The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Made Electric SUVs Interesting to Look At
Both reviews treat the design itself as the headline story here — a rare case of a genuinely striking EV that backs up its looks with real substance underneath.
Illustration for editorial purposes
Proof That Electric Cars Don't Have to Look Safe
Plenty of electric SUVs play it visually conservative, worried about alienating buyers still getting used to the technology. This one took the opposite bet, and reviewers keep treating that decision as a genuine turning point for how EVs get designed.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Electric SUV |
|---|---|
| Battery options | 60kWh or 77.4kWh usable |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive |
| 0–62mph | 8.5 sec (entry RWD) to 3.4 sec (Ioniq 5 N) |
| Claimed range | Up to 273 miles official |
| Price range (new) | From around £40,695 |
Full Review Summary
What Car?
What Car? rated the entry-level rear-wheel-drive version as their favourite in the range, praising a comfortable ride on 19-inch wheels that smothers bumps well by electric SUV standards, though noted low-speed thumps over potholes are more noticeable than in closely related rivals like the Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60. They specifically recommended avoiding the largest 20-inch wheel option, since it amplifies that low-speed harshness. Handling was rated behind the GV60 and EV6 for body control, with noticeable lean and reluctance to change direction quickly outside city driving.
Top Gear
Top Gear called it one of the standout electric car designs on sale, praising a shape that manages to hit pedestrian safety and aerodynamic targets while still looking genuinely distinctive rather than compromised by those constraints. They noted the car is considerably larger in person than photos suggest, closer to a Range Rover Evoque in size than the compact hatchback its proportions imply. The high-performance Ioniq 5 N variant, with up to 641bhp and a simulated gearchange feature, was singled out as a genuinely serious performance EV rather than a badge-engineering exercise.
Trims & Engines at a Glance
Only the Long Range battery can be paired with all-wheel drive — the entry-level Standard Range car is rear-wheel drive only. The extreme-performance N sits apart as its own halo model.
| Derivative | Engine | Power | Transmission | Body | 0–62mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ioniq 5 Standard Range RWD Advance | Single electric motor, RWD | 168bhp | Single-speed automatic | SUV | 8.5s |
| Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD Premium/N Line/Ultimate | Single electric motor, RWD | 228bhp | Single-speed automatic | SUV | 7.3s |
| Ioniq 5 Long Range AWD N Line/Ultimate | Dual electric motors, AWD | 325bhp | Single-speed automatic | SUV | 5.1s |
| Ioniq 5 N | Dual electric motors, AWD | 641bhp | Single-speed automatic | SUV | 3.4s |
All Long Range and N models get 800V ultra-rapid charging as standard. A broad exterior colour range is offered, with several premium metallic and matte finishes at extra cost. Check Hyundai's UK configurator for current pricing.
Strengths
- Genuinely distinctive, striking design
- Spacious, airy cabin with a raised seating position
- Comfortable ride at higher speeds on smaller wheels
- Broad range of trims, batteries and the genuinely serious Ioniq 5 N performance version
Weak points
- Handling trails closely related Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60
- Low-speed ride noticeably firmer than at higher speeds
- Larger than it appears in photos, which may surprise some buyers
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who want an electric SUV that actually looks distinctive rather than blending into the crowd, and who prioritise design and cabin space over the sharpest possible handling. Stick to smaller wheel sizes if ride comfort at low speed matters to you.
More Hyundai Reviews
Watch the Reviews
Hyundai Ioniq 5 review ↗ (same video, watch above ↗)