Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review 2025

The new Hyundai Ioniq 5 is quite simply one of the best electric cars currently on sale. There's no caveat to that – we don't mean for a budget brand – it stacks up against the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Audi Q4 e-tron and Volvo EX40. With futuristic styling, a spacious cabin and a generous electric range, it'd be quite sensible to end your search for a new electric car right here.

Sharing its platform with the Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is pitched against rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq iV and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Don't be fooled by the pictures: the Ioniq 5 might look like a Golf-sized hatchback, but it's considerably bigger and taller than that in stature.

Measuring 4.6 metres long and 2.2 metres wide (including door mirrors), the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a lot larger than the brand's small electric SUV, the Kona Electric. It utilises its dimensions well, though, with a whole three metres between the front and rear wheels, translating to an enormous amount of space inside.

Indeed, the cabin is lovely, combining retro charm with modern minimalism. You get two 12.3-inch digital displays (including the central touchscreen infotainment system and an extra digital instrument cluster), while touch-sensitive buttons operate the climate control. It's very different from, say, a Tesla, as there are even physical shortcut buttons to important features for the navigation system. There's a start/stop button, too, while you twist a column-mounted drive selector to get the car moving.

With prices for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 starting from around £40,000 and edging up to more than £56,000 for the most desirable variants, it's not exactly a budget electric car. Factor in the cost savings on fuel, though, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts to become easier to justify. It also looks like a very tempting proposition alongside pricier, premium-badged electric vehicles.

Hyundai Ioniq 5: Range and charging times

When it first went on sale in 2021, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was offered with two battery sizes. The smaller 58kWh one gave a range of up to 238 miles according to WLTP tests, while the bigger 73kWh version delivered up to 298 miles of range.

In 2022, the 73kWh battery was replaced by a 77kWh pack, upping the maximum range figure to 315 miles (the smaller pack remained on offer as well). Then in 2024, both batteries were replaced by new 63kWh and 84kWh items, giving ranges of up to 273- and 354 miles (depending on spec), respectively.

Regardless of which battery your car has, all Ioniq 5s can be charged at a rate of up to 350kW at a sufficiently powerful DC public rapid charger (provided you can find one running to its full capacity, that is). That means a 10% to 80% top-up can be delivered in as little as 18 minutes. Do bear in mid, though, that this will be a very expensive way of charging, though. It's not uncommon to see prices of 90p per kWh at DC rapid chargers, and at that sort of cost, it doesn't prove much cheaper than filling up a petrol or diesel car.

At home, plug the Ioniq 5 into a 7kW wallbox and you’ll be able to fully charge it overnight: it'll taking between eight hours and 13 hours, depending on the size of the battery your car has. You can charge the Ioniq 5 using a regular three-pin domestic plug but we wouldn’t recommend it; the charging times for this type of connection are measured in days, rather than hours.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 takes a softer approach to ride and handling than the Kia EV6. Indeed, buy one with 19-inch alloy wheels, and you'll find it copes with uneven road surfaces much better than a lot of electric cars; it's matched only by the Skoda Enyaq iV in that regard.

Despite this, the Ioniq 5's low centre of gravity means it goes around corners in a stable, well-controlled manner, and there's plenty of grip and traction on hand, even from models that have rear-wheel drive, rather than four-wheel drive. The light steering feels a bit woolly compared to, say, a Ford Mustang Mach-E, but it does mean the car is easy to direct around town. The Ioniq 5's plethora of tech helps here, too; even the most affordable models come with a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.

As we've said elsewhere in this Hyundai Ioniq 5 review, the range of powertrain and battery options available has changed quite a bit during the car's time on sale.

When the car first went on sale, the entry-level 58kWh Hyundai Ioniq 5 was offered solely with a single 170PS electric motor powering the rear wheels. By electric car standards, it takes quite a leisurely 8.5 seconds to reach 62mph, yet its instant acceleration means it'll feel sprightlier off the line than many petrol alternatives.

The 73kWh Hyundai Ioniq 5 was also available in rear-wheel-drive single-motor form, albeit with 217PS providing 0-62mph acceleration of 7.4 seconds. This feels a little peppier than the entry-level car.

Meanwhile, the top-of-the-range Ioniq AWD added an electric motor to the front axle, providing a combined 305PS and 0-62mph acceleration in 5.2 seconds. It doesn't have the ability to churn your stomach under acceleration like the fastest Teslas do, with more of a satisfying surge than a massive amount of excitement.

