Hyundai Ioniq 5 range, interior, features tested, long term review – Introduction

Few long-term automobiles I’ve run have elicited as many questions from my rotating set of passengers because the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has. The exception is likely to be the MG Comet, however in its case, individuals are merely amused by its quirky design and tiny dimension. The Ioniq comes from a lot additional up the EV pecking order and the questions I get about it are much more critical and pointed. They’ve coated every thing from vary to charging and the broader matter of operating prices, in addition to easier stuff like house, floor clearance and appears. However the two that I’ve gotten essentially the most in my temporary time with this new long-termer are “Rs 50 lakh for a Hyundai?” and “How may a giant, costly EV win Autocar India’s Automotive of the Yr award?”

Tremendous-clear encompass digicam makes parking the large Ioniq a complete lot simpler.

Fortunately, there’s a typical reply to each these questions, and it’s being bolstered with each new kilometre I placed on TN 87 D 7068. Briefly, it’s simply that good, to the purpose that Rs 50 lakh begins to sound like a cut price. It could be the costliest Hyundai, however that’s as a result of it’s one of the best Hyundai has to supply, by some margin. It outshines luxurious SUVs that price far more, and when you think about that its sister automobile, the Kia EV6, prices Rs 15 lakh extra, you realise how shrewd Hyundai was to regionally assemble it. And so they haven’t skimped on gizmos both; it packs in nearly each scorching characteristic right now, in addition to some parlour methods which are purely there for wow issue.

Retro-cool ‘pixel’ headlamps and LEDs on bumper prime look unimaginable at evening.

For instance, it sounds foolish to line the floor of a automobile’s entrance bumper with LEDs, however they’ve, and I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it doesn’t carry a smile to my face each time they gentle up. Equally, the pixel-like LEDs within the headlamps and tail-lamps slot in so nicely with the retro Eighties aesthetic of the automobile on the entire. Then there’s the massive glovebox that slides out like a drawer. The truth that there are a number of cubbyholes between the entrance seats, but sufficient open house tells you it’s a born EV. There’s even the ridiculous possibility of flattening each entrance seats right into a bed-like association; can’t think about once you’d ever use that, nevertheless it’s there.

Recurrently delivers over 6km/kWh throughout my trafficheavy metropolis commute.

Some quirks aren’t as profitable in my view, just like the column-mounted drive selector. Mercedes automobiles have this too, however within the Ioniq, it’s along with the indicator stalk, and I continually combine the 2 up. Plus, the twist-to-select system for drive and reverse feels counterintuitive, and I nonetheless get it flawed even after two weeks. Like our long-term Creta, this too has white upholstery, however right here it extends to the doorways and dashboard, and expectedly, frequent contact factors have turned brown. There’s a black possibility out there now, although. These pop-out door handles could also be cool however water collects inside their housing each time the automobile is washed, which mixes with any dust to depart a mucky residue in your hand once you open the door. And eventually, although I really like that they’ve gone in opposition to the pattern and dedicated to very large and good-looking 20-inch wheels for India, their flat design means they’re very simple to kerb; in actual fact, the automobile got here to us with all 4 wheels scuffed!

Sergius and I swap between the large, comfortable Ioniq and the small, zippy Comet.

Whereas on the subject, these wheels are considered one of many components that disguise simply how huge the Ioniq truly is; the wheels pushed to the skin, its hatchback form and clear strains are the opposite components. The wheelbase is definitely 3,000mm (greater than a Mercedes GLE) and solely after I parked it alongside our long-term Tucson did I realise the 2 are about the identical dimension. The place it initially felt its dimension was on the street, extra so for me who switched from the Comet: the smallest automobile on sale right now. Mild controls and good visibility imply I’ve acclimatised fairly shortly although, and regardless of it feeling prefer it wouldn’t clear greater velocity breakers with that lengthy wheelbase, I used to be quickly reminded this can be a crossover with loads of floor clearance.

Enormous 20-inch wheels simple to scrape on kerbs; the automobile got here to us with all 4 scuffed.

EV stuff? The vary is great, not solely because of the 72.6kWh battery but additionally as a result of effectivity is excessive. Although I used to get a bit carried away with the 217hp within the early days, now I simply handle upwards of 6km/kWh on each workplace commute. Charging is tremendous fast too; as much as 350kW on a quick sufficient DC gun. And when Sergius borrowed it one weekend, he was in a position to get it from 21 to 73 p.c in simply quarter-hour. There actually is rather a lot to love—and speak about—with the Ioniq 5, so keep tuned for future studies.

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