When it arrived in 2021, the striking-looking Ioniq 5 created quite a stir. Two years later, it caused another when the hot, 641bhp Ioniq 5 N landed a five-star car in this magazine's estimation. So is the Ioniq 5 a little bit naughty? In fact, with the exception of the N version, it's a sane and sober motor that gets all the EV things right, while also doing a great job of being a family car.
There are rear-and all-wheel-drive versions. Beginning with the former, the range opens with the standard-range 168bhp 58kWh promising 238 miles, or less in cold weather, followed by the long-range 214bhp 73kWh (298 miles). In mid-2022, this version was replaced by the 225bhp 77kWh (315 miles). With the 2025 facelift, the 58kWh was replaced by a 63kWh battery (273 miles) and the 77kWh by an 84kWh battery (up to 354 miles).
All-wheel-drive models have more power and dispense with the 58kWh and 63kWh batteries. They also have slightly reduced ranges. First up is the 301bhp 73kWh (267 miles), which was replaced from 2022 by the 321bhp 77kWh (298 miles). In 2025, the 77kWh battery was ditched for an 84kWh battery, which increased the range to 311 miles. At the top of the tree is the Ioniq 5 N with the 84kWh battery and a range, assuming you care, of 278 miles.
In 2023, we performance tested the rear-drive 225bhp 77kWh and were impressed with its clean but still urgent getaway and ample cruising power. Not the quickest in its class, we judged, but relaxing. We appreciated the selection of driving modes too. Early Ioniq 5s have quite soft suspension, but owners wanted something firmer and Hyundai duly obliged with stiffer dampers from 2023. These later cars are still quite soft-riding but, according to our testers, without the "extreme floatiness" of the original.
The chassis balance of rear-drive Ioniq 5s feels very rear-drive but the handling is a little loose. In contrast, all-wheel-drive models are characterised by strong traction and are more 'point and shoot'. Our road testers summed up the Ioniq 5 N thus: "Invites all drivers to get stuck in and have some fun."
The Ioniq 5 is an exceptionally roomy car. The rear seats slide and there are plenty of storage cubbies dotted around. The boot is a generous 520 litres too. The infotainment system looks dated in early models but that was addressed by the 2025 facelift. It's a shame Hyundai didn't also upgrade the interior trim, which feels scratchy in places.