These days, the entry-level version has the same power and performance figures despite now having an upgraded battery for more range. Meanwhile, the more powerful rear-drive version has had its output increased to 228PS, although the 0-62mph sprint time has still dropped to 7.5 second, likely due to the extra weight of its larger battery pack.

It's a similar story with the AWD version. The combined power output from its two motors has crept up to 325PS, but the heavier battery pack has seen the 0-62mph time deteriorate slightly to 5.3 seconds. That's still hardly slow, though.

As you'd expect for a modern electric car like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, there are cameras and sensors everywhere to help keep you safe on the road. All Ioniq 5 models come with a Forward Collision Avoidance Assist system, which can detect other cars, pedestrians and cyclists, applying the brakes if it detects an impending collision.

There's also a standard-fit Lane Keep Assist system, while Highway Drive Assist Level 1 is essentially an advanced cruise control system that can also keep you in your lane on the motorway. For the ultimate in driver-assist technology, specify the optional Tech Pack (available on Ultimate trim), which adds a Parking Collision Avoidance Assist system as well as a clever Remote Smart Parking Assist: this allows you to slot the Ioniq 5 in or out of a parking space using an app on your phone. The Tech Pack also adds a useful Blind View Monitor, which warns you when other vehicles are approaching the side or rear of the car.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes as standard with seven airbags as well as Isofix child seat mounting points on the outer rear seats. It was awarded five stars by Euro NCAP when it was crash tested in 2021.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD has an impressive braked towing capability of up to 1600kg. That ought to be enough to tow an average-sized caravan, while its hefty two-tonne kerb weight means it shouldn't be easily unsettled.

Rear-wheel-drive models can tow up to 750kg, unless you go for a later 84kWh 228PS version, which can match the AWD on towing capacity.

As the Ioniq 5 looks like a hatchback, it's easy to forget that it's actually bigger than the Hyundai Tucson SUV. And because it's been designed from day one as a pure-electric vehicle, there's no wasted space where you'd normally find an engine or gearbox.

A flat floor and a long wheelbase mean the interior feels remarkably spacious, while legroom for those in the rear is very generous. Even a six-footer sat behind another six-footer will have space to spare, while the rear seats can slide backwards and forwards depending on whether you want to prioritise boot- or passenger space.

With all the seats in place, the Hyundai Ioniq 5's 527-litre boot is bigger than you'll find in a conventional family hatchback, but it's quite shallow. There is a small storage area for cables under the bonnet, but it's not really spacious enough to carry anything else. You get slightly more luggage space in a Skoda Enyaq iV, while the Tesla Model Y – with its bigger front boot – can accommodate significantly more.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5's interior generally feels well finished, but it's not quite as posh as you'll find in premium alternatives like the Volvo EX40. Maybe we're being a little harsh on the Hyundai here, but you have to bear in mind that it very definitely isn't priced as a budget option.

Still, it's not exactly low-rent in terms of quality. The few hard plastics here and there don't detract from the space-age look of the cabin, while they'll no doubt cope very well with family life.

Whichever Hyundai Ioniq 5 trim level you go for, you'll get a very user-friendly 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation system that sits alongside an equally impressive 12.3-inch digital instrument display.

It might look rather futuristic, but it's much less overwhelming than some infotainment-heavy rivals (the Tesla Model Y, for example). You still get physical shortcut buttons and an actual knob for the volume control: a bit weird in a car like this, but something you'll be grateful for when you're trying to skip tracks or navigate the infotainment system on the move.

The touch-sensitive climate control buttons below are a little less user-friendly when driving, but at least you won't have to trawl through the infotainment screen to adjust the temperature in the cabin.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate models come with a head-up display and a premium Bose sound system : neither necessary features, but both desirable extras in our view.

From the 2023 model year onwards, high-spec Ioniq 5s have been available with a digital interior rear-view mirror, and as an optional extra, digital door mirrors. The former can be useful when the car is loaded up with people or stuff to give you a clearer view, and it's especially handy on pre-2024 cars, which don't have a wiper on the rear screen. We've not sampled the latter on the Ioniq 5, but based on our experience of this tech on other cars, it's a bit gimmicky and a little unintuitive in everyday use. 

Prices for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 have fluctuated quite a bit during the years its been on sale, as car prices always do, but at the moment, pricing start at around £40,000 (there's currently only one variant that sneaks below that price threshold). That's for the lowest-spec, lowest-range version, and if you flip to the opposite end of the spectrum, prices climb as high at £56,000. Make no mistake, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is not a budget electric car.

