Here are 5 reasons why we're charged up about the Hyundai Ioniq 5

Electric vehicles are coming, and you’d think we’d be nervous, but have you seen what brands are bringing in like the Hyundai Ioniq 5? If the future is electric and it looks like this, then sign us up! 

We’re hoping that the Ioniq 5 becomes a common sight on Philippine roads. With infrastructure improving and more charging stations being made available plus the incentives that come along with electric vehicle ownership, things are looking great, and the cars are looking even better. Today, let’s go over one such car that we can’t wait to see hit the mainstream, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. 

Futuristic isn’t even enough of a word to describe the Ioniq 5. Actually, “futuristic” is a bit cliche at this point, so it’s better off left unsaid. The word we really would like to describe the Ioniq 5 is gorgeous. It’s hard to give a full description of the model’s looks without mentioning the word futuristic. Presently, the model gives off a very robotic vibe, but it still seems to blend in well with the cars of today, just will a little bit of an over-the-top twist. 

Of course, it’s not a car purist’s dream design, but it’s definitely something that can catch your eye. Its taillights especially are something to write home about since it’s one of the first times we’ve seen something like this done on a car. Up close, you’ll notice a ton of details on the Ioniq 5, enough to really get you excited to drive it. Looks-wise, it’s a stunner of a vehicle, and that’s not even counting the fact that it is an EV. 

Perhaps Hyundai took inspiration from sci-fi movies when they were designing the interior of the Ioniq. We are spitballing here, however, since we’re going off just how we feel about the whole thing. When you step into the Ioniq, it certainly doesn’t feel like Marty McFly’s DeLorean since everything’s designed cleanly, all the wires are tucked nicely, and the interior is made with light colors to give you a very calm and clean look. 

Even with a forward-thinking interior design, traditional practicality was still retained. You can seat five people and their luggage at the back. If you’re transporting big things and not people, the rear seats can fold flat and give you a ton of rear space for bulkier items. In practice, it’s still a conventional five-seat vehicle so you won’t have to worry about changing up how you use a car that much (not that you have to anyway). 

If you didn’t know that this car was all-electric, then here is a friendly reminder. It is. Powered by an electric motor and mated to a single-speed reduction gear-type transmission, you can expect 214 hp and 315 Nm of torque. The Ioniq 5’s motor has more than enough to compete with the rest of the industry’s turbo engines. All of that power, however, is delivered to the road quietly and without hesitation, thanks to the instantaneous torque that electric vehicles are known to have. 

On top of that, you can leave your range anxieties at home thanks to the Ioniq’s wide range of… uhh… ranges. Depending on the variant that you get, you can expect up to 384 km on a single charge for the standard variant, and for the long-range variant, you can expect up to 451 km on a single charge. If you’re going to and from work, it’ll probably take a lot of days for you to run that full charge down. On longer road trips, the Ioniq will definitely have enough juice to take you out of town and bring you back home on a single charge, though, your mileage may vary. 

On that note, let’s talk about charging. If let’s say, you’re on a trip and you see that your battery level is down below a comfortable level, you can grab a quick coffee and top up your battery pack to 80 percent if a fast charger is available. 

Every Ioniq 5 will come with a fast charger that can plug into a wall charger just in case you’re not at home or if you’re on the road and in need of some juice. Now, this option should be enough if you’re just out on the road or if you’re staying in a hotel for the night and need a charge to get you through the rest of your trip. However and more surprisingly, the Ioniq 5 actually comes with a home charger that will allow you to charge faster in the comfort of your own home. All you need to do is have someone install it, and you’re pretty much good to go. 

On that note, once EV infrastructure improves in the country, you’ll be pleased to know that the Ioniq 5 can accommodate fast charging which is capable of bringing your battery percentage from 10 to 80 percent in only a matter of minutes. There is a port for that available, but until fast chargers become widespread, at least it’s there until you can eventually take full advantage of it. 

For the long-range variant, the Ioniq 5 comes in at P3,798,000 which is pretty expensive we will admit, but if you don’t need a ton of range to get through your day, the standard model will cost P3,068,000. Now, we know what you’re thinking, for that price you could get an exciting gasoline-powered car, or you could get one or two gasoline-powered cars. It's expensive, yes, but it's not that expensive if you consider other electric vehicles for now. 

Look, we understand that there is a price wall that EVs are hitting right now, but just look at the car. It’s definitely one of the flashier models out there and it carries a ton of premium features to really drive its value proposition home. You’re getting everything and the kitchen sink here plus that gorgeous look that accompanies it. It’s likely that there is a bit of an early adopter’s tax attached to the Ioniq 5 for now, but we’re definitely on board with how the future is shaping up after we got a close look at the Ioniq 5. Maybe down the line, once this guy gets more affordable, it would be a bit of a no-brainer to buy.