The 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 starts at $41,245 in the United States and at $46,824 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included.
Good road manners, spacious cabin, attractive design.
Low-interest base trim levels, slippery door handles, turning radius could be better.
The 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Korean brand’s most recent fully electric vehicle, but certainly not the last, made in strong entrance in the U.S. and Canadian markets. In areas more favourable to EVs, such as California and the province of Quebec, we’re already seeing many of them on the roads, and it’s pretty tough not to notice them.
The IONIQ 5 is the first of a whole family of fully electric vehicles, which will soon be followed by the IONIQ 6 sedan. In the case of the IONIQ 5, we’re looking at a crossover that’s a little hard to categorize, as it’s bigger than a conventional compact vehicle, but boasts smaller exterior dimensions than those of the Hyundai Santa Fe. On the other hand, it rides on a long 118.1-inch or 3,000-millimetre wheelbase—the Hyundai Palisade’s is 114.2 inches or 2,900 mm long—which allows for midsize vehicle cabin space.
It might seem a little confusing, but here’s what we need to know: the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is bigger and more spacious than a Hyundai Kona Electric. The IONIQ 5’s base price is a few thousand dollars more than the Kona’s in the U.S., but only a few hundred dollars more in Canada, which partly explains its popularity. In fact, it’s so popular that available units on dealer lots are few and far between.
The U.S. lineup consists of the SE Standard Range, the SE Long Range, the SEL Long Range and the Limited Long Range, and all but the base variant can be upgraded with all-wheel drive. The Canadian market gets Essential, Preferred, Preferred Long Range and Preferred Long Range AWD, the latter being also available with an Ultimate package that tacks on a laundry list of extra features.
The base IONIQ 5 trims rely on a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, which produces 168 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. According to the automaker, the 0-60 mph or 0-100 km/h dash takes roughly 8.5 seconds. The 58 kWh battery pack provides a driving range of 220 miles or 354 kilometres on a full charge, which is more than adequate for the daily grind, and it takes 6.3 hours to recharge on a 240V outlet.
When choosing one of the Long Range variants, the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5’s electric motor gets an output boost to 255 horsepower, while torque is unchanged. The 77.4 kWh battery pack provides a range of 303 miles or 488 km, and it takes 8.5 hours to fully recharge it. Meanwhile, the IONIQ 5 with AWD benefits from two electric motors for a total output of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, and the 0-60 mph or 0-100 km/h sprint is cleared in a little over five seconds. Range drops to 256 miles or 414 km.
| Trim Level | MPGe City | MPGe Highway | MPGe Combined | kWh/100 Miles Combined | Range Miles |
| Standard Range RWD | 110 | 94 | 110 | 31 | 220 |
| Long Range RWD | 132 | 98 | 114 | 30 | 303 |
| Long Range AWD | 110 | 87 | 98 | 34 | 256 |
| Trim Level | Le/100 km City | Le/100 km Highway | Le/100 km Combined | kWh/100 km City | kWh/100 km Highway | kWh/100 km Combined | Range km |
| Standard Range RWD | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 16.2 | 22.4 | 19.3 | 354 |
| Long Range RWD | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 15.5 | 21.7 | 18.6 | 488 |
| Long Range AWD | 2.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 19.0 | 24.0 | 21.3 | 414 |
During our test of a fully equipped AWD variant, we observed a fuel consumption equivalent average of 102 MPGe or 2.3 Le/100 km—33.1 kWh/100 miles or 20.7 kWh/100 km.
As for the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5’s competition, the range of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6 are similar, while that of the Polestar 2 and the Volkswagen ID.4 vary between 245 and 275 miles or 394 and 435 km. the IONIQ 5 consumes slightly less energy than its rivals, save for the EV6 with which it shares its mechanical components.
A battery heat pump is included on AWD variants of the IONIQ 5 in the U.S., and in all trims except base Essential in Canada. That’s a good feature to have in colder temperatures as it heats up the system more quickly, which is turn makes the vehicle more efficient. The costliest trims also get bi-directional (V2L) charging, which means we can plug in electrical devices to the vehicle, which can become handy while camping, for example.
Cargo space is rated at 27.2 cubic feet or 770 litres with the rear seatbacks in place, and 59.3 or 1,680 litres with the rear seats folded down. That’s about the same as in the Mustang Mach-E, more than in the Polestar 2, less than in the ID.4.
Pricing ranges from $41,245 to $57,295 in the United States and from $46,824 to $62,824 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included.
What the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Does Well
- Draw attention. This new electric crossover, with its futuristic, yet 70s and 80s digital retro styling, stands out from the crowd of bland crossovers.
- Thanks to its flat floor, obstructed by the usual constraints of a conventional ICE drivetrain, the IONIQ’s cabin feels airy and offers the space of a midsize utility vehicle.
- Energy consumption is low, and driving range is quite high, reaching up to 303 miles or 488 in ideal conditions. A Tesla Model Y can do slightly better, but at a much higher purchase price.
- The IONIQ 5 has good road manners, and performance is quite interesting in the case of the AWD variants.
What the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Doesn’t Do Well
- The vehicle’s turning diameter could be better. At 39.3 feet or 12.0 metres, the IONIQ 5 isn’t the most manoeuvrable of EVs in a shopping mall parking lot. It could be worse.
- While the AWD variants’ twin engine setup is powerful and speedy, the base trim’s 168 hp motor might not cut it for some EV shoppers—who are expecting lively acceleration and gobs of instant torque from the get-go.
- We just can’t get used to the IONIQ 5’s retractable door handles. They’re actually not handles, but plastic sticks that are awkward to grab, and slippery too.
- While the U.S. model can be equipped with AWD from the SE Long Range trim up, only the range-topping Preferred Long Range variant can be had with all-wheel traction. It’s not a big deal in warmer climates, but a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with a torque-rich electric motor isn’t the best choice during the harsh Canadian winters. The IONIQ’s trim level range in Canada might not make sense, but it’s been cleverly planned out so that every one is eligible for provincial (where applicable) and federal green-vehicle rebates. Buyers in the U.S. are eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500.
Final Word
The 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is an interesting, low-roofline electric crossover that sets itself apart with its funky styling. It drives well and provides good cargo space, in addition to rear-seat room for the family.
It has other qualities as well, such as an easy-to-use infotainment system, but some minor shortcomings as well. The biggest problem, and this issue affects other EVs as well, is finding one right in dealer inventory right now—especially in areas where green-vehicle incentives are the highest.
