Sponsored Need Another Reason to Buy An EV? They’re Fun. The 2024 IONIQ 5 Proves It.

When the subject of EVs comes up, you tend to hear mostly about efficiency, environmental impact, and long-term affordability. And while it’s true EVs have those advantages, those aren’t the only reasons to go electric. A big one you don’t always hear about: they’re a blast to drive.

Electric vehicles are fun. From futuristic tech to lightning-fast pickups, EVs have all kinds of hidden benefits that make them some of the coolest vehicles around. You’ll find more unexpected storage space, a ton of power, and forward-looking and stylish designs in the EV segment—making them competitive offerings, too. To better understand what we mean, you don’t have to look further than our Best Electric Car of 2024, the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

The IONIQ 5 delivers on the fun factor while still being a smart and competitive purchase, which is probably one of the reasons it’s won more awards than any EV: including the World Car of the Year award as well as the World Car Design of the Year award, among many, many other accolades. The IONIQ 5 is a great example of how EVs can make the entire ownership experience something to enjoy.

Fast & Fun for Miles & Miles

Let’s start with a particularly exciting topic: performance. The IONIQ 5 can be had with one or two electric motors. In the single-motor, rear-wheel drive variant, you can get either up to 168 hp or up to 225 hp depending on the trim level. In the all-wheel drive variant, you get two electric motors that deliver up to 320 hp. That power comes instantly, too. In our own tests, the all-wheel-drive IONIQ 5 managed to hit 0-60 mph in just 4.72 seconds and sprint the quarter-mile in 13.14 seconds at 103.59 mph.

Pair the quickness of the IONIQ 5 with more than competent handling, and you have a truly fun-to-drive vehicle. Adding to the fun factor is the possibility of using regenerative braking for one-pedal driving. Toggling the paddles on the steering wheel allows you to choose the level of regeneration, which will add a bit of juice back into your battery while enabling you to drive the car simply with one pedal. While it takes some getting used to, it can be quite fun on the right trip.

The fun can last quite a while, too, with the long ranges the IONIQ 5 can travel on a full battery. The SE Standard Range trim can make up to 220 miles on a single charge. Step up to the SE, SEL, or Limited trims, and you can have the crossover with a range of either EPA-est. 303 miles (RWD) or EPA-est. 260 miles (AWD). There is also the exclusive D100 Platinum Edition, which is available in extremely limited quantities, and only available as the EPA-est. 260-mile variant.

Regardless of which model you choose, range anxiety is a thing of the past when behind the wheel of the IONIQ 5. The ample driving range offered across the lineup is a true confidence booster for any driver considering a switch to an all-electric vehicle.

Lightning-Fast Charging

The fun doesn’t stop for long once you’ve driven the full range of the battery. Thanks to Hyundai’s ultra-fast charging technology, you can plug your IONIQ 5 in and be back on the road in a matter of minutes.

The IONIQ 5’s battery can go from 10 percent to 80 percent on an ultra-fast charger in just 18 minutes. Using AC Level II, standard 240-volt changing, you’re looking at 5 hours and 50 minutes to go from 10 percent to 80 percent in the SE Standard Range trim level and 7 hours and 10 minutes in the SE, SEL, Limited, and D100 Platinum Edition trim levels.

What this really means is that at home, you can easily charge¹ your IONIQ 5 overnight on a standard 240-volt outlet. And if you need more juice throughout the day—say at the grocery store or while you’re on a road trip—you can park it at a fast charger and be ready to go by the time you’re ready to get back in the car. The IONIQ 5 can also remain on while you charge it, meaning you can connect your devices to get some work done or sit back and relax while streaming a show.

It’s also worth mentioning that IONIQ 5 buyers get two years of complimentary 30-minute charging sessions through Electrify America, which has charging stations across the country and continues to add more stations each year.

Retro-Modern Style

If you’re after unique styling, EVs tend to be the way to go. The IONIQ 5 is a great example of how Hyundai is choosing to bring novel and fun styling to its lineup. The IONIQ 5 does perhaps the best job in the industry of blending retro styling with modern design. The exterior of the vehicle is boxy and wide while still being sleek and modern. The EV blends some blocky graphics and lighting with sharp lines that make it stand out from the twisted and curved lines found on many of the competitors.

