HYUNDAI has revealed an all-electric mid-sized crossover – the Ioniq 5 – that could be a real game changer.
With a potential range of nearly 300 miles, the Korean firm’s newcomer also has the ability to power up other devices.
The Ioniq 5 goes on sale here at £45,000 (after deducting the £3000 electric vehicle grant) for a limited-edition Project 45 version, with other versions to follow with lower price tags.
Two battery sizes will be available – 72.6kWh and 58kWh – both with either rear or all-wheel drive.
The most powerful version, with separate motors driving both front and rear wheels, has a combined output of 302hp and will hit 62mph in 5.2 seconds and touch 115mph.
The slower version, with a 58kWh, 168hp, rear-wheel-drive set-up, manages 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds.
A feature of the new Ioniq 5 is “vehicle-to-load” charging, where an owner could use power held in the car to energise the likes of electric bikes, scooters or camping gear.
With a 350kWh charger, the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. Users would only need to charge the vehicle for five minutes to get 62 miles of range, according to official WLTP figures.
The Ioniq 5 sits between the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs in terms of size and offers the spaciousness of a large passenger car, says Hyundai.
The long wheelbase allowed the designers to apply a “Living Space” theme to the interior, rather than a conventional car seating layout, with a movable centre console and loads of room to lie back and stretch out.
There are twin 12in screens on the dashboard featuring all the latest connectivity and sustainable materials have been used extensively. A full suite of advanced driver assistance and safety systems is also part of the package.
The newcomer provides 531 litres of boot space, which increases up to almost 1600 litres when the second-row seats are fully folded. Customers can also use a front loadspace that offers up to 57 litres of capacity.
It’s a head-turner, too, with plenty of sharp creases, clean surfaces – including auto-flush door handles, a clamshell bonnet and slim pixelated front and rear lights. Customers can reserve the introductory Project 45 edition online, with deliveries due this summer.
It includes all the new car’s technology and design features, such as a solar roof, 20in wheels and an advanced head-up display with augmented reality functions.
Hyundai is also offering each Project 45 customer a free two-year subscription to IONITY, which is a European-wide, high-power, charging network.
The marque’s global marketing chief, Thomas Schemera, said: “The Ioniq 5 will accommodate lifestyles without limits, proactively caring for customers’ needs throughout their journey.
“It is truly the first electric vehicle to provide a new experience with its innovative use of interior space and advanced technologies.”
