LOOKS

The 2025 Ioniq 5 XRT that I tested featured a beautiful black and white design with unique angles and creases, standout lighting, attractive front and rear designs, and off-road flavor.

Compared to its rivals in the compact EV crossover segment, it’s one of the more eye-catching options available, and won’t be confused for its rivals.

Exterior design features on the XRT model include: 18-inch XRT-exclusive alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, black rear spoiler and black trim elements, automatic LED headlights, roof side rails, and smart power liftgate. (NOTE: Other trims offer wheels as large as 20 inches)

Interior design on the Ioniq 5 is also solid. My test vehicle featured H-Tex synthetic leather seats with embossed XRT logos, a black headliner, all-weather floor mates, power front seats, heated seats on both rows, heated steering wheel, and automatic temperature control.

Overall you get a quality, roomy interior, but the materials used are a bit short of luxury level. But the tech setup is high-end and adds to the overall look of the vehicle. You get comfortable seating for all 5 passengers (even on long drives), including plenty of leg room and head room, but cargo space is smaller than average for the class (coming in at 27 cubic feet behind the second row, and 59 cubic feet with the rear row down).

There’s also a super tiny “frunk” under the hood, but it’s so small it will probably go unused. Inside the vehicle, there’s plenty of small spots to store your drinks and miscellaneous items.

HOW’S THE RIDE? 

Two main powertrain options are offered on the Ioniq 5, a rear-wheel drive option and an all-wheel drive version. With the RWD version, you’re dealing with 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. If you get AWD, which is standard on the XRT model that I tested, you get an impressive boost to 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet.

There’s also a special Ioniq 5 N model, which blows everything out of the water with up to 641 horsepower and 568 pound-feet.

My test vehicle was powered by a pair of electric motors (one in front and one in the rear), and an 84 kWh battery pack, and featured regenerative braking and one-pedal driving capability.

In my experience behind the wheel, the Ioniq 5 delivered a tremendous driving experience, the type that makes so many people fall in love with EVs over traditional ICE vehicles. It delivers effortless speed from a stop, offers a smooth and quiet ride, brakes instantly, and provides responsive performance on curvy roads. I looked forward to getting behind the wheel every time, as carving your way through traffic and speeding away on the open road can be done with ease.

Going fast quickly is something you can expect from an electric SUV. Base models with a single electric motor and rear wheel drive will take over 7 seconds to go 0 to 60 mph; but if you get the dual motor setup, your time drops to the mid 4-second level. Opting for the Ioniq 5 N will get you closer to 3 seconds.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Ioniq 5 offers one of the best overall driving experiences among all electric SUVs, especially with the dual-motor version.

It’s rare to see EVs offering off-road friendly features, but that is the case here. If you opt for the XRT version of the Ioniq 5, you’ll also get some enhanced off-road capability, including:
— Terrain Mode Selector, which lets you choose modes such as Snow, Mud, and Sand to optimize traction in various situations
— Nearly an inch higher ground clearance than other Ioniq 5 models (7 inches total)
— Redesigned front and rear bumpers to improve approach and departure angles in uneven terrain
— All-Terrain Tires
— Recovery tow hooks capable of pulling 5,834 pounds

In addition to the Terrain modes, regular drivers include Eco, Normal, Sport and a custom option.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The tech setup in the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is top-notch, and one of the most advanced you’ll find in any EV.

Its large, 12.3-inch touchscreen is easy to master, and you also get a 12.3-inch digital screen in front of the driver for your gauges and key info.

Voice commands also worked effectively, and there are simple touch buttons for climate controls, which I appreciated. All in all, the tech setup offered by Hyundai is one of the best systems out there right now.

Music options include AM, FM, HD radio and satellite radio (with 90-day trial), and sounds are routed through a Bose Premium Audio system.

Other tech features include: Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility for phone mirroring, wireless phone charger, Hyundai Digital Key, Bluelink Connected Services, Wi-Fi hotspot, and multiple USB ports.

In terms of safety features, the Ioniq 5 is also loaded. I was quite impressed with the Highway Driving Assist system that controlled the vehicle effectively, keeping it within the lane and slowing down for traffic as needed.

Also offered is an impressive birds-eye-view camera system to help in parking situations.

Standard driver aids include:
— Forward collision warning with automatic braking (including pedestrian detection)
— Adaptive cruise control 
— Intersection collision mitigation (warns of impending collision during a left turn and applies brakes)
— Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning
— Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers back into its lane if you try to change lanes into traffic) 
— Rear Occupant Alert
— Safe Exit Assist (warns of oncoming traffic as you exit the vehicle)

Additional safety features on the XRT include:
— Automated parking system
— Blind-spot camera
— Rear automatic braking
— Head-up display

RANGE, CHARGING

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 I tested delivered a strong 94 MPGe rating (103 city, 85 highway). The most efficient version of the Ioniq 5 (a rear-wheel drive version with a standard-range battery back) comes in at 131 MPGe city and 100 MPGe highway.

In terms of range, perhaps the most important element of an EV, the range on my XRT test vehicle was 259 miles. Depending which trim level you choose on the Ioniq 5, your range will be somewhere between 245 and 318 miles.

Assuming you are charging at home with a Level 2 charger, which I always recommend if you own an EV, these are respectable range numbers that should help you avoid any “range anxiety”. They are not class leading, but close enough that the difference is negligible.

And if you are charging in public, the Ioniq 5 can use the latest 350 kW DC fast chargers and go from 10 percent to 80 percent in roughly 20 minutes. It’s also designed to be capable of charging on Tesla’s Supercharger network.

PRICE

The trim levels offered on the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 are: SE, SEL, Limited and XRT. The Ioniq 5 I tested (an XRT trim model) was priced just over $58,000; and its base price starts at a competitive $43K.

It starts at a similar price as rivals such as the Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4, but is a bit more pricey than the base model of the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It’s also helpful that the Ioniq 5 is made in Georgia so it’s eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.

There’s also a separate, more powerful Ioniq 5 N model that is a true rocketship, and starts at $68K.

Most buyers will be satisfied with the lower trim levels, which are more affordable, but those who want some off-road chops might want to opt for the XRT model.

Add in Hyundai’s warranties, which are an industry best, and the deal gets even sweeter.

Warranties include:
— 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Warranty
— 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty
— 10-year/100,000-mile Electric Vehicle System Warranty
— 3-year/36,000-mile Complimentary Maintenance
— 5-year/Unlimited-mile Roadside Assistance

BOTTOM LINE

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 delivers a super sharp look, provides a fun, fast ride and offers solid range.

Add in a starting price that’s competitive and you have one of best electric SUV options available today.

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