2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Review: A Welcome Return to Tactile Controls

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 occupies the mid-size electric crossover segment. It arrived on the market several years ago to challenge the established order, and the recent mid-cycle update aims to keep it relevant against aggressive competition. The exterior dimensions place it squarely between traditional compact hatchbacks and large sport utility vehicles, making it a versatile option for suburban buyers. It competes directly with the Kia EV6, a corporate sibling that shares its underlying architecture and starts at 44,990 EUR in Germany. Other primary rivals include the Tesla Model Y, carrying a base price of 44,990 EUR, and the Volkswagen ID.4 Pure, available from 40,335 EUR. Buyers in this segment are typically looking for primary family vehicles, placing heavy demands on interior space, build quality, and long-distance charging capability. The base 63 kWh version of the Ioniq 5 is priced at 44,900 EUR in the German market, while the high-performance N variant commands 74,900 EUR.

The manufacturer claims the 84 kWh rear-wheel-drive version achieves a WLTP range of 570 kilometres. These laboratory estimates suggest a highly capable long-distance vehicle, though actual efficiency will always vary depending on environmental factors. The aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.28 helps the vehicle cut through the air at highway speeds, even with its decidedly angular, retro-futuristic styling. Achieving such a drag coefficient required flush door handles, active air flaps in the front bumper, and careful management of airflow under the chassis. A standard heat pump is included to mitigate energy loss during colder months.

Real-world range typically falls 15 to 30 percent below WLTP figures, depending on driving style, ambient temperature, and average speed. At a sustained 130 km/h on the highway in mild weather, automotive testing databases indicate a practical range of roughly 380 kilometres is a realistic expectation. Higher speeds force the electric motors to overcome exponential aerodynamic drag, draining the battery noticeably faster than secondary road driving. In mixed rural and suburban driving, the efficiency improves drastically as aerodynamic drag becomes a non-issue. Urban environments with frequent regenerative braking should yield closer to 500 kilometres on a single charge.

Power is stored in an 84 kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery pack. This specific NMC 811 chemistry offers high energy density, allowing for extended range without dramatically increasing the physical footprint or weight of the cells inside the floorpan. The trade-off is that NMC batteries degrade slightly faster when kept at maximum capacity for long periods, meaning daily charging should be limited to 80 percent to prolong long-term lifespan. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, found in some competing base models, do not share this limitation, but they suffer from lower energy density and poorer cold weather performance. Cold weather performance in this vehicle is managed by an active liquid thermal management system. This system automatically preconditions the cells, warming them to their optimal operating temperature prior to arrival at a navigation-selected fast charger.

The 800-volt electrical architecture permits DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 18 minutes.

The vehicle rests on the dedicated Electric Global Modular Platform. Hyundai opted to place the heaviest components, including the battery pack, flat within the floorpan to lower the center of gravity and free up interior volume. The wheelbase stretches to a full three meters, a dimension normally reserved for full-size luxury sedans, pushing the wheels to the absolute corners of the chassis to minimize overhangs. The facelift introduces structural reinforcements to the body shell, specifically adding high-strength steel around the B-pillars and rear doors, to improve overall torsional rigidity. This added stiffness gives the suspension tuning more precise control over wheel movement, preventing the chassis from flexing under heavy cornering loads. Thermal management routes excess heat from the motors to warm the cabin, reducing reliance on the high-voltage battery and preserving range in the winter. A single permanent magnet synchronous motor sits on the rear axle in this specific rear-wheel-drive configuration.

The chassis engineers employ a MacPherson strut setup at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear. For the recent update, the dampers were retuned to reduce noise and vibration transmission, and a new frequency-sensitive valve was added to the shock absorbers. The resulting ride prioritizes compliance over aggressive body control. Bumps and expansion joints are absorbed smoothly, without sending harsh impacts into the passenger space, even on optional 20-inch wheels. The vehicle maintains composure during steady cornering, though the two-tonne mass of the battery and chassis becomes evident during rapid directional changes. The braking system blends regeneration and physical friction seamlessly, avoiding the unpredictable pedal feel found in some hybrid and electric vehicles. The steering rack remains light and isolated from road surface textures.

Inside the cabin, the layout uses a flat floor design and a sliding center console. The lack of a traditional transmission tunnel allows occupants to easily slide across the front row, a minor convenience that proves useful in tight parking spaces. Interior materials rely heavily on recycled alternatives, utilizing plastics salvaged from the ocean for the seat fabrics and plant-based extracts for the door panel paint. The dashboard features dual 12.3-inch displays that now support wireless smartphone integration alongside the native navigation software. It is here that the manufacturer has made a deliberate retreat from recent automotive trends. In hindsight, burying essential controls in digital sub-menus was an industry-wide mistake, and the designers have acknowledged this by installing a new row of physical buttons below the screens. Operating a touchscreen while navigating heavy traffic is akin to typing a complicated email while jogging on a treadmill, as it demands visual focus that compromises safety. The tactile feedback of a physical switch allows drivers to build muscle memory, keeping their eyes firmly on the road ahead. The younger generation, like my son, does not seem to mind the endless digital menus, however, tactile controls are objectively superior for driver attention. The climate interface, seat heating, and steering wheel warmth are now fully operable via these physical switches.

A rear window wiper has been added for the 2025 model year. The initial design omitted this component under the assumption that aerodynamic airflow would clear the glass, which proved entirely false in wet conditions and frustrated owners for years. The exterior styling retains the angular, pixelated lighting signatures that define the model family, though the front and rear bumpers have been subtly reprofiled to reduce aerodynamic drag. New alloy wheel designs have also been introduced to slice through the air more cleanly. Cargo volume measures 520 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,580 litres when the seats are folded flat. A small front trunk provides an additional 57 litres of storage, perfectly sized for a charging cable or a small emergency kit. Rear seat passengers benefit from the flat floor, enjoying vast amounts of legroom even when seated behind tall drivers. The front seats can recline into a lounging position, deploying a calf support for resting during extended charging stops.

The platform has been in service since 2021, providing historical data on drivetrain durability and common failure points. Electric motors are mechanically simple, and the permanent magnet units used here have proven to be robust over high mileage, with almost no reports of premature mechanical wear. Early production models did experience failures with the Integrated Charging Control Unit, which could interrupt charging or drain the 12-volt accessory battery entirely. The manufacturer addressed this with software updates and a hardware recall campaign across global markets. Suspension components on heavy electric vehicles generally wear out faster than on internal combustion cars, meaning bushes and control arms will likely require inspection earlier in the vehicle’s lifespan. Electric vehicle brakes can also suffer from surface rust due to lack of use, as the regenerative braking does most of the daily deceleration. The physical buttons in the cabin also reduce the risk of a single touchscreen failure eliminating access to crucial vehicle functions. The 2025 iteration reportedly features an updated charging control unit to resolve those early production flaws.