Hyundai Ioniq 5 refresh details

Hyundai has up to date its Korean web site with particulars concerning the anticipated refresh of its common Ioniq 5 EV, with solely minor modifications from the unique design however quite a lot of new options on the within.

We’ve been anticipating a refresh to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and an apparent facelift was spotted testing last year, 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 fairly comparable. However the refresh comes with quite a lot of new options, particularly some fixes for lots of the varied shortcomings of an in any other case wonderful automobile.

The main points are all obtainable on Hyundai’s website, however it’s in Korean solely. The American web site has not but been up to date with the brand new particulars, and every little thing we discuss right here is on the Korean model, and should or might not make it to the US model. We will think about quite a lot of these modifications will likely be carried over, however there could also be some variations in what’s obtainable in every market.

Exterior modifications embrace 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 aspect mirrors,” that are digital cameras rather than the aspect view mirrors, which aren’t obtainable within the US.

There are extra exterior modifications for the upgraded “N line” model, particularly totally different bumpers, body-color trim on the wheel arches and door panels, 20-inch wheels and N line badging.

Consumer expertise has been improved with entry to Hyundai’s “Digital Key 2” which helps you to use your cellphone 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 a lot of house owners and potential consumers 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 obtainable but or know if Hyundai will maintain again a few of this capability, however we are able to think about this alteration 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 mainly the best fast charging performance available right now.

Different mechanical modifications embrace improved sound and vibration dampening, which ought to make for a smoother trip and fewer motor and street noise.

On the inside, a lot 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 referred to as “fingers 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 regularly 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 massive issues into the automobile from the rear. And the glove compartment has been redesigned – it was once “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 Automotive Navigation Cockpit” software program together with… over-the-air updates!

This can be a new characteristic for Ioniq 5, although it’s already present on the Ioniq 6 sedan. The updates received’t simply be for essential security/recall associated updates, however for software program enhancements as properly.

Lastly, all of this has resulted in no change in value in Korea, with the identical base value of 52,400,000 Korean Received (~$39,400). So we are able to hope that the US base value, at the moment $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 shortly turn into a favourite within the EV group. It’s a extremely strong automobile with nice specs, a great value (particularly for those who lease it for access to US tax credits, which Hyundai has been placing quite a lot of focus into), and customarily joyful prospects.

Personally, I believe it’s one of many best-looking automobiles on the street at present. Regardless of being a small-car man myself, it’s about the one SUV that I actually like – principally 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 simply quirky sufficient to be totally different, with out being too out there.

Consequently, it’s additionally selling extremely well, even within the US regardless of being from a overseas automaker which leads to tax credit disadvantages. In 2023 it was the best-selling foreign-assembled EV in the US (the VW ID.4 did promote higher, and is from a overseas automaker, however it’s assembled in Tennessee).

However these modifications had been additionally wanted. The dearth of rear wiper particularly was a evident oversight, and OTA updates are such an vital characteristic that has taken far too lengthy to percolate to the remainder of the business. An early-model Tesla Model 3 is best at present than is was in 2017, which isn’t a factor you possibly can say about most automobiles, and hopefully the Ioniq 5 has joined these ranks as a result of addition of OTA replace functionality.

So we hope most of those modifications make their strategy to the US, and shortly, as a result of that is already an amazing automobile and these small fixes will simply make it that a lot better.