2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5

Test Vehicle:

2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT AWD

Powertrain: 84.0 kWh Battery Pack with two permanent-magnet synchronous motors 

Exterior Color: Digital Teal

Interior Color: Black H-Tex Seating

Options: Carpeted Floor Mats ($210)

MSRP as tested: $57,085 (With Destination & Delivery)

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a fully electric compact to midsize crossover that was first introduced in 2021 and sold under Hyundai’s “IONIQ” sub-brand, which is dedicated to electric vehicles. It is built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) which is also used for the IONIQ 6, Kia EV6, Kia EV9 and Genesis GV60. The IONIQ 5 has been well-received since its launch and has earned design awards such as “Car Design of the Year” and “World Car of the Year” awards among others.  It offers seating for five and is available in five trims known as SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and N. It comes in a variety of configurations including a standard range, long-range, RWD, AWD, and a performance version. 

New for 2025 it gets more range thanks to updated battery pack and Hyundai has added the North American Charging Standard port (meaning access to the Tesla Supercharger network). Also new is the XRT trim which has more rugged styling, a higher ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and more making it ready for some off-pavement adventures. Interior and tech refinements include a rearranged center console & HVAC controls, updated steering wheel, more physical buttons, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto now standard, and extra USB-C ports. Prices start at $42,600 for the SE Standard Range and climb to $66,200 for the IONIQ 5 N. Competition includes other electric crossovers like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, Volkswagen ID.4, and Tesla Model Y. I spent a week in the new IONIQ 5 XRT and here’s what stood out…

Exterior Style:

Since its debut, the IONIQ 5 has been known for its quirky, retro, digital styling cues. Perhaps the most standout feature are pixel-themed lighting elements. Hyundai calls them ‘Parametric Pixel LED Lights’ and they have a futuristic, yet retro fusion look to them. New this year, it gets some slight updates to the front and rear bumpers giving it a broader stance. It still maintains its clamshell hood, flush door handles and minimal overhangs which give it a very distinct look compared to other EVs. The profile resembles more of a beefed-up hatchback with sharper edges compared to many others that have a smooth roofline.  Around back the pixelated lighting elements stretch across the hatch with IONIQ 5 spelled across the center. New this year Hyundai has added a rear wiper for more practicality and made the spoiler larger.  

It is available with a variety of wheel designs and sizes that include 18”, 19”, 20” and 21”. Wheel designs have been refreshed to reduce drag and give it a more modern look. There are over eight different color options to choose from and new this year is a matte finish option. The colors are all more subdued versions of gray, blue, teal, and black. The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 does very well balancing futuristic design with practical updates. The exterior styling is distinctive and with the 2025 refresh, Hyundai has addressed some earlier criticisms (rear visibility, lack of wiper, efficiency) while enhancing the visual presence, especially with the new XRT.

XRT Trim:

The XRT brings rugged styling cues such as body cladding with a “digital camo” type texture, blacked-out badging and mirror caps, XRT badging, black window surrounds, and red tow-hooks. Outside of the regular palette of colors, there are two exclusive colors to XRT models that are Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl.  It gives the design more attitude and fits the vibe of dirt roads and trails. It rides slightly higher with a .9” lift over standard models and 7” of ground clearance. Unique 18” wheels are wrapped in 235/60 R18 all-terrain tires to give better grip on dirt/grave and have more rugged sidewalls. Inside it gets  H-Tex faux leather seats with a unique pattern and XRT logo, a black headliner, and all-weather floor mats with XRT badging. Performance wise it’s identical to the rest of the lineup outside a “Terrain Mode” selector specific to XRT — with settings like Snow, Sand, Mud.

Powertrains / Range:

The IONIQ 5 is available with two different battery pack sizes, giving it both a standard and long range. Standard Range RWD models come with a 63-kWh battery that delivers 168 horsepower and 258-pound feet of torque. These models will get around 245 miles of driving range. Long range models come with an 84-kWh battery and are available in either RWD or AWD. RWD models get 225 horsepower and will get up to 318 miles of driving range. AWD Long range models boost performance to 320 horsepower and 446-pound feet of torque. This model has an EPA range in the ballpark of 259-290 miles depending on wheel size, trim, and extras (XRT is toward the lower end). The newer battery packs are more energy dense in the 2025 refresh and support ultra-fast DC charging (~350 kW) when the infrastructure is available. Hence, you can recover significant range in a short stop. It has good regenerative braking capability, which helps extend range in city driving. Also battery preconditioning and climate control are well designed, helping reduce loss in extreme temperature conditions. Competitively it offers a good balance of power and efficiency.

Charging Time:

For DC fast charging, Hyundai claims the IONIQ 5 can charge from 10 % to 80 % in about 18 minutes when connected to a sufficiently powerful DC charger at 350 kW. For AC (Level 2) charging, the onboard charger is rated at about 10.9 kW, so full charging at typical home or public AC stations is slower. Hyundai also notes that at Tesla V3 Superchargers (via NACS/adapter), the IONIQ 5 may charge between 95 kW and 125 kW, depending on conditions. 

