Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: A Window into the Future
Every once in a while, a car comes along that changes the perception of a brand. For Hyundai, that car is the Ioniq 5.
It doesn’t look like a Hyundai. It looks like a concept car that escaped the design studio. It won the World Car of the Year, and for good reason.
📊 Specs
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Battery | 72.6 kWh |
| Power | 217 PS |
| Torque | 350 Nm |
| Range (ARAI) | 631 km |
| Real World Range | ~450-500 km |
| drivetrain | RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) |
| Charging Architecture | 800V (Ultra-fast charging supported) |
🛸 Design: Cyberpunk Reality
- Pixel Lights: The ‘Parametric Pixel’ LED lights front and rear give it a distinct 8-bit retro vibe.
- Shape: It looks like a hatchback in photos but is actually massive in person—wider than a Fortuner and longer wheelbase than a Palisade!
- Sharp Lines: The ‘Z’ slash on the side profile is a masterpiece of sheet metal stamping.
🏎️ Performance & Drive
- The Drive: It is RWD (Rear Wheel Drive), which means the steering is pure and free from torque steer. It handles beautifully with a low center of gravity.
- Power: 217 PS is plenty. It’s not “pin-your-head-back” fast like the EV6 GT-Line, but it’s effortlessly quick. Overtaking is instant.
- Silence: The cabin insulation is luxury-grade. It is quieter than an E-Class.
🛋️ Interior: The Lounge
This is the Ioniq 5’s party trick.
- Space: With a 3000mm wheelbase, the interior space is cavernous. There is no center transmission tunnel.
- features:
- Universal Island: The center console slides back and forth by 140mm.
- V2L (Vehicle to Load): You can plug in a laptop, a coffee machine, or even charge another EV using the socket under the rear seat.
- Relaxion Seats: The front seats recline fully with leg rests (ottoman style) for napping while charging.
⛽ Charging: 800V Magic
The Ioniq 5 supports 800V architecture.
- What does this mean? If you find a 350kW Ultra-Fast charger (rare in India, but coming), it can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.
- Standard Fast Charger (50kW): ~1 hour for 10-80%.
✅ Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Stunning Design: Turns more heads than a Porsche | ❌ No Rear Wiper: A design flaw in rain |
| ✅ Incredible Space: Better than cars costing ₹1 Crore | ❌ No Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto: Needs a cable |
| ✅ V2L Feature: A mobile power bank on wheels | ❌ Ground Clearance: 163mm (Laden) is tricky on bad speed bumps |
| ✅ Ride Quality: Plush and silent | ❌ White Interior: Hard to keep clean in India |
🏁 Verdict
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a triumph. Priced at ~₹46 Lakhs (Ex-showroom), it undercuts its cousin, the Kia EV6, and offers a more practical, spacious, and comfortable package.
If you want to experience the future of motoring today, ignore the German badges and buy this. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece.