First Look: Hyundai Ioniq 5 all-electric mid-size crossover will offer AWD, super quick charging

The upcoming 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 all-electric crossover was revealed early this morning that will be the Korean company’s technological showcase for its modular battery electric platform that will usher in a family of new-generation line of Ioniq vehicles, while the current Ioniq hatchback and Kona EV models will continue on as more entry-level plug-in products.

The mid-size Ioniq 5 will come in rear-wheel drive form, with all-wheel drive optional, said Hyundai Canada officials in an online briefing about upcoming products planned to arrive in 2021. This will include plug-in hybrid versions of the all-new ’21 Santa Fe and the upcoming 2022 Tucson slated to arrive this spring, a compact SUV that will be sold in a long-wheelbase version for all of North America.

Hyundai Canada president Don Romano said the compact Tucson will be roughly the same size as the Ioniq 5, which the company is calling a mid-size crossover. Official specs peg the Ioniq 5 as only five millimetres longer than the Tucson, but with a much longer wheelbase for the BEV of 3,000mm versus 2,756mm for the Tucson. That should translate to much more passenger room for the wider (by 26mm) and sharply creased Ioniq 5.

However, even though the five-seat Ioniq 5 will offer an additional 24 litres of cargo room in the front trunk, and a healthy 531 litres of cargo space behind the second-row seat (1,591 litres when folded), the gas and hybrid Tucson easily tops those cargo numbers at 1,096 litres and 2,274 litres, respectively. The Tuscon PHEV will offer slightly less cargo room (903 litres, and 1,846 litrers seats down) than the similar gas and hybrid versions, and of course much less electric range than the Ioniq 5 – though not disclosed yet, will be in the double digits, not 400 km-plus of the Ioniq 5.

The exact amount of range available from the Ioniq 5 will depend on the battery selected, and perhaps on whether equipped with rear- or AWD. The standard range model comes with a 58 kWh battery, while a 77.4 kWh model will also be available in North America that Hyundai says will offer up to 470-480 km, although that’s using the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) rating.

This means it will likely achieve a rating of 420-430 km of range in top trim using the more realistic Natural Resources Canada/EPA ratings by the time it arrives in North America this fall, given that the Kona EV was also originally rated at 470 km by Hyundai using the WLTP standard, and it is now rated at 415 km of range in Canada.

The Ioniq 5 will come with rear-wheel drive in the base model, with a 168 hp (125 kW) motor that offers a healthy 258 lb-ft of torque (350 Nm) and a 0-100 km/h time of 8.5 seconds, the slowest of the Ioniq 5 variants. Opting for all-wheel drive also adds more power, with the addition of a second motor to the front wheels that adds up to a total 232 hp (173 kW) and a V8-like 446 lb-ft of torque. This version will run you from rest to highway speed in 6.1 seconds, said Hyundai.

The larger 77.4 kWh battery combined with rear-drive will be the one for those looking for that max 420 km-plus range. Opting for all-wheel drive will usher in its most powerful 302 hp (225 kW) dual motor version, which will run it from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, according to Hyundai.

But perhaps the speediest aspect of the Ioniq 5 is its charging speed, especially at its expected mainstream price point – not disclosed yet, but expected to line up to BEV rivals such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the upcoming Volkswagen ID.4. Both of those offer between 125 and 150 kW max quick charging speeds, and while the Ioniq 5’s exact kilowatt figure remains undisclosed, Hyundai says that on CCS DC quick chargers rated at 350 kW, the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in a blazing 18 minutes.

Or more impressively, add 100 km of range in just five minutes.

This is Porsche Taycan territory here, which maxes out at a 270 kW quick charging speed, but in a luxury sports car that costs well into six figures. Going by Mustang Mach-E starting prices, the Ioniq 5 seems likely to start at closer to $50,000, though efforts may be made to sneak the starting price under the $45,000 level that would make it eligible for the national $5,000 EV rebate in Canada.

“This will be an 800-volt (super quick charging) crossover in what happens to be the biggest segment of the market,” said Romano.

Inside, the Ioniq 5 will offer two large digital screens, one in front of the driver in a futuristic binnacle-less layout, as well as a larger one above the floating centre instrument panel, since the gear selector is behind the steering wheel. A movable console in between the front seats offers elbow rests as well as storage underneath, and can also be moved rearward to offer rear passengers access to a wireless phone charger and cupholders.

The front seats also offer cushy business class-style reclining seats, including lower leg supports on both sides, while the rear seats can also move forward and back to prioritize rear legroom and cargo space as needed.

The Ioniq 5 will also offer a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability that can supply up to 3.6 kW of power, which can power high-power equipment or even other EVs with the proper converter, though these converters have proven rare and relatively expensive up until now.

Though the advanced Ioniq 5 will no doubt be the most futuristic of the bunch, Hyundai will introduce three all-new plug-in crossovers to Canada this year, plus regular hybrid versions of the Santa Fe, Tucson and its popular Elantra compact car in 2021. The Kona and Kona EV will also receive a freshening for 2022, and is expected to arrive this spring, with a sleeker front end and a switch away from the dimpled front fascia the most noticeable change.

Story compiled using information provided by the manufacturer

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