The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a new model built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform co-developed with corporate sibling Kia, which uses the same platform for its Kia EV6. It is the first of several new EVs coming from Hyundai as it drives to electrify its global lineup

At 182.5-inches overall length, the two-row 5-seat Ioniq 5 is among the largest of the growing crop of small electric crossovers. Its 118.1-inch wheelbase is a full 4 inches longer than the 3-row midsize Hyundai Palisade’s. Pushing the wheels to the corners gives the Ioniq 5 a spacious interior in addition to helping provide a comfortable ride. 

The most likely Ioniq 5 competitors are the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4 and Kia EV6. Comparison to Tesla’s Model Y—often mentioned as the chief competition for any new small-to-medium electric crossover—is useful, but the cheapest 2022 Model Y is almost $3,300 more than the top Ioniq 5 trim, so it’s essentially in a different segment. 

Hyundai designers took their inspiration for the Ioniq 5 from the company’s original 1975 Pony hatchback but thoroughly modernized it for the electric age with features such LED lighting, a clean, grille-less front end, 19-inch tires and wheels and flush door handles that pop out as the driver approaches. Hyundai

Hyundai offers the 2022 Ioniq 5 in four rear-wheel drive trim levels: SE Standard Range, SE, SEL and Limited. The latter three have long-range batteries and all-wheel drive options that provide for crazy-quick acceleration. Hyundai rates the AWD Ioniq 5’s 0-60 mph time at 5.1 seconds, but independent testers have paced it at 4.7 seconds—quicker than the Model Y Long Range. 

The crossover’s platform packages the batteries beneath the floor and between the axles for a low center of gravity and relatively even weight distribution. That layout, with either the standard rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, provides for nimble handling on corners. The rear-drive variants offer up to 303 miles of range, better than all small electric crossovers but the Model Y and EV6. In addition, the long-range rear-drive Ioniq 5 is among the most efficient EVs in the market.

Hyundai developed the Ioniq 5 with ultra-fast charging capability—its 800-volt/400-volt system is the first outside of the luxury EV segment and only the third to hit the market. As a result, a nearly-depleted Ioniq 5 battery can be replenished to 80% of capacity in just 18 minutes on the newest and most powerful DC fast-charging equipment and under 40 minutes on most other fast chargers. Initial availability was limited to 26 states, but the popular model will see even broader sales in 2023. 

Its aerodynamic shape, powerful electric drive and long wheelbase make the Ioniq 5 a fun-to-drive yet comfortable small crossover that becomes quite sporty with the optional dual-motor, all-wheel drive system. Hyundai

Performance: 13/15

The Ioniq 5 offers three levels of performance, based on battery size and drive-train configuration. The base SE Standard Range uses a 58-kilowatt-hour battery and a single-motor, rear-drive layout good for 168 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque and 220 miles of range. Other trim levels use a 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery and single-motor, rear-drive powertrain with 225 horsepower, 258 pound-feet and 303 miles of range. The SE, SEL and Limited trims also offer a dual-motor, electronic all-wheel drive option with 320 horsepower, 446 pound-feet and 256 miles of range. Range ratings are on par with other electric crossovers with similar power and drive train configurations. 

Chassis tuning is biased toward comfort, but those who enjoy the driving experience will be pleased with the Ioniq 5’s taut, well-balanced ride. Steering is well-weighted but a little numb. Sportier competitors such as the Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6 do slightly better on twisty roads. There are four driving modes: Sport, Normal, Eco and Snow. Each adjusts accelerator response and Eco curbs air conditioner performance to conserve energy. There are five paddle-controlled regenerative braking levels as well—zero through i-Pedal. The last is reasonably aggressive and can bring the Ioniq 5 to a complete stop without using the brake pedal.  

The base SE Standard Range trim is likely to appeal most to those looking for a grocery-getter, but there’s plenty of oomph and driving fun with the rest of the Ioniq 5 lineup. At 4.6 seconds from zero to 60 mph, the AWD trims are quicker than the Tesla Model Y Long Range and Mustang Mach-E Extended Range. The Ioniq5 can tow up to 2,000 pounds.