As a comparison, the Ioniq 5 is priced broadly in-line with Skoda Enyaq iV, and also the Kia EV6 and the Nissan Ariya. 

Head to the used car market, and prices look a lot more tempting. Around £15,000 or £16,000 is enough to get you an early example from 2021 or 2022. At this price, the examples in question are a mixture of the smaller-battery 58kWh versions with around 40,000 miles on the clock, and bigger-battery 73kWh versions with a slightly higher mileage of around 60,000 miles or so. And thanks to Hyundai's super-generous five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, the vast majority of used Ioniq 5s are likely to have some cover left.

The Ioniq 5 may have a super-impressive maximum DC charging rate of 350kW, but using it on a regular basis will prove very expensive. It's not uncommon to see prices of 90p per kWh at DC rapid chargers, and at that sort of cost, it doesn't prove much cheaper than filling up a petrol or diesel car.

The cheapest way of keeping your battery topped up is by charging at home. For comparison, the national average cost of domestic electricity lies at around the 28p per kWh mark, meaning that depending on the size of battery your car has, a full juice-up will cost anywhere between £16 and £23. And, if you charge up overnight on heavily discounted off-peak power, you'll likely pay less than half that.

Insurance groupings for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 range between 29 to 41 depending on the version in question, with group 1 cars being the cheapest to insure and group 50 being the most expensive. Premiums won't come at a snip, then, but these grouping are far from unreasonable compared to those of similar EV rivals.

And where once upon a time, EVs were exempt from VED road tax, that loophole was closed in April 2025, and EV drivers now face the same flat rate of tax as everyone else, that flat rate currently costing £195 per year. It gets worse, though, because EVs are also now no longer exempt from the luxury car surcharge for VED, which applies to all cars that cost more than £40,000 when brand new, including optional extras. And almost all examples of the Ioniq 5 bust that threshold. That's likely to land you with an additional £425 to pay for a five-year period between years two and six of the car's life.

When it first went of sale, the Ioniq 5 was offered in three trim levels: SE Connect, Premium and Ultimate. Standard equipment on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Connect included:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• electric driver's seat lumbar support
• sliding rear seats
• dual-zone climate control
• automatic windscreen wipers
• LED daytime running lights
• LED headlights with smart high beam
• heated rear windscreen
• electric parking brake
• rear-view monitor
• smart cruise control
• keyless entry with a power on/off button
• 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• wireless phone charging pad

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium added:

• electric seat adjustment for the driver
• heated front seats
• grey cloth seat trim
• dual LED headlights
• heated steering wheel
• front- and rear parking sensors
• electric tailgate

Topping the range, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate came with:

• 20-inch alloy wheels (on Ioniq 5 73kWh models)
• 64-colour interior ambient lighting
• alloy pedals
• electric passenger seat adjustment and lumbar support
• ventilated front seats
• outer heated rear seats
• leather seat trim
• privacy glass
• laminated glazed windows
• sliding centre console
• vehicle-to-load adapter
• head-up display
• premium Bose sound system

In mid-2024, the range was rejigged significantly. SE Connect trim was replaced by Advance trim, and while Premium and Ultimate trims remained, they were joined by sporty N Line and N Line S trims.

The new entry-level version, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Advance, comes with:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• heated power folding door mirrors
• dual-zone climate control
• automatic wipers
• battery preconditioning system
• twin 12.3-inch screens
• keyless entry
• heat pump
• front- and rear parking sensors
• reversing camera
• smart cruise control
• electric windows
• heated leather steering wheel
• heated front seats
• sliding rear seats
• intelligent speed limit assist
• lane follow assist
• lane keep assist
• forward collision avoidance

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium adds:

• upgraded forward collision avoidance
• blind spot collision avoidance
• power outlet in boot
• rear window blinds
• hands-free power tailgate
• wireless phone charging
• vehicle-to-load port inside
• 64-colour ambient lighting
• sliding centre console
• power front seat adjustment
• part-leather upholstery

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Line adds: 

• larger 20-inch alloy wheels
• sporty exterior styling elements
• rear privacy glass

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate foregoes the sporty styling bits, but instead adds:

• digital key
• head-up display
• digital rear-view mirror
• Bose premium audio
• laminated front- and rear windows
• ventilated front seats
• heated outer rear seats
• leather upholstery

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Line S reinstates the sporty styling elements, and on top of that, adds:

• blind spot view monitor
• smart parking assist
• surround view monitor
• panoramic roof
• driver's seat memory
• electric sliding rear seats
• leather and alcantara upholstery
• premium relaxation front seats