very efficient. The solar roof variant comes with an indoor outlet that can be used to power your laptop, charge your phone, or use any other appliance that needs a socket.
Performance
Let’s get to the good stuff. Powering the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a 58.9 kWh battery that sends all of its power to the rear wheel which delivers 125 KW of maximum power and a beefy 350 NM of maximum torque. This means you can go from 0 to 100kmph in just 5.2 seconds. Yes, it is quick and incredibly fun to drive. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself breaking the speed limit now and then.
Handling dynamics are where EVs often struggle to match conventional cars. Their extra weight from the battery systems makes them feel a bit doughy and lethargic in corners. The Ioniq 5, in that respect, fairs satisfactorily. It is not geared for aggressive corner carving fun and you might relate it more to the experience of driving an SUV. You feel some sharper bumps but overall it glides pretty nicely on most road surfaces.
The Ioniq 5 feels like a car you could drive on a daily basis. It has all the creature comforts you could look for in a car, and more. For instance, the Ioniq 5 comes equipped with cutting-edge technology for intelligent driving, like the regenerative braking system which charges the battery while driving by using the electric motor to slow the vehicle. You can control the level of energy that the system regenerates and stores in the battery by adjusting the level of regenerative braking with the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The higher the level, the more the car slows and charges the battery when you take your foot off the accelerator. Holding the left paddle shifter activates maximum strength of regenerative braking and you can slow the car to a complete stop in this way without having to press the conventional brake pedal. This did take some time to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, it does feel like a usable feature in daily commuting.
The battery in itself, with a single full charge, will give you a claimed total of 375kms. On an AC charger, it takes 7 to 8 hours to get you from 0 to 100%. You can reduce that time to 3.5 hours through fast charging (DC Charger). This means that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 could fare well for family road trips as well if the route is planned well for recharging needs.
Verdict
The Ioniq moniker is intended as a Hyundai sub-brand, and you can expect to see plenty of new EV models arriving under the name. The Ioniq 5 is the first of its kind and we love it. We are living in a time when electric vehicles are taking incredible strides in terms of battery technology, performance, and features.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 brings a lot to the table. It is a glimpse into the future of what electric cars will, and can be. This is also a testament to the evolution of electric cars. This glimpse into the future does come at a price. You’ll have to shell out Rs 1.16 crore to get the keys to this car which is significantly more expensive than other electric cars in the market.
We think it is expensive, there are no two ways about it. But the fact of the matter is, that the Ioniq 5 is at the crest of the EV wave, and for many, this justifies the price tag. Regardless, Hyundai’s evolution in the electric car segment has been noteworthy in the Nepalese market. We will be looking forward to everything that is to come in the future.