The IONIQ 5 looks like what we imagined cars of the future would look like years ago. While some of the other EVs on the market seem to try to look more like the transportation solutions of the future, the IONIQ 5 just tries to look like an attractive SUV, which it most certainly is. It incorporates some of the best elements of the Hyundai N Vision 74 concept car into a practical and attractive package that is eye-catching without being over the top.

Inside the car, you get less of that retro styling, but what you do get is a thoroughly modern and clean design that is well thought out with a spacious-looking cabin. The dashboard integrates technology well without it feeling like Hyundai just slapped a large screen behind the steering wheel or on the dash. In short, it’s as well-designed, attractive, and just as cool on the inside as it is on the outside.

Advanced Technology That Wows

We mentioned how the hardware is integrated seamlessly into the interior of the car, but now let’s take a deeper dive into what all the IONIQ 5 offers and how it helps this model stand out as a fun vehicle to own.

First and foremost we should talk about the technology that you’ll interact with while driving. The IONIQ 5 comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with an EV Technology Display and a 12.3-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system. You’ll find Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® are standard equipment, as is Bluetooth for up to two devices. The IONIQ 5 can also be had with a Premium Head-Up Display with Augmented Reality function, wireless device quick charging, Proximity Key entry with push button start, Hyundai’s Digital Key, in-vehicle WiFi hotspot, and Hyundai Pay², which allows paying for parking and charging from the driver’s seat.

The IONIQ 5 also comes ready for you to enable Bluelink+, which allows you to start and stop charging, lock or unlock doors, activate climate controls, and more from your compatible smartphone.
In terms of safety equipment and driving aids, the IONIQ 5 offers a ton of standard equipment. All trim levels come with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection and Junction Turning, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go Curve Control, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Rear Occupant Alert, High Beam Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist³. SE, SEL, and Limited Trims come with some additional features.

You might suspect that the IONIQ 5, being an EV, would have some unique features up its sleeves, and you’d be right. It offers the available Vehicle-to-Load 120-volt charging outlets⁴ to supply power inside and outside the vehicle. This makes tailgating, camping trips, and other outings so much easier and will help make the IONIQ 5 the literal life of the party.

Driving Stress-Free With the Best Warranty

Costly repairs and maintenance can take the fun out of owning any car, but you won’t have to worry about that with the IONIQ 5. Hyundai offers the IONIQ 5 with its renowned 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year or 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, and 5 years of 24-hour roadside assistance.

The IONIQ, being an EV, also benefits from a 10-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty. This strong battery coverage delivers assurance that EV ownership will feel familiar to drivers making the shift from their combustion engine models.

Additionally, new Hyundai vehicles come with a 12-month or 12,000-mile limited warranty on parts and accessories and Hyundai’s complimentary maintenance program, which will cover factory-scheduled maintenance intervals for three years or up to 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. With coverage like this, the IONIQ 5 is a worry-free EV to own.

Pricing That Everyone Can Enjoy

No car is fun if your bank account is empty and you can’t enjoy the places you drive to, so the price of the IONIQ 5 matters. The good news is it’s priced competitively for the segment. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 has a starting price of $41,800⁵. It is also eligible for federal and state tax credits, which would drop the price further.

For comparison to other vehicles in the segment, let’s take a look at the prices of the key competitors. The 2024 Mustang Mach-E has a starting price of $39,995. The Volkswagen ID.4 has a starting price of $39,735. The Tesla Model Y’s starting price is $44,990.

The IONIQ 5 beats the Tesla easily on price, but the Ford and the VW are priced to compete well. Still, once you look at the list of standard features, technology, and equipment that the IONIQ 5 offers in comparison, it comes out looking like the better deal. Not to mention the value of the IONIQ 5’s warranty and maintenance program. Add it all up, and you’re getting a lot of EV for your money. There’s a reason why pretty much every media outlet and automotive judge out there puts the IONIQ 5 at the top of the heap in this segment, and it’s because it’s simply a fabulous deal.