2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Buyers Guide
Here's our guide to navigating the variants and options on offer with the 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Electric Vehicle under $100,000
Picking a clear winner for 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Electric Vehicle Under $100K presented no easy challenge for our judges. The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 managed to separate itself from the pack.
Because the Ioniq 5 uses a dedicated electric vehicle platform, the interior is all about open space with a flat floor and maximum distance between the front and rear seats. The Hyundai gives family space on the inside, something its class competitors; the Volvo XC40, Polestar 2, and Mazda MX-30 couldn’t replicate.
It also carries a clean, fresh interior design. If you’re into the current trend of open air interior decor the Ioniq 5 mimics home trends and puts them on wheels.
A large part of the Ioniq 5’s lure is the sheer simplicity of the vehicle line-up. There’s just one specification, the only buyer choice is between two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, with single motor and dual motor propulsion respectively.
If you value driving range, the Ioniq 5 2WD offers the flexibility of a claimed 451km of touring range, but the 160kW single motor delivers acceleration more like a typical mid-size SUV. Capable of 0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds, the Ioniq 5 2WD is no slouch, but it’s not the performance pick.
Without losing out on the more practical aspects, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD can still cover 430km, but runs to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds.
Either option gives you a fully-loaded equipment list with dual 12.3-inch infotainment and instrument screens, Bose audio, heated and cooled front seats and steering wheel, leather trim, electric front seats, powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, plus a comprehensive safety suite and five-star ANCAP rating.
Pricing for the Ioniq 5 2WD starts from $71,900, while all-wheel drive pushes up to $75,900, both before options and on-road costs.
Our pick: Hyundai Ioniq 5 2WD
There’s really no bad choice in the Ioniq 5 line-up, given how simple the range actually is.
For most buyers, the extra performance of the all-wheel drive model won’t make a significant difference in day-to-day driving.
The handy extra range of the two-wheel drive may not be crucial for commuting, but opens up some extra freedom on weekend road trips.
Away from home 350kW ultra-fast charging capability means it’s possible to top up 100km of range in as little as five minutes, or get from 10 to 80 per cent in just 17 minutes.
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