Hyundai Ioniq 5 2021: price, dates. Pictures, market launch

who wondering what it looks like when a manufacturer takes electromobility really seriously, all you need to do is look at the new Ioniq 5. The debut of the outsourced, new Hyundai sub-brand Ioniq opens a new chapter: It is the first electric Hyundai that fully exploits the strengths of the electric drive in terms of space, installation space and packaging. The Koreans take up a Japanese concept: The size of the Ioniq 5 corresponds to that of the Toyota Prius, the design more that of a compact hatchback sedan – but the space is almost that of the upper middle class. In terms of price, on the other hand, the Ioniq undercuts many of its competitors and ends up at the compact class level with an electric bonus.

Body and dimensions

The Ioniq 5 owes its great advantages in packaging to the Hyundai Group’s new E-GMP electrical platform. The optimal use of space is made clear by the following figures: The engineers have a wheelbase of three meters over a length of 4.64 meters – 3.5 centimeters less than a Mercedes S-Class W 222.

In terms of design, Hyundai is based on the current trend of retro electric cars, on the Hyundai Pony introduced in the mid-1970s. If it weren’t for the smooth surfaces and futuristic lighting elements, in addition to the generous dimensions: At 4.64 meters, the Ioniq 5 clearly towers above the compact class, and at 1.61 meters it towers above many city SUVs. Overall, this car is geared more towards the world market than European size classes.

Interior space and space

The long wheelbase and high roofline go hand in hand with a very large interior. The Ioniq 5 offers space for the whole family. In the five-seater, your knees will hardly bump anywhere, either front or back. With 531 liters, the trunk offers a compact estate car level (Opel Astra Sports Tourer: 540 l). If you fold down the 60:40 split, longitudinally sliding rear bench, you get 1,591 liters of cargo space. But that’s not all: Since the motors are located directly on the axles, there is still space under the front hood for between 27 (all-wheel drive) and 54 liters (rear-wheel drive) luggage, such as the charging cables, depending on the drive.

The tidy, nicely designed interior is dominated by a large screen area, of course. Hyundai dares to do a little more design than Tesla with the Model 3 and finds more elegant shapes. Parts of the internals are made of recycled materials. The interior designers are installing two large 12.25-inch displays in the dashboard, which are framed in white instead of black.

Engines; Performance and range

The batteries can be laid flat under the sub-floor in several modules in Hyundai’s E-GMP platform. Both axles can be equipped with compact electric motors, so that front, rear and all-wheel drive are possible. The concept also allows a wide range of services: There should be four levels in the Ioniq 5. The basic version drives a 125 kW (170 hp) engine on the rear axle, which mobilizes 350 Newton meters of torque. In addition, Hyundai combines the smallest available battery, which with a capacity of 58 kWh will allow a range of around 400 kilometers.

The larger expansion stage drives around 500 kilometers. Hyundai combines the 72.6 kWh battery with a 160 kW (217 hp) rear engine. The sprint from 0 to 100 km / h should take 7.4 seconds in this configuration. Alternatively, both battery sizes are available with an additional front motor. The system output then increases to 173 kW (235 PS) or 225 kW (305 PS) with 605 Newton meters of torque each.

With all-wheel drive, the Ioniq 5 can compete in the Golf GTI class: the sprint times should be 6.1 and 5.2 seconds, respectively. All four drive variants dispense with a gear shift. Hyundai limits the top speed to 185 km / h. A special feature: Hyundai has firmly planned an option for a trailer hitch. The Ioniq 5 is expected to allow 1.6 tons of trailer load.

As the first Hyundai electric car, the Ioniq 5 offers 800-volt battery technology that allows a charging capacity of up to 220 kWh. Long journeys are no longer terrifying – provided there are enough fast charging points. At a 350 kW charging station, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes, so some toilet breaks take longer. Electricity for 100 kilometers can be recharged in less than 5 minutes. Of course, charging with household electricity with 230 volts and an 11 kW wallbox is still possible, but it takes a lot longer.

Equipment and features

Charging the Ioniq 5 with the optional solar roof would take a long time. Two small solar panels can together generate more than 200 watts of power. This should allow a range of around 2,000 kilometers a year when the weather is nice. Hyundai has tested this in Spain. Alternatively, the solar power can also be used to charge the 12-volt battery for electrical consumers. In addition, the Ioniq 5 offers bidirectional charging, so it can also deliver electricity and charge pads while driving or an e-bike in the garage.

In terms of multimedia and connectivity, the Ioniq naturally offers the latest status, including Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as voice control, networked route planning and Hyundai’s connectivity app Bluelink. In the near future, vehicle updates will also be uploaded via the cellular network. As is customary in electric cars, the battery level can also be checked using an app or the interior can be preheated.

In addition, the Ioniq 5 offers an augmented reality head-up display for an additional charge, which projects information directly into the driver’s field of vision. It also offers a wide range of passive and active safety systems. In the Euro-NCAP test, those responsible expect a 5-star result.

Prices and launch

Hyundai plans to deliver the first Ioniq 5 in the second quarter of 2021: The manufacturer speaks of “early summer”. As is also the case by now, only a relatively expensive, comprehensively equipped introductory edition is available at the beginning. The Ioniq 5 Project 45 is to be built 3,000 times and cost 59,550 euros. Instead there is the larger battery, all-wheel drive, the electrically sliding rear seat bench, the solar roof and 20-inch aluminum wheels. Less the Bafa bonus, the introductory model costs 49,980 euros. On top of that, Hyundai is adding two years to the Ionity fast charging station network without a basic fee. If the intro version is sold out, prices start at 41,900 euros. For comparison: A Tesla Model Y with a range of 505 km and all-wheel drive currently costs at least 58,620 euros.

Hyundai Ioniq 5: Technical Specifications