Range, Energy Use & Charging: 13/15

The big battery Ioniq 5 SE, with a single rear-mounted motor and rear-wheel drive, sits atop the lineup for fuel efficiency with an efficiency rating of 30 kilowatts of energy per 100 miles and a combined city-highway equivalency of 114 mpg. One gallon of gas equals 33.7 kW of electrical energy.

The average efficiency of all small electric crossovers is 32.1 kW per 100 miles and 94.9 mpg-equivalent in combined city and highway driving. The average for all variants of the Ioniq 5 is 31.6 kW per 100 miles and 107 miles per gallon-equivalent combined. The Ioniq 5 comes with two years of unlimited free 30-minute charging sessions on Electrify America’s nationwide network of DC fast-charge stations.

Among likely competitors, the Ioniq 5 is bested only by the Kia EV6 lineup, which averages 30.3 kW per 100 miles with a combined equivalency of 113 mpg, and the Tesla Model Y Long Range, which tops the class at 29 kW per 100 miles and 116.5 mpg-equivalent combined. The Mustang Mach-E all-wheel drive with extended range battery sits at the bottom of the class, consuming 37 kW of power for every 100 miles and averaging just 90 mpg-equivalent in combined city and highway driving. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 15/15

The Ioniq 5 also has a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance safety features that includes a hands-on automated Highway Driving Assist feature and the ability to identify and automatically stop for oncoming traffic while initiating a left turn. The SEL and Limited trims get version 2.0 of the Highway Driving Assist package, which adapts cruise control performance to a driver’s style over time and can initiate an autonomous lane change when the turn signal stalk is activated.

At our initial review, a lack of NHTSA and IIHS test data hurt its overall score. But at the end of June 2022, the IIHS gave the Ioniq 5 its top designation as a Top Safety Pick+, which added points despite a still-outstanding NHTSA rating. The Ioniq 5 has received five-star ratings in European and Australian NCAP tests.

The Ioniq 5’s spacious, minimalistic interior features reclining front and rear seats, twin 12.3-inch screens and a dual-level floating console. The Limited trim (shown) adds integral leg rests in front, a panoramic glass roof, a sliding console and sliding rear seats that can move up to 5.3 inches to increase rear cargo room. Hyundai

Comfort and Room: 14/15

The Ioniq 5’s flat-floor platform results in a reasonably spacious cabin with an extra-roomy rear seating area. 

Seats are comfortable and supportive, and every trim gets heated front seats. However, the base SE trims make do with manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery. The Limited trims’ reclining “zero gravity” front seats are suitable for napping, and the rear seats in all trims are manually adjustable to recline a bit. At 38.7 inches, rear headroom in all but the Limited trim is second only to the Model Y’s 39.4 inches. The Limited’s glass roof cuts its rear headroom to 37.5 inches.

Front headroom in all trims but the Limited is a lofty 39.8 inches, bested only by the much taller Model Y. The Limited’s panoramic glass roof does trim front headroom to 38.1 inches, though. At 41.7-inches, the Ioniq 5’s front-seat legroom is plentiful but isn’t best in class—that honor goes to its corporate cousin, the Kia EV6, at 42.4 inches. While the Model Y rules in second-row legroom at 40.5 inches, the Ioniq 5 easily takes second place at 39.4 inches—beating the rest of the completive set by 2 inches or more. 

Infotainment: 13/15

The Ioniq 5 uses a pair of 12.3-inch digital screens mounted atop the dash. One is for driver information functions, the other a touchscreen for the infotainment system. The infotainment system has voice recognition and native navigation and includes a 6-speaker audio system—the Limited Trim upgrades to an 8-speaker Bose system. Many controls are relegated to the screens, but items such as the audio system audio and heating and cooling have dash-mounted buttons and knobs as well.

