BHPian JoseTheScorpion recently shared this with other enthusiasts: I really love the KIA EV6 and EV9, but in Hyderabad, it seems the cars are not available for display. Checked a couple of dealers near my house for a couple of months, but I am not sure how people are buying it without seeing them first. I had almost forgotten about the IONIQ 5, which is actually EV6 with a Hyundai mask . Anyway, I reached out to a few Hyundai dealers and was lucky to find it in one of the nearest Hyundai showrooms. I took permission on the phone itself for a test drive and pics/videos which was very generously approved, by the sales manager. There is something uniquely satisfying about getting behind the wheel of any EV as it represents the future.Look wise : Designed by a RulerBy, ruler, I mean a scale. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t try to look like a traditional SUV. Instead, it leans into a futuristic design language with clean lines, sharp creases, and pixel-inspired LED lighting. In flesh, it looks much bigger in size. When I went through the specifications, I was shocked to see it being as long as the XUV700. Its wheelbase is longer than most SUVs in India, giving it a planted, premium look. Here is a video where I have covered every imaginable aspect of the car. Forgot to shoot the frunk, but I guess it’s only good to store the charging cable.Inside : PlushSpacious, open cabin that feels more like a lounge, its not as big as the Windsor or 9E but one of the biggest inside. Thanks to the flat floor and 3,000 mm wheelbase, rear-seat legroom is excellent. The interior uses eco-friendly materials and everything from the seats to the soft-touch surfaces has a good feel and plush quality.Performance and Range – Practical PowerI got a change to take a short 3-4 km test drive, which was surely not enough for me as I wanted at least 10 to connect to the car, but something better than nothing. Hyundai claims a range of 631 km, but during my observation, the test car was showing around 80kms with 40% battery left, so technically it was giving a range of 200kms, which was surely because, I was in the car stationed with the AC in full blast at 43 degrees outside. The normal real-world driving should easily yield around 450+ kms. With a huge 72.6 kWh battery and fast charging support (10% to 80% in just 18 minutes using a 350 kW charger), the Ioniq 5 is clearly one of the best in this price, only losing to the 9E I guess, which is around 15 lakhs cheaper and 79kwh battery. Boot Space and Practicality IONIQ 5 offers a rear boot space of 527 litres and a small front trunk (frunk) with 57 litres(which I forgot to shoot in my video or the pics), which is more than enough for road trips or family use. I feel the Windsor and 9E are both having around 600 litres of boot space, but anything around 500 is good enough for a family of 5.ProsDesignSpacious interior which is comfortableLong real-world range, I think 9E and 6E the only EVs beating it at a lesser cost.Ultra-fast charging capability, 350kWh, fastest in Indian EVs(KIA EV6 as well)Excellent build quality and 5 star safety rating by ANCAP & ENCAPBetter pricing than Kia EV6, almost 15 lakh cheaper is really value for moneyConsRide was a little hard for my liking, but must be for highway manners.Slightly lower ground clearance compared to typical Indian SUVsNo AWD (only rear-wheel drive available in India)Could benefit from more physical buttons for climate controlValue:While the Ioniq 5 holds a strong position in the premium EV space under 50 lakh, compared to the Sealion7/BMW iX1/EV6, the game changing Mahindra XUV 9E is is surely more value for money and leaves the IONIQ5 only for those who would prefer it over the Mahindra or exclusively want the IONIQ – futuristic look. Also, the Hyundai is going to have much fewer niggles compared to the Mahindra.My ThoughtsWell, if I had 45lakhs in my pocket, I would have surely kept the IONIQ 5 shortlisted for a possible purchase. Lets enjoy the pics! Check outBHPian commentsfor more insights and information.
