Hyundai updated the IONIQ 5 recently a car we already loved adding bigger batteries & some interior & exterior tweaks. Here’s how we got on in the N Line S.
What’s new ?
Most importantly bigger batteries, a heat pump on all versions, more standard equipment, extra sound insulation, new wheel designs, LED lighting, a larger roof spoiler & hurrah a rear wiper !
Interior updates
It’s still one of the nicest cabins out there with new physical controls allowing you to alter the heated seats for example without going into the touchscreen menu. New software makes the infotainment system more user-friendly, a new steering wheel design features more physical switches & the centre console now accommodates a wireless charging pad.
N-Line
On our N Line test car also offers 20” N Design wheels, gloss black trim, a sporty 3-spoke steering wheel that features a DRIVE mode button, red contrast stitching & sports seats.
Model choice & batteries
Three power outputs of 170hp, 228hp & 325hp are offered with our N Line being the most powerful & coming with 605Nm. Batteries are now Normal Range 63kWh or Long Range 84kWh.
Range & charging
The larger batteries now offer ranges of 273-354 miles with charging speeds of up to 260kW, meaning on a DC charger 10-80% of charging will take just 18 minutes. Plug-in at home on a 7.4kW charger & a full charge will take 8.5-11.5 hours depending on which battery you have. We currently use a Rolec smart charger so take advantage of cheaper overnight charing costs. https://www.rolecserv.com/ev-products/evo
Does it still cut the mustard ?
This is not a shrinking violet. It’s still one of the boldest car design yet to emerge from Korea. The front features rectangular LED lights, located behind a dark glass strip, the rear, a strip of LED lights that run right across the back. It looks smooth & buffed all over.
Trims & prices
Advance £39,900
Premium £42,400
N Line£47,400
Ultimate £49,400
N Line S £52,400
Inside
The interior is a Terence Conran dream. Subtle greys, blacks & chrome in soft touch plastic & fabric exude a calm. The highlight is the 12.3″ drivers TFT display instrument cluster & alongside the 12.3″ touchscreen SatNav & media centre, that stretch right across the minimalist dash top. Separate heating controls sit underneath function buttons for the DAB Radio, Media, SatNav, Map & volume controls. You also get three USB connections & a 12v socket. In the rear, there’s two more USB’s, a fold down armrest & the air vents are neatly located in the door pillars, rather than down below.
Practicality
Even the glove box has been designed with style, sliding out horizontally like a drawer & it’s large as well. Twin centre cup holders, a movable front armrest with space underneath, a cubby for your keys & medium sized door pockets, all offer useful storage. The boot comes with 527 litres of space, 1,587 litres with the rear seats folded.You also get a flat folding floor, with space underneath for hiding the charging cables. The rear seats will sit three adults comfortably & each moves separately back & forth to create more or less leg room. At 1,890mm wide it’s wider than the competition which makes the interior feel airy.
Driving & regenerative braking
In common with other EV’s, the IONIQ 5 offers drivers a choice of regenerative braking. Utilised using the paddles behind the steering wheel, there are in effect five available. Zero kicks thing off & is really no-regen driving, which is good for progress on the motorway. By pulling the left paddle back, you then move up through 1, 2 & 3 & for the maximum level, iPedal, which brings the car to almost a complete stop. Although iPedal regen does feel quite strong, compared to similar systems on other EV’s that we’ve tried, which can actually make your right foot tired, it’s actually quite light.
On the road
We were testing the IONIQ 5 N Line S 84kWh .The battery weight definitely contributes to the cars drivability. Compared to other large battery electric cars, its eminently drivable especially in N Line trim, with a 0-60 mph time of just 5.2 seconds achieved in Sport mode; you can also choose from Normal or Eco, & a top speed of 115mph. There’s excellent mid-range acceleration as well. Motorway cruising is a doddle, urban progress calm & quiet & the on board tech all works well. The 12.3″ infotainment is crystal clear & AppleCar Play syncs your iPhone superbly & the new wireless charging pads & extra physical controls make usability better.
The good
The IONIQ 5 still looks fantastic, both inside & out with the N Line S subtly lifting it higher than before. The interiors spacious, it’s very well equipped & the on board tech is some of the best out there. Factor in a real world 300 mile range & 3% BIK & company car drivers should be taking a long hard look.
And the bad
Some cheap plastic has been used on the door pockets. N Line S is expensive.
Verdict
Bigger batteries equals longer range & the subtle tweaks both inside & out have kept the 5 relevant. N-Line S is a nice update but it comes at a cost. Would we like one ? Yes we would, but a lower specced les powerful version is probably easier to live with.
4.75/5
Prices
Advance. From £39,900
Premium. From £42,400
N Line. From £47,400
Ultimate. From £49,400
N Line S. From £52,400
