2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Test Drive and Review

An instant icon gets more range and features.

Christian Wardlaw | 

Mar 16, 2023 | 11 min read

Christian Wardlaw

History may prove the Hyundai Ioniq 5 as an inflection point in personal transport, a defining 21st-century vehicle that set new standards in design, performance, and consumer electric vehicle adoption in the same way the Tesla Model 3 did. That's my opinion, of course, but it isn't hyperbolic. After all, the Ioniq 5 has won numerous awards since Hyundai debuted it for the 2022 model year.

As the first Hyundai built on the automaker's electric global modular platform (E-GMP), the Ioniq 5 is a proof of concept, along with the Genesis GV60 and Kia EV6, which use the same component set. Where I live in Southern California, I see all three regularly, changing an automotive landscape where it's not unusual to count a white or black Tesla sitting at all four points of an intersection.

I've been eager to drive the Ioniq 5, and the stars recently aligned. Hyundai provided a 2023 Ioniq 5 in Limited trim all-wheel drive with a set of floor mats, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to about $58,000, including the destination charge. I drove the crossover SUV in my home state, sticking to the Los Angeles region.

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The Limited tops a four-trim model lineup. The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 also comes in SE Standard Range, SE, and SEL trim levels, and base prices range from the low $40,000s to the mid-$50,000s, including the destination charge. Hyundai builds the Ioniq 5 in Ulsan, South Korea.

For 2023, the Ioniq 5 gets a standard battery warmer system and seat-belt reminder system, and Hyundai expands the availability of Digital Key to the SEL trim in addition to the Limited. In addition, all but the SE Standard Range receive increased towing capacity to 2,300 pounds, and the all-wheel-drive versions are more efficient and offer 10 more miles of EPA-estimated driving range than the 2022 version, 266. New Gravity Gold Matte paint also debuts.

Hyundai is facing more EV competition in 2023. The Nissan Ariya, Subaru Solterra, and Toyota bZ4X join existing alternatives, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4, and Hyundai's own Kia EV6.

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2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5: The Design

Design defines the Hyundai Ioniq 5. From the exterior lighting details and Z-shaped character lines on the doors to the open, airy, and unusual interior, it's like rolling art. You might not like it, but you'll likely admit that it pushes boundaries compellingly. Hyundai has taken this opportunity to rethink what a car can be, and I applaud them for it.

In addition, the interior exudes craftsmanship. Hyundai beautifully executes the materials, the detailing, and the experience of using and driving the Ioniq 5. In the SE trims, stain-resistant cloth upholstery is standard. The SEL and Limited get artificial leather that looks and feels like the real thing.

Every Ioniq 5 has height-adjustable, heated front seats. In addition, the driver's seat offers eight-way power adjustment, and with Limited trim, the front passenger's seat provides the same setup. Limited trim also includes front seat ventilation and a somewhat gimmicky “relaxation” function for the driver's seat. You can recline and rest your legs while waiting for the Ioniq 5 to recharge, but maybe not if you have long legs like mine.

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Thanks to the Ioniq 5's skateboard-style platform, the interior floor is flat, making the cabin feel open, airy, and spacious. Undoubtedly, the Limited's panoramic sunroof helps. In addition, the rear seat is roomy for adults, and unlike in many vehicles, you can easily use the center seating location thanks to the flat floor.

A dual-zone automatic climate control system offers a “driver only” setting to add efficiency, and truly elegant rear air vents help keep back-seat passengers comfortable. The test vehicle's rear seating area also had dual USB charging ports and side window shades that covered all of the glass. The seat also slides to make extra room for cargo and reclines for added passenger satisfaction.

Interior storage space is excellent. Highlights include a sliding configurable front center console, a tray at the bottom of the dashboard, a large glove compartment, and elegant backlit slots in each armrest. A hands-free “smart” liftgate recognizes the key fob's presence and powers open to reveal 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the back seat down to create 59.3 cu-ft of volume.

