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Ioniq 5 - Copyright Hyundai

Hyunda Ioniq 5 UNIQ with long-distance qualities

The current Ioniq 5 is a technical treat in the field of 800 volt BEV vehicles. With some unusual ideas, it stands out as a new rival in the phalanx of electric SUV top dogs. It scores with many functional design elements that completely underline the E character. With its dimensions of 4,60 m in length and 1,90 in width, it is in the midfield. For this he uses the interior very consistently and offers five people enough space for long distances. At the latest when it comes to charging speed, the Ioniq also overtakes important competitors. A test in spring shows its qualities.

While the focus in recent years has been on larger battery capacities for long-distance journeys, the focus is now consistently shifting to optimizing consumption values ​​and, at the latest with the 800-volt platforms, to consistently fast charging processes. The long waiting times at the superchargers are history and with them the lunch breaks until the charging process is complete. The new high-voltage platforms use the superchargers with up to 350 kW, which means that 80% of the battery capacity can be reached in less than 20 minutes. A short coffee break and the next section of the motorway can be mastered.

Not only the loading qualities should be emphasized, but there are also some aspects worth noting when it comes to aerodynamics. The retractable door handles, the large-format clamshell bonnet and the optimized front look like they were made of one piece. This also has a positive effect on the low consumption values ​​in everyday use. The pixel-like structure of the front and rear lights, which are reminiscent of the beginnings of television telegames in their coarseness, are particularly striking.

aerodynamics

The very good aerodynamics has a small catch, the rear window of the trunk lid gets a lot of dirt in bad weather, but unfortunately there is no rear wiper. And the reversing camera also does not deliver good images on the monitor in bad weather. These points should be reworked in the next update.

The interior has the large amount of space already described above. However, the large legroom and the lack of a continuous center console also have disadvantages in terms of storage space. You have to look for practical shelves and the sliding glove compartment is a bit cumbersome for a quick search.

Ioniq 5 - lots of space for transport. CopyrightHyundai
Ioniq 5 - lots of space for transport. CopyrightHyundai

Bus Routes

Hyundai, on the other hand, has come up with a few clever details for transporting bulky goods. The sun blind element can be removed directly with a simple trick and the rear seat bench can not only be folded in, but can even be moved forward electrically by up to 13,5 cm. This allows the generous trunk to be quickly expanded.

When the rear bench seat has returned to its normal position, one sees the extended space available for the second row. Legroom and headroom also invite you to longer tours without restrictions. The longer tours can also be used practically for a picnic. With the optional bi-directional charging capability, a grill can be quickly connected. Two 230 volt connections are available, one is located under the rear seat bench, and another can even be used on the outside of the vehicle using an adapter. This can also be used to charge many cordless tools.

Ioniq 5 - range after 100% charge in spring 2023
Ioniq 5 – range after 100% charge in spring 2023

At the supercharger

The keyword charging still causes ambivalent feelings among many electric car drivers. From our own experience, we know only too well that not all charging processes work as quickly as intended. But even with the cool spring temperatures, we were able to top up with all superchargers from different providers with up to 250 kilowatts. This allowed the battery to be charged to a SOC of up to 80% in less than half an hour. This is very sporty and user-friendly and will probably also accommodate business customers in particular.

With the lavish selection of charging stations via navigation, the suitable and free supercharger can be selected directly. With the preconditioning of the battery, the promised charging performance is maintained when it arrives at the station. The display of the expected range after the charging process is relevant in practice. In our test, we were between 0 and 10 kilometers on the display in cool spring temperatures between 405 and 420 degrees Celsius with a full battery. This can be done when the ECO driving mode is set. When we switched to comfort or sport mode, up to 300 kilometers of actually driven kilometers were more the order of the day. A decent value compared to some competing models.

However, you have to take into account that consumption increases noticeably when driving above the recommended motorway speed of 130 km/h. The large frontal area of ​​the SUV sets clear limits and consumption increases accordingly to over 25 kWh per 100 kilometers. But the SUV is more suitable for long-distance cruising. Here you can also access the numerous assistance systems in a relaxed manner. With the adaptive cruise control, the easy-to-read head-up display and the blind spot warning, the essential functions are available on the motorway. This allows the long stretches of motorway to be mastered in a relaxed and safe manner.

Ioniq 5 - Central info display
Ioniq 5 - Central info display

Addendum

Images – Copyright Hyundai / green car magazine

Test from spring 2023

N. Hawthorn
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