2024.06.11 Hyundai Motor Company
Test Drive Review of the New Hyundai IONIQ 5: My First Electric Car Crush!
Hyundai Motor Company's first dedicated electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5, has returned with a fresh look and improved usability. I never had a desire for an electric car before, but after experiencing the new IONIQ 5, my thoughts changed. A lot.
Despite trying various electric cars, none of them truly resonated with me. Each had its own quirks—awkward designs, clunky craftsmanship, unfamiliar driving dynamics, and high prices due to their lack of mainstream adoption. Above all, I preferred the tactile experience of feeling the engine and manually shifting gears. However, my views began to shift with the introduction of Hyundai's first dedicated EV, the IONIQ 5.
The IONIQ 5 is more than just an electric car. It marks a monumental milestone for Hyundai as it ventures into the era of electric mobility and has played a pivotal role in driving the growth of the domestic EV market. The landscape of the Korean EV market can be divided into the periods before and after the IONIQ 5. Before its arrival, most electric cars were essentially internal combustion engine vehicles with electric powertrains. The IONIQ 5, built on the dedicated E-GMP platform, heralded the true beginning of the era of EVs.
The Ioniq 5 drew attention with its unique design that includes both the meaning of dedication to Pony Heritage and the future atmosphere. The interior with the concept of "Living Space," which means a comfortable living space, provided a comfortable space based on the portable Universal Island center console designed around its simple structure and ease of use, and the flat floor, one of the characteristics of the E-GMP electric vehicle.
Friends around me who have experienced the Ioniq 5 since its launch in 2021 said that the comfortable ride and smooth driving sense were impressive, unlike internal combustion locomotives. This meant that it was carefully completed so that even those unfamiliar with electric vehicles could experience it without any sense of alienation. In other words, Hyundai Motor's ability to make popular cars for many consumers was focused on the Ioniq 5, which meant that the Ioniq 5 could serve as a priming water for the era of true electric vehicles.
Three years after that, The New Ioniq 5 with improved marketability appeared. I looked at the exterior design with more detailed changes in every corner of the monitor screen. Personally, I actually sat in the car and wondered how convenient it would be while traveling and how it would feel to drive. You can find out more about the new Ioniq 5's new design elements and features that have been changed or added in the direction of improving ease of use through the link below.
The New IONIQ 5: Even More Perfect EV Life with Enhanced Product Value
The test drive started from Yangjae in Seoul, headed to Jungmisan in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, for filming, and then back home. This route, which includes both everyday city and highway driving as well as winding roads, was chosen to fully experience the New IONIQ 5 in various conditions. I was also curious about its practicality as a family car.
Seeing the New IONIQ 5 in person, it didn't seem that big, but the interior space was impressively wide and comfortable, rivaling that of a mid-size SUV. Sitting in the bright-toned interior felt almost like being in a living room.
The trunk was spacious enough to load a car seat, stroller, and other family luggage. The rear-wheel-drive model I tested even had a practical front trunk. The Universal Island center console and the second-row sliding seats added to the New IONIQ 5's versatility.
Even before the test drive, I had heard from experienced users and read multiple reviews from domestic and international media about the IONIQ 5's comfortable ride and smooth driving experience. Classified as a crossover, its sturdy hatchback look made me wonder if it would feel tightly put together. However, the New IONIQ 5 turned out to be more comfortable and relaxed than expected.
Electric vehicles typically weigh several hundred kilograms more than their internal combustion engine counterparts due to the large, heavy high-voltage batteries and other components. Most electric vehicles compensate for this increased weight by tightening the suspension, sometimes at the expense of ride comfort. While air suspension can provide both comfort and performance, it is generally reserved for high-end luxury or sports electric vehicles due to its cost.
In this context, the ride quality of the New IONIQ 5 was impressive and luxurious. It absorbed road vibrations like a sponge soaking up water, and smoothed out road joints and bumps effortlessly. Even when driving over speed bumps, it handled the resulting vibrations and impacts seamlessly. Despite the rough road conditions on the way from Seoul to Yangpyeong, the IONIQ 5 managed to absorb small vibrations smoothly, which was particularly noteworthy.
This exceptional ride quality can be attributed to the frequency-sensitive shock absorbers (Selective Damping Control) applied to recent Hyundai models. The engineer responsible for the New IONIQ 5 explained that the suspension spring's compression and rebound are effectively controlled by adjusting the damping force based on driving speed and road conditions. Additionally, enhancing the stiffness of the cowl crossbar in front of the driver's seat reduced the vibrations transmitted to the steering wheel, further upgrading overall ride comfort.
Thanks to these improvements, the New IONIQ 5 felt like a well-refined sedan with the coziness of an SUV. Its driving feel was distinctly different from other electric vehicles I had driven, closer to that of an internal combustion engine vehicle. The New IONIQ 5 offers a driving experience that many people will find comfortable and familiar in daily use.