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Unfortunately, the Ioniq 5's trunk is not very deep, and the cargo cover gets in the way. In addition, there is no storage on either side of the load floor, and Hyundai doesn't supply any hooks for plastic grocery bags. These oversights are unexpected, considering the thoughtfulness the automaker put into the rest of the car.

Don't plan to use a roomy front trunk — a frunk — or a sizable underfloor storage area. The Ioniq 5 has both, but neither is large or practical.

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2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5: The Technology

Step into a Hyundai Ioniq 5, and two 12.3-inch displays greet you. One is for the digital instrumentation, and the other is a touchscreen providing access to the infotainment system. Both are intuitive and easy to use if you are familiar with smartphones.

Standard features include simultaneous Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluelink connected services with a complimentary three-year subscription, satellite radio, and a navigation system. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not wireless, another of the few head-scratchers associated with the Ioniq 5.

Choose the Ioniq 5 SEL for wireless smartphone charging and Digital Key technology that turns an Android smartphone into the vehicle's key. Limited trim adds a Bose premium audio system, but it doesn't sound as good as it should.

Bluelink encountered a problem during the evaluation, rendering the voice recognition inoperative because the system wasn't getting a response from a server. During a second try, it quickly and accurately responded to my test queries and commands with two exceptions. First, it could not find reggae music on SiriusXM, which is Channel 19. Second, when asked to set the climate control to 70 degrees, it turned everything up to the highest heat setting.

The Ioniq 5 Limited has a terrific head-up display that shows a long list of useful data, including when other vehicles are in the crossover SUV's blind spots.

The menu of standard safety features is equally long and includes the driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies you would expect in a modern automobile. Among the more unusual features is a safe-exit-assist system that warns occupants when it might be unsafe to open a door and exit the Ioniq 5. An intersection-turning-assist system is also standard, attempting to prevent collisions when turning with cross traffic.

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With the Ioniq 5 SEL, Hyundai adds front parking sensors, a front cross-traffic-assist system, and a more sophisticated version of Highway Driving Assist. Limited trim includes a surround-view camera, a camera-based Blind-Spot View Monitor that supplements the standard active blind-spot monitoring system, and a Remote Smart Parking Assist feature that can autonomously park the Ioniq 5 in a parallel or perpendicular parking space. You can even operate parking assist while standing outside of the vehicle.

My Limited test vehicle's Highway Driving Assist 2 technology provided excellent semi-autonomous driving capabilities. It pairs adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist and lane-change assist and is smooth and refined in most situations. You must hold the steering wheel, but the sensors detecting that the driver is doing so are sensitive enough that you can seemingly do so from any portion of the rim. On curvy sections of highways, HDA2 seems a little less sure of itself, and in heavier traffic, its behavior can cause impatience in motorists following the Hyundai. But overall, it demonstrates excellence.

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If a collision is unavoidable, take note of the Ioniq 5's four-star frontal-impact crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also gets a four-star side-impact result for the driver. In other respects, the Ioniq 5 earns five-star crash-test ratings.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety called the 2023 Ioniq 5 a Top Safety Pick+ for the 2022 calendar year. Be sure to check for updates on the website to see if that rating carries forward to the 2023 calendar year.

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2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5: The Drive

Three powertrain configurations are available for the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. They include rear-wheel drive (RWD) standard range, RWD long range, and all-wheel-drive long range.

The most affordable Ioniq 5 is the SE Standard Range. It has a 125-kW rear electric motor and a 58-kWh battery pack providing 220 miles of range. Output measures 168 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. The EPA's ratings for the 2022 model, the latest ratings available, says it will use 31 kWh of energy for every 100 miles of travel, 3.2 miles per kWh.

Choose SE, SEL, and Limited trim for a more powerful 168-kW rear electric motor and larger 77.4-kWh battery. This setup supplies 225 hp and 258 lb.-ft., the range is 303 miles, and the EPA efficiency rating is 30 kWh/100 miles, or 3.3 mi/kWh.