While easy to use and fairly complete, the Ioniq 5’s system isn’t top of the class. Yes, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless device charging and Hyundai’s Blue Link Connected Car and Remote Charging Access are standard, but CarPlay and Android Auto can’t be accessed wirelessly, and there’s no Wi-Fi hotspot. There are three USB-A ports in front and two in the rear seating area, but none of the newer USB-C ports.  

The 60/40 split rear seats fold nearly flat to give the Ioniq 5 capacity to haul large items. There’s a small storage area under the cargo floor and tiny front trunk – frunk – that can carry the factory-supplied charging cord. Hyundai

Cargo Space and Storage: 12/15

The Ioniq 5’ boasts a spacious center console with a small closed upper section and a large open bin for purses and laptops. The console slides fore and aft in the Limited trim, facilitating flexible floor space arrangements. There are several other cubbies and small door pockets and a tiny under-hood storage area (too small to be called a “frunk”) just big enough for the factory-supplied charging cord, which otherwise eats up room in the cargo bay. The flat-folding rear seats split 60/40, and when not in use, can slide forward up to 5.3 inches to lengthen the cargo bay floor.  

The Cargo area is plentiful at 27.2 cubic feet behind the second row—about nine carry-on suitcases stacked floor to ceiling—and 59.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Unfortunately, Tesla doesn’t supply a cargo measurement for the space behind the rear seats—although there’s a lot of it—so the Ioniq 5 is second only to the VW ID.4’s 30.3 cubic feet in that measurement. It is fourth in the class in total cargo area, however, trailing the Model Y’s 68 cubic feet with rear seats folded, the ID.4’s 64.2 cubes and the Mustang Mach-E’s 59.7 cubic feet. Although it shares the Ioniq 5 platform, the Kia EV6 has the least cargo space in the competitive set at 24.4 cubic feet behind the seats and 50.2 cubic feet overall. 

Style and Design: 10/10

The Ioniq 5 is strikingly attractive and a thoroughly modern interpretation of a classic box-shaped crossover, with a wide, slightly aggressive stance, flush door handles, rakish side strakes, and an altogether futuristic look that manages to be somewhat nostalgic as well. Hyundai’s 1975 Pony hatchback was the inspiration for the exterior design. Build quality is excellent, and, unlike many vehicles, the Ioniq 5 looks as good going as it does coming.

The Limited trim pulls out all the stops with zero-gravity reclining front seats with built-in leg rests, a panoramic glass sunroof and the aforementioned center console. Thanks to the Ioniq 5’s perfectly flat floor, it can slide forward to make more room for rear-seat occupants’ feet or slide rearward to make room in front for an extra-large purse or briefcase. The space it creates is vast enough to permit the front seat occupants to easily depart from the opposite-side front door, a helpful trick in tight parking situations. At all levels, the open, airy interior, while strikingly minimalist, is decidedly upscale and well-laid out.

Hyundai designers gave the Ioniq 5 a back end as attractive as the front. The sharply canted design looks fast even when standing still and uses airflow instead of a wiper to clean the rear window. Hyundai

Is the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Worth it? Which Ioniq 5 is the Best Value?

The base Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range starts at $40,945, including a $1,245 destination fee, is a good starter for anyone seeking a fully loaded EV that costs relatively little—especially for those who can claim a $7,500 federal income tax credit that lowers the actual cost to $33,445. Additional state and local incentives in a dozen or so EV-friendly states can lower the entry price to below $30,000 for some. It won’t be available, however, until late spring.

For a rewarding bump in range and power, the big-battery rear-drive SE starts at $44,895 before applying any incentives. For improved traction and handling in snowy and icy conditions, AWD is a $3,500 option.

Those seeking upgraded features—including easy-to-clean leatherette upholstery and the Highway Driving Assist 2.0 system with semi-autonomous highway lane-changing—might think of upgrading to the $47,145 rear-drive SEL.

For the ultimate in driving fun and flexibility, the $3,500 upgrade to the dual-motor AWD SEL provides the best mix of value, features and performance. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5?

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 isn’t an expensive car to insure. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of about $1,790, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1,890 for the Volkswagen ID.4, $2,577 for the Tesla Model Y and $1,912 for the Nissan Leaf. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.