Another factor contributing to the New IONIQ 5's comfortable ride is its smoothly operating electric motor. It's well-known that electric vehicles accelerate quickly due to the immediate torque from the electric motor. However, the New IONIQ 5 offers a smoother ride by fine-tuning the motor's operation according to driving modes, regenerative braking levels, and whether it’s a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive model.
For instance, when driving in Eco mode or during normal driving without pressing the accelerator pedal deeply, the acceleration and deceleration are smooth, and even when lifting off the accelerator, the braking torque is not overly strong. Regenerative braking at the maximum level (Level 3) also felt smoother than before. Passengers in the back seat noted the improved ride comfort. Conversely, switching to Sport mode or pressing the accelerator pedal deeply resulted in the immediate torque and acceleration characteristic of electric vehicles.
While navigating winding roads up and down Jungmisan Mountain, the New IONIQ 5 proved that it is not only suitable as a family car but also satisfying for drivers who enjoy dynamic driving. The stable weight distribution, thanks to the centrally placed battery, and the 168kW (approximately 229PS) rear electric motor provided the New IONIQ 5 with respectable handling performance.
Although it’s not as agile or high-performing as a mid-engine rear-wheel-drive sports car due to its weight, it offered driving pleasure by allowing the rear to slide slightly outward when accelerating out of corners. The fact that a daily-use electric car can be so enjoyable to drive is a testament to its appeal.
The improved handling of the New IONIQ 5 is also due to hidden enhancements. The thickness of the reinforcements at the rear wheel connection points and the crossbars underneath the vehicle was doubled, enhancing rigidity and contributing to more agile and stable movements. Moreover, the frequency-sensitive shock absorbers, suspension, and tire settings were harmoniously fine-tuned to achieve optimal performance.
One of the significant changes in the New IONIQ 5 is the fourth-generation battery with an increased energy density from 618Wh/L to 670Wh/L, resulting in a capacity increase to 84.0kWh and extending the maximum driving range from 458km to 485km (based on the 2WD model with 19-inch wheels and without a built-in camera). Despite the increase in battery size and added convenience features, the vehicle's weight increased by approximately 70kg. However, improved efficiency of the battery and PE system maintained the same energy efficiency as before. The test vehicle, a rear-wheel-drive Prestige trim with 20-inch wheels, had a curb weight of 2,025kg, a combined efficiency of 4.9km/kWh, and a combined driving range of 453km per charge.
Despite the larger battery, the fast-charging capability was also improved, allowing the New IONIQ 5 to charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes with a 350kW ultra-fast charger. Naturally, it can use various charging infrastructures with its 400V/800V multi-fast charging system. An added LED light at the charging port for better visibility during nighttime charging is another enhancement. The New IONIQ 5 can gain 286km of driving range with just a 15-minute charge using a 350kW ultra-fast charger, alleviating one of the biggest concerns for electric vehicle users—charging.
Due to the significantly lower vibration and noise levels of electric motors compared to internal combustion engines, external noises are more noticeable inside an electric vehicle. Various measures were taken to reduce noise. The rigidity of key areas like the lower body and rear wheel houses was reinforced to reduce low-frequency booming noise. The noise-absorbing area of the rear motor was increased to reduce high-frequency noise, and improvements were made to the motor grounding to minimize noise from the PE system entering the cabin. These meticulous measures cater to those who found the operating noise of electric motors bothersome.
Additionally, various efforts have been made to reduce noise and vibration, such as the application of sound-absorbing tires. The test vehicle was equipped with a Vision Roof, a full glass roof, which did not let much wind noise through, even inside a tunnel. When the electric roll blinds designed to block sunlight were deployed, the noise from outside the Vision Roof was further reduced. The digital side mirrors, smaller and more streamlined than regular side mirrors, also helped to reduce wind noise.
The New IONIQ 5 has undergone extensive upgrades not only in design and user convenience but also in essential electric vehicle components such as the battery, driving range, and charging performance. Personally, the most memorable aspect of this test drive was the New IONIQ 5’s rich driving feel. Having experienced several Hyundai Group electric vehicles recently, I realized that electric vehicles are indeed worth considering now. The New IONIQ 5 has become the first electric car I genuinely want to own.
One of the appealing points of the New IONIQ 5 is that despite significantly enhancing its product value, its price remains unchanged. From a consumer's perspective, this means enjoying increased convenience and utility at the same price, effectively making it feel like a price reduction. The IONIQ 5, which played a pivotal role in ushering in the era of electric vehicles, remains a compelling choice for many consumers even now. The changes in the New IONIQ 5 can be described as a perfect evolution in many ways.
Photography by Choi Dae-il and Kim Bum
