“Fortunate me,” I assumed as I navigated the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 into the final spot of a Tesla Supercharging station in Palm Springs.
The EV didn’t really want any juice. However this refreshed compact all-electric SUV comes geared up with Tesla’s North American Charging Commonplace port; it was time to check out how properly Hyundai would match up with the Tesla Supercharging community.
The expertise uncovered a niche — within the literal sense. And whereas Hyundai shouldn’t shoulder all of the blame, it did illustrate how a seemingly good thought doesn’t at all times translate in the true world.
For instance, I reversed into the parking spot, opened the cost port on the passenger-rear quarter panel, and grabbed the charging twine, nestled within the cupboard sitting all the way in which over on the motive force’s facet of the automotive.
Uh, Hyundai, we’ve an issue. It didn’t attain.
I might wait for an additional Tesla to vacate its area and use that charging cable, basically taking on two areas, or I might use the in-car navigation to discover a CCS-equipped charging station and use the adapter that comes with the automotive.
I selected to toddle on with my day as I had loads of battery, however others won’t be so fortunate.
CCS, or Mixed Charging System, was the usual in North America and utilized by each automaker aside from Tesla, which developed its personal port and charging station known as the North American Charging Commonplace, or NACS.
Automakers started to shift to NACS in Could 2023 after Ford reached an agreement that might give homeowners of its EV entry to greater than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers throughout the U.S. and Canada. GM followed and inside six months almost each automaker had struck an analogous take care of Tesla. Entry would initially be completed with a Tesla adapter, however most of those automakers — Hyundai and Kia included — additionally agreed to combine the NACS charging tech into their future EVs.
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one among these.
After all, not all of that is Hyundai’s fault. The Ioniq 5 has at all times had its charging port on the rear passenger facet, and shifting it could be a spendy proposition. And Tesla says the issue must be solved with the rollout of its V4 charging stations with longer cables, though its web site says, “we encourage all car producers to standardize cost port places to the rear driver facet or entrance passenger facet.”
Consumers of the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 may have higher luck discovering a CCS station and utilizing the adapter. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 can go from 10% to 80% of cost in about 20 minutes at a CCS charger. The identical fill-up will value you as much as half-hour at an NACS charger.
Hyundai makes it a bit simpler together with your alternative of a $400 charging credit score or a free ChargePoint residence charger with the acquisition of an Ioniq 5 and people with an older Hyundai EV with a local CCS port can get a free NACS adapter by the MyHyundai proprietor portal beginning in March.
Hyundai homeowners may even have entry to the deliberate Ionna charging community. The Ionna community, which is predicted to have 30,000 NACS and CCS charging factors by 2030, is a collaboration between BMW, Common Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Stellantis, and Toyota.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5: Larger batteries, extra vary, new trim
The 2025 Ioniq 5, which is able to are available SE, SEL, XRT, and Restricted trims in rear- or all-wheel drive, might appear to be its earlier mannequin years. However there are some key variations, beginning with the battery dimension.
The usual vary battery ratchets up 5 kWh to 63 kWh, whereas the prolonged vary sits at 84 kWh, a rise of 6.6 kWh. Relying on the mix of drivetrain, battery, and trim, anticipate to see 245 miles of vary on the low finish and as much as 318 miles of vary for a rear-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 with the bigger battery.
Energy output varies, too, beginning with 168 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, rising to 225 ponies within the prolonged vary battery. Probably the most highly effective setup settles in at 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque for all-wheel-drive vehicles with the larger battery.
Tech upgrades
The 2025 Ioniq 5 has some new parlor tips too.
The digital key perform now works together with your telephone inside a pocket or purse, a pleasant improve for whenever you’re juggling children, groceries, and a drink.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at the moment are wi-fi and all fashions have over-the-air updates.
Moreover, Hyundai Pay permits homeowners so as to add their bank card to the infotainment system to pay for reserved off-street parking robotically. Drivers additionally get up to date blind-spot collision avoidance and parking help.
Let’s get soiled
For these wanting a bit extra journey with their electrical SUV, the Ioniq 5 now comes within the XRT trim.
This mannequin is designed for venturing off the trail only a bit because of a one-inch raise and 29-inch Continental CrossContact ATR tires for higher efficiency within the dust and over gravel. This mannequin additionally will get a Terrain button on the steering wheel that gives up modes for Snow, Mud, and Sand.
Hyundai let me free on a enjoyable dust loop and I discovered that the automotive has sufficient playfulness in it to induce a smile. Sand mode doesn’t flip the traction management all the way in which off — you must manually push the traction management button to try this. It does regulate the brake regen properties so the car doesn’t robotically begin to decelerate whenever you raise. It additionally splits the torque 50/50 for optimum traction.
It’s enjoyable to toss it into corners and get just a little slidey, however the ABS system — whereas nice on pavement — can intrude with traction and off-road stopping distances by not permitting any dust to construct up in entrance of the tire.
It could be nice if the drive modes additionally tweaked this technique. Nonetheless, the moment electrical torque means it’s simple to get on the throttle and energy out of a flip and scream towards the subsequent one, slinging dust rooster tails within the course of.
The XRT just isn’t some form of rock crawler. The entire floor clearance is just seven inches — that’s two inches lower than a Subaru Forester Wilderness. The off-road geometry, whereas higher than the Toyota RAV4 Woodland Version, is supposed extra for small obstacles and undulations.
I discovered the restrict of the 19.8-degree strategy angle on my drive and returned with a part of the XRT-exclusive entrance fascia tworked only a bit. There isn’t any particular underbody safety for the battery within the XRT, however the departure angle is a wholesome 30 levels and the automotive comes geared up with two entrance tow hooks.
The place the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 shines
On the pavement, the Ioniq 5 is simply as pleasing because it ever was, with zippy acceleration, well-balanced dealing with, and a snug journey.
A part of my first drive took me to larger elevations the place the all-season tires have been put to the slushy snow take a look at. The automotive by no means misplaced grip, inspiring confidence on this desert dweller.
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 begins at $43,975, together with the vacation spot payment for a base SE mannequin in rear-wheel drive with the usual battery. The off-roady XRT could be had for $56,875 whereas a prime Restricted trim in all-wheel drive will set you again $59,575.
You will get a Ford Mustang Mach-E at a decrease beginning value and comparable vary, and all Mach-E vehicles are customary geared up with the hands-free/eyes-up BlueCruise freeway driving help. You’ll pay a subscription payment to make use of the know-how, however Hyundai doesn’t provide something prefer it.
If you happen to’re into futuristic seems, the Kia EV6 is a worthy competitor, particularly should you’re on the lookout for efficiency. The GT AWD trim nets 576 ponies and 545 pound-feet of torque. Yowza.
It’s powerful to seek out fault with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5. This refreshed Ioniq 5 maintains its pavement poise and provides a little bit of journey thrills with the brand new XRT trim. However homeowners might discover themselves avoiding Tesla Superchargers regardless of that built-in NACS port.