A dual-motor AWD drivetrain is an SE, SEL, and Limited trim option. It employs a 74-kW front motor, a 165-kW rear motor, and a 77.4-kWh battery and produces 320 hp and 446 lb.-ft. Range measures 266 miles, and an Ioniq 5 AWD earns an EPA efficiency rating of 34 kWh/100 miles, or 2.9 mi/kWh.

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All Ioniq 5 models are compatible with 350-kW/800-volt DC fast chargers and, according to Hyundai, recharge from 10 to 80 percent in about 18 minutes. Use a Level 2 240-volt home charger, and it takes between five hours and 50 minutes (standard range) and seven hours and 10 minutes (long range), according to Hyundai. In addition, Limited trim equips the crossover with a vehicle-to-load two-way charging system that can power smaller electrical appliances.

Drivers can choose between Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes. Three levels of brake regeneration are also available, and one-pedal driving allows you to drive the Ioniq 5 without using the brake pedal. Instead, you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal to bring the crossover to a stop. It takes some practice, but it's fun once you get the hang of it.

I used the Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes and Level 2 brake regeneration during the evaluation drive. The Ioniq 5 had 157 miles of remaining range and a 65% battery charge when I departed on my driving loop. Up to that point, the Hyundai was averaging 3.1 mi/kWh, and because nobody had ever reset one of the trip computers, my Ioniq 5 had averaged 3.2 mi/kWh over its 1,400-mile lifetime.

Overall, the Ioniq 5 Limited AWD proved enjoyable to drive in every situation. At speed on the highway, some wind noise filters into the cabin from behind the front seats. In addition, on rumpled pavement and speed humps, there is a bucking motion from the rear end that I've experienced in both the Genesis GV60 and the Kia EV6, so it appears to be an inherent trait of the E-GMP platform.

Because it is comfortable and effortlessly quick, the Ioniq 5 is an excellent daily driver. Switching between the driving modes significantly impacts the Ioniq 5's behavior. Eco mode strongly encourages efficient driving, while Sport mode adds plenty of playful spirit. I preferred Normal mode in all situations.

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On winding mountain roads, the Ioniq 5 offers good handling, but the tires start to lose grip sooner than expected. The test vehicle also displayed more body roll and motion than is typical for an EV, especially when traveling on imperfect pavement. However, rumors suggest Hyundai is developing an Ioniq 5 N performance model, which should resolve these traits.

At the end of my drive, I visited my local bank of 150-kW fast-charging stations. The Ioniq 5 had a 33% battery charge and 78 miles of range left, and I had averaged 2.9 mi/kWh. After plugging in and starting the charging session, the Hyundai's display told me it would take 23 minutes to reach 80 percent and 50 minutes to achieve a full charge. (The station was charging at only 63 kW.) After lunch with a friend, I returned, and the Hyundai had a 98% charge and 246 miles of indicated range.

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Is the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 a Good Electric SUV?

In my opinion, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an excellent EV suffering only a few flaws. Furthermore, in addition to its sense of style, thoughtful accommodations, and impressive E-GMP platform and component set, there is value in the Ioniq 5 even if it is no longer eligible for a federal income tax credit. (Rules are in a state of flux. Check for updates with the Internal Revenue Service.)

Hyundai keeps the SE Standard Range in the lineup this year, while corporate cousin Kia has canceled the similar EV6 Light trim level for 2023. Every new Hyundai comes with complimentary scheduled maintenance and Bluelink connected services for three years. Hyundai also provides two years of complimentary 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America stations.

If you're considering a new EV, the 2023 Ioniq 5 deserves consideration. If you like the styling, of course.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Christian Wardlaw

My first word was “car.” That’s what I’m told, anyway. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. I’m a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but I’m also most interested in the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. Anybody can tell you that a sports car is fast. What you need to know is whether or not you should buy that new SUV, and why. My life purpose is to help you make that decision.