‘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 outfitted with Tesla’s North American Charging Normal port; it was time to check out how effectively 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 concept 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 best way over on the driver-side of the automobile.
Uh, Hyundai, we’ve got an issue. It didn’t attain.
I may wait for one more Tesla to vacate its house and use that charging cable, basically taking on two areas, or I may use the in-car navigation to discover a CCS-equipped charging station and use the adapter that comes with the automobile.
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 Normal, or NACS.
Automakers started to shift to NACS in Could 2023 after Ford reached an settlement that might give homeowners of its EV entry to greater than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers throughout the U.S. and Canada. GM adopted and inside six months almost each automaker had struck the same take care of Tesla. Entry would initially be achieved 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 certainly one of 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 aspect, and transferring it will 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 areas to the rear driver aspect or entrance passenger aspect.”
Consumers of the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 can 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 refill will price you as much as half-hour at a NACS charger.
Hyundai makes it a bit simpler along with your selection 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 way of the MyHyundai proprietor portal beginning in March.
Hyundai homeowners may also have entry to the deliberate Ionna charging community. The Ionna community, which is anticipated to have 30,000 NACS and CCS charging factors by 2030, is a collaboration between BMW, Normal 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 seem like its earlier mannequin years. However there are some key variations, beginning with the battery measurement.
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 operate now works along with your telephone inside a pocket or purse, a pleasant improve for if 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 routinely. 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 filth and over gravel. This mannequin additionally will get a Terrain button on the steering wheel that provides up modes for Snow, Mud and Sand.
Hyundai let me unfastened on a enjoyable filth loop and I discovered that the automobile has sufficient playfulness in it to induce a smile. Sand mode doesn’t flip the traction management all the best way off – it’s important to manually push the traction management button to do this. It does alter the brake regen properties so the car doesn’t routinely begin to decelerate if you raise. It additionally splits the torque 50/50 for optimum traction.
It’s enjoyable to toss it into corners and get a little bit slidey, however the ABS system — whereas nice on pavement — can intrude with traction and off-road stopping distances by not permitting any filth to construct up in entrance of the tire.
It might be nice if the drive modes additionally tweaked this method as effectively. Nonetheless, the moment electrical torque means it’s straightforward to get on the throttle and energy out of a flip and scream in the direction of the following one, slinging filth rooster tails within the course of.
The XRT is just not some type of rock crawler. The entire floor clearance is simply 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 method 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 automobile comes outfitted with two entrance tow hooks.
The place the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 shines
On the pavement the Ioniq 5 is simply as fulfilling because it ever was, with zippy acceleration, well-balanced dealing with and a snug trip.
A part of my first drive took me to greater elevations the place the all-season tires had been put to the slushy snow take a look at. The automobile 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 price for a base SE mannequin in rear-wheel drive with the usual battery. The off-roady XRT will 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 worth and comparable vary and all Mach-E vehicles are customary outfitted with the hands-free/eyes-up BlueCruise freeway driving help. You’ll pay a subscription price to make use of the expertise, however Hyundai doesn’t provide something prefer it.
If you happen to’re into futuristic seems