Hyundai has up to date its Korean web site with particulars concerning the anticipated refresh of its in style Ioniq 5 EV, with solely minor modifications from the unique design however numerous new options on the within.
We’ve been anticipating a refresh to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and an obvious facelift was noticed testing final yr, full together with your commonplace ugly automaker camouflage masking up the doorways and bumpers.
Now the veil has been lifted on the refresh and… it appears to be like fairly related. However the refresh comes with numerous new options, specifically some fixes for lots of the varied shortcomings of an in any other case glorious automobile.
The main points are all out there on Hyundai’s web site, but it surely’s in Korean solely. The American web site has not but been up to date with the brand new particulars, and all the pieces we speak about right here is on the Korean model, and will or could not make it to the US model. We are able to think about numerous these modifications shall be carried over, however there could also be some variations in what’s out there in every market.
Exterior modifications embody new colours, some modifications across the entrance fascia together with extra “pixel” motif particulars and an exterior cost standing indicator, and a barely bigger rear spoiler above the rear window. The modifications to the bumpers imply the automobile is now 20mm (.8 inches) longer than the earlier mannequin.
The Korean model of the automobile can also be getting some modifications to the “digital facet mirrors,” that are digital cameras instead of the facet view mirrors, which aren’t out there within the US.
There are extra exterior modifications for the upgraded “N line” model, specifically completely different bumpers, body-color trim on the wheel arches and door panels, 20-inch wheels and N line badging.
Person expertise has been improved with entry to Hyundai’s “Digital Key 2” which helps you to use your telephone or Apple Watch to lock and unlock the automobile. Ioniq 5 additionally has walk-away door locks (although these would possibly solely operate with the important thing fob, not the digital key?)
And naturally the biggest change on the outside is the addition of a rear window wiper. This was an enormous oversight on the unique automobile, which numerous homeowners and potential patrons lamented the absence of. The refresh will get a wiper on the rear, so that you received’t have to fret about your rear window getting dirty anymore.
However the true modifications come contained in the automobile, with the largest change being the addition of about 7kWh of battery, bringing the automobile as much as 84kWh of capability (from 77.4kWh). The Ioniq 5 was beforehand rated at 458km (285mi) vary in Korea, and the battery enhance bumps that ranking to 485km (301mi).
We don’t have EPA vary numbers out there but or know if Hyundai will maintain again a few of this capability, however we are able to think about this modification will enhance EPA vary from its present 270mi to someplace within the mid-high 280s.
Regardless of the bigger battery, Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 has had a slight enchancment in cost efficiency and due to this fact will nonetheless cost from 10-80% in 18 minutes, sustaining what’s principally the perfect quick charging efficiency out there proper now.
Different mechanical modifications embody improved sound and vibration dampening, which ought to make for a smoother trip and fewer motor and street noise.
On the inside, a variety of new options have been added. The steering wheel has been redesigned with 4 “pixel” lights within the middle that are used as cost indicators or indicators for the voice recognition system – and likewise has one thing known as “arms on detection,” which we presume is a few form of driver alertness characteristic.
The sliding middle console is barely redesigned, with the addition of USB-C ports, relocation of the smartphone charging pad, and bodily buttons for some often used automobile options just like the seat heater/ventilator.
And for different inside useful modifications, a button has been added within the trunk to fold the rear seats down, making it simpler to load giant issues into the automobile from the rear. And the glove compartment has been redesigned – it was “drawer-like” and now it folds down like a typical glove compartment, a change which can come begrudgingly for some.
However maybe the largest inside change isn’t seen, it’s in software program. The Ioniq 5 is gaining access to Hyundai’s “Related Automobile Navigation Cockpit” software program (which implies wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto) together with… over-the-air updates!
This can be a new characteristic for Ioniq 5, although it’s already current on the Ioniq 6 sedan. The updates received’t simply be for vital security/recall associated updates, however for software program enhancements as nicely.
Lastly, all of this has resulted in no change in value in Korea, with the identical base value of 52,400,000 Korean Gained (~$39,400). So we are able to hope that the US base value, presently $41,800, will keep the identical or near the identical when this replace comes by way of.
As for availability, that’s anybody’s guess. We’ll have to attend for a solution from Hyundai on that one.
Electrek’s Take
The Ioniq 5 has rapidly change into a favourite within the EV neighborhood. It’s a very strong automobile with nice specs, value (particularly when you lease it for entry to US tax credit, which Hyundai has been placing numerous focus into), and customarily completely satisfied clients.
Personally, I feel it’s one of many best-looking automobiles on the street at the moment. Regardless of being a small-car man myself, it’s about the one SUV that I actually like – largely as a result of it’s nonetheless compact, and likewise as a result of the design language of the automobile is so strong and constant. It appears to be like simply quirky sufficient to be completely different, with out being too on the market.
Consequently, it’s additionally promoting extraordinarily nicely, even within the US regardless of being from a overseas automaker which ends up in tax credit score disadvantages. In 2023 it was the best-selling foreign-assembled EV within the US (the VW ID.4 did promote higher, and is from a overseas automaker, but it surely’s assembled in Tennessee).
However these modifications have been additionally wanted. The dearth of rear wiper specifically was a evident oversight, and OTA updates are such an essential characteristic that has taken far too lengthy to percolate to the remainder of the business. An early-model Tesla Mannequin 3 is best at the moment than is was in 2017, which isn’t a factor you may say about most automobiles, and hopefully the Ioniq 5 has joined these ranks because of the addition of OTA replace functionality.
So we hope most of those modifications make their solution to the US, and shortly, as a result of that is already an awesome automobile and these small fixes will simply make it that a lot higher.