Handling / Performance:

The IONIQ 5 offers some impressive performance specs even at its base. To no surprise the IONIQ 5 N is the most impressive with an estimated 0-60 MPH time of around 3.25 seconds.  My test XRT model got from 0-60 MPH time in around 4.5 seconds, and the AWD single-motor/bigger battery version is said to do it in around 7.4 seconds. The IONIQ  5 delivers a stable and composed ride, absorbing bumps effectively. The XRT has more suspension travel and taller tire sidewalls that help damp out harshness. On highways and over long distances it behaves with composure, with road noise well managed. It feels nimble through turns thanks to all those batteries giving it a low center of gravity. The XRT’s off-road tires do, however, make grip less sharp and reduce cornering precision somewhat. The overall ride quality is impressively smooth and quiet. Because there’s no combustion engine, engine noise is gone. What remains (road noise, wind noise, tire noise) is well managed. Double-laminated glass and good insulation help especially at highway speeds. Steering effort is light which is common in EVs. It’s precise enough, though not super tactile. Overall, it has been one of my favorite EVs to drive. It’s relaxing and confident, especially in daily commuting / highway driving. It doesn’t demand constant attention, it soaks up disturbances, and gives you a smooth, “floating” sense.

Regenerative Braking:

Regenerative braking in the IONIQ 5 is quite sophisticated, giving drivers several ways to control how aggressively the car slows itself when you lift off the accelerator or use regen paddles. You can pick from several regen levels — from minimal (“coasting like a regular car”) to strong regen. “i-Pedal” is the most aggressive mode, which can bring the vehicle to a full stop using just the accelerator, without the brake pedal. There is also an automatic or “smart” mode (sometimes called “Smart Regenerative Braking” or “Smart Recuperation”) in which sensors (radar, etc.) and driving conditions (e.g. traffic ahead) affect how much regen braking is applied. The car will try to decelerate when a slower vehicle is ahead, etc.

Interior:

Hopping inside, you find a modern, spacious design that blends quality materials with high technology throughout. Hyundai uses a lot of eco-friendly materials: recycled PET in seatbacks and door armrests; textiles from wool & poly yarns; plant-based leather treatments in seats; sustainable fibers in carpets/headliners; and bio paints in trims. Materials are price appropriate and fit the aesthetic of the IONIQ 5.

Drivers face twin 12.3-inch displays with sharp visuals and easy access to key functions. The gear selector is moved behind the steering wheel, which helps clean up the center stack and frees up space. The central infotainment touch screen handles things like smartphone integration and navigation, while the digital gauge cluster offers clear, customizable driver information. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto gained wireless functionality for 2025, making IONIQ 5 more with the times than in previous model years. Some physical buttons were added back (for quick access to functions like heated seats, heated steering wheel, etc.) which will please those that prefer them instead of the touch controls in the infotainment screen.

The center console slides back/forth, allowing more flexibility for front passengers, easier ingress/egress, and better use of space. Up above is a large glass roof (in higher trims) that helps add openness, light, and a less claustrophobic feeling. The glass roof, however, does not open for fresh air. 

Seating: 

The two-row IONIQ 5 seats five, with standard amenities like cloth upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated front seats. A flat floor and long wheelbase create an airy cabin with plenty of space for occupants in both rows. The front seats are soft and supportive, offering the ability to recline with footrests, adding an element of luxurious relaxation. There is plenty of head, shoulder, and leg room giving you plenty of room to breathe and spread out. 

The rear seats slide (in most trims) up to about 135 mm forward-or-back. This lets you balance more cargo volume or more rear legroom depending on your needs. Head and shoulder room is better than most competitors in the class. Rear seats have a higher floor relative to seat base, so rear passengers (especially with long legs) may notice less under-thigh support. Rear visibility is slightly compromised as the rear pillars are thick and the roof line slopes. 

Options include synthetic leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory settings, ventilated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, a front sliding center console and a rear center armrest. It also comes with two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a teth anchor for the rear middle seat for installing car seats. 

Cargo:

There is 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet when those seats are folded flat. Up front there is a small compartment under the hood is storage space large enough to hold the charging cable or some small items. Also available is a hands-free power liftgate. Overall cargo space is average for the class, but the versatility makes it very useful for everyday living. 

Safety / Driver Assistance:

Regardless of trim, the IONIQ 5 comes with an impressive list of standard safety and driver assistance features.  All models come with:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
• Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Follow Assist
• High Beam Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• Forward Atention Warning
• Safe Exit Assist
• Rear Occupant Alert

Also available on higher trim models is Highway Driving Assist which is a semi-autonomous cruise control that includes lane centering, adds assistance with lane changes, and navigation-based control.  It also maintains its position on the road around curves on highways. Other features include blind-spot view monitor, surround view monitor, parking collision-avoidance, and an advanced rear occupant alert.  Worth noting that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2025 Ioniq 5 a Top Safety Pick+. 

Final Statement:

Hyundai took their time in developing the IONIQ 5 and it shows. It’s thoughtfully laid out inside with ample room in front and back. The technology works well and has continued to evolve since its introduction. The addition of the N trim and XRT have expanded the lineup to appeal to a broader audience. It’s the whole package and everything works well to make this a top pick among electric vehicles. Its retro, digital themed design stands out in the parking lot and gives it a unique appeal.