Hyundai IONIQ 5’s Long List of Quirks

The new EV on the block is full of cool, innovative design features

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is one of the most interesting cars to come out this year. An all-electric SUV that’s like an amusement park full of wonders, it’s no wonder Top Gear awarded it with Best Design at their Electric Awards.

Top Gear’s Jack Rix said “The IONIQ 5 looks like an Eighties hot hatch that’s been beamed into the future.” and we couldn’t agree more. Just like the Honda e, the IONIQ 5 plays heavily on its retro styling, with dot-matrix LEDs on the rear lights making owners feel like they’ve just driven off with a prop from the set of Alien.

Other exterior quirks include a built-in solar panel roof which helps keep the cars battery topped up, auto-flush door handles for optimal aerodynamics (and style), an active front vent on the front bumper and 19” alloy wheels which come as standard!

Speaking of standard spec, the IONIQ 5 is very generous with what you get even in the base models. Gorgeous 19” wheels, interior mood lighting, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, rearview camera are all included at no extra cost. Furthermore, all specs are fitted with 800V charging battery which allows for super rapid charging, given you can find a high KW charger.

With a 350 kW charger, the IONIQ 5 can charge from 10% all the way to 80% charge in just 18 minutes. Perhaps that will help to eliminate the range anxiety people have and it could even help persuade the EV nay-sayers that say they’re not viable for long journeys.

This special electric SUV is also available as a RWD and AWD car, with the top-spec boasting around 300hp and a 0-62mph time of just 5.2 secs. The range for the 73kWh rear-wheel-drive model is around 300 miles.

Inside the car is where most of the fun is, with cool and unexpected features like a sliding glove compartment, built-in footrests on the front chairs and slide-adjustable rear seats can be found. The front seats can also full recline but not as you would expect. The base of the chair also reclines so your legs are somewhat raised and the full comfort of the footrests can be taken advantage of. 

The seats are comfy, the materials are nice and the air is pure inside the IONIQ 5, thanks to an active air purifier system and After Blow system which manages the air quality for those enjoying the serenity of the interior. Eco-materials are widely used, ranging from recycled PET bottles to plant-based (bio PET) yarns used to make up the seats, headliner, door trim, floor and armrest.

To seal the deal on the retrofuturistic aesthetic, the centre console is comprised of two large screens placed on one single frame, just like in modern Mercedes. Next to the screen is a magnetic panel you can pin photos, notes or receipts to as well! What haven’t they thought of?

In terms of features, is this cooler than a Tesla? Let us know, in the comments.

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