- Head-turning design
- Value starting price
- Tons of tech
- Quick-charging ability
- Pricing starts at $41,450 (plus $1,295 destination) | Price yours
- On sale now | See listings near you
The electric vehicle landscape is changing at the speed of light. Beyond the scores of new EVs hitting showrooms and the roads every year, we are witnessing the start of a seismic shift from the use of gasoline that has powered cars for the past century to rechargeable batteries acting as the new fuel. Yet even amid this exciting change, an exciting new EV can’t help but captivate us: the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. It starts with a head-turning design that is futuristic yet retro, a welcoming and practical cabin, and eager driving manners. Despite a cadre of excellent new EVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 leads the pack as the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award winner among electric vehicles.
That Design, Inside and Out
Seriously, we can’t stop looking at the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Is it an SUV? A hatchback? Or something gifted to us from a far more intelligent society of the future? It feels like all those things.
Somehow Hyundai’s designers imbued the Ioniq 5 with a profile that is squat yet sporty, futuristic yet retro, and it can’t help but garner smiles and nods of appreciation from onlookers. No wonder it’s already taken home trophies for World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year, not to mention also being named our Best New Model.
That exterior coolness is just the beginning. Wait until you step inside. Here Hyundai has performed another feat — creating a cabin that is cutting-edge and tech-forward yet also inviting, roomy, practical, and easy to use. We never knew the future could be so pragmatic. For example, the Ioniq 5 boasts the kind of twin-screen panel combining a digital instrument cluster and an infotainment screen that is becoming prevalent. Yet, it also features enough physical buttons and controls not to make changing the audio controls a high-wire act while you’re doing 70 mph.
And despite its compact footprint, the 2023 Ioniq 5 boasts generous room for five passengers and ample cargo space — nearly 60 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
Approachable Pricing, Real-World Range
Many electric vehicles have price tags that remain out of reach for everyday buyers, especially shoppers considering their first EV. Not the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. It starts at $41,450. At the top end, even a Limited model is digestible at $52,600. Keep in mind that the latter figure is only about $4,000 more than the average price of today’s new vehicle. And you won’t ever have to pay for a drop of gasoline to drive an Ioniq 5. How much would you pay to never again get your hands smelly from an icky gas pump but instead wake up to a fully charged car in the garage? Some things really are priceless.
The estimated range for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 spans from 220 miles to 303 miles, depending on the model and drivetrain. Speaking of drivetrains, the Ioniq 5 is available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) and power outputs of 168, 225, or 320 horsepower. Opting for AWD dual-motor models gets you that biggest number, and we found it more than plenty for all manner of driving, from the daily commute to more spirited back-road routes.
Tech Powerhouse
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 also comes loaded with tech, both the kind of things you would expect — such as the latest active safety features — and those you may not, like the ability to charge from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes on a DC fast charger. For the 2023 model year, all Ioniq 5 models now include a new battery preconditioning function when you set an EV fast-charging station into the navigation unit as your destination. Oh, and for when you might stay longer at a charging station or simply need a break during the kid’s soccer/ballet/piano/whatever practice? The Ioniq 5 Limited offers a reclining driver’s seat and ottoman-like seat extension to raise your legs. It’s like they thought of everything.
Another great feature in our uncertain world comes in three letters: V2L. That stands for vehicle-to-load, a feature in the Limited model that allows you to use the Ioniq 5 to power other devices, essentially making it the world’s biggest battery bank.
We haven’t even touched on innovative features like the Ioniq 5’s ability to park itself while you stand outside the vehicle, a digital key that allows you to access the car via your phone, or the Highway Driving Assist function that allows for semi-autonomous driving.
Indeed, it feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface of just how much the Ioniq 5 offers and how cool it is. That’s apt, as Hyundai, too, is just starting to scratch the surface on its sprint toward the EV world with forthcoming Ioniq electric variants. If the Ioniq 5 is any indicator of what the future holds, we can’t wait.
Photo Tour: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
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Our 2023 Best Buy Award Winners
- Best New Model: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Best Subcompact SUV: 2023 Kia Seltos
- Best Compact SUV: 2023 Honda CR-V
- Best 2-Row Midsize SUV: 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
- Best 3-Row Midsize SUV: 2023 Kia Telluride
- Best Full-Size SUV: 2023 Ford Expedition
- Best Subcompact Luxury SUV: 2023 BMW X1
- Best Compact Luxury SUV: 2023 Genesis GV70
- Best Midsize Luxury SUV: 2023 Genesis GV80
- Best Compact Car: 2023 Honda Civic
- Best Midsize Car: 2023 Honda Accord
- Best Luxury Car: 2023 Lexus ES
- Best EV Under $35,000: 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
- Best PHEV: 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid
- Best Compact Truck: 2023 Ford Maverick
- Best Midsize Truck: 2023 Toyota Tacoma
- Best Full-Size Truck: 2023 Ford F-150
- Best Electric Truck: 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
- Best Minivan: 2023 Toyota Sienna
- 2023 Best Buy Awards Home
