Hyundai’s best car yet? Hyper futuristic Ioniq 5 EV revealed

Dig out your Tron suits, because the future is here. Hyundai has unveiled potentially its most ambitious vehicle yet, the fully electric and supremely futuristic Ioniq 5.

Teased by the brand extensively, the 5 stays mostly true to its striking original concept. No matter which side you’re looking at, you’re met with flat surfaces, edges, and shapes that are reminiscent of no other car out there. Apart from maybe the (still non-existent) Tesla Cybertruck. While the Cybertruck’s styling divided the masses, we predict this will scoop praise on a more universal scale.

It’s worth refreshing ourselves on the fact that this car will not be referred to as a ‘Hyundai’ in the marketplace. Ioniq is set to make the step from being a nameplate at Hyundai to being its own sub-brand dedicated to electric cars. It’s unclear how exactly these will be sold, but we expect that in a market like New Zealand’s they will be sold from standard Hyundai dealerships.

The 5 rides on Hyundai’s Global Modular Platform; a skateboard-style architecture designed for the firm’s next generation of electric cars. This new platform enables the 5 to be charged with 400V or 800V capability, putting it in line with cars like the Porsche Taycan. Size-wise, it’s actually longer and wider than its Tucson sibling. And, when plugged into a 350V charger, Hyundai says it takes just 18 minutes to get it from 10 per cent charge to 80 per cent charge.

That’s quick, but if you’re in even more of a rush Hyundai says you can plug the 5 into said charger and after just five minutes you’ll have enough juice to travel almost 100km. Two battery packs are set to be offered overseas; a 58kWh pack and a 72.6kWh pack. These come paired to two different drivetrain layouts in the form of a single motor front-wheel drive layout or a dual-motor all-wheel drive layout.

Predictably the dual-motor 72.6kWh variant is set to be the most powerful of the bunch, producing 225kW of power and 605Nm of torque, with 100km/h arriving on the speedometer in 5.2 seconds. But in this genre range is just as important, meaning the single-motor 72.6kWh variant is likely to be just as popular — if not more. It offers over 470km of range per charge, Hyundai says, with power and torque rated at 160kW/350Nm. The entry level 58kWh front driver, meanwhile, makes 125kW/350Nm.

It’s not just about the angular styling and electric powertrains. Hyundai has done their best to continue to push into the premium space with the 5’s cabin — building on the chops it’s recently shown in the new Palisade and Tucson.

Hyundai has clearly gone down the ‘living space’ route with the Ioniq’s cabin. It boasts that many of the surfaces present are made out of sustainable materials, contrasting the environmental focus with a clear technological focus. Dual 12-inch screens in front of the driver underline this point, wrapped in a futuristic looking dashboard layout. Occupants can charge all manner of devices via Hyundai’s V2L port — a plus located under the back seat capable of charging anything from phones to e-scooters.

The living space element shines in the modular and customisable nature of the seating. Driver and front passenger can recline their seats, with a foot-rest coming out from under the leg area a la a La-Z-Boy. The ‘Universal Island’ centre console shifts a bunch as well, capable of sliding up to 140mm backwards and forwards.

“IONIQ 5 will accommodate lifestyles without limits, proactively caring for customers’ needs throughout their journey,” said Thomas Schemera, Hyundai executive vice president. “It is truly the first electric vehicle to provide a new experience with its innovative use of interior space and advanced technologies.”

“A new mobility experience for the next generation – this was the mission from the first day we began this project, to look ahead towards the horizon, but stay fundamentally Hyundai,” added SangYup Lee, Hyundai senior vice president. “IONIQ 5 is the new definition of timeless, providing a common thread linking our past to the present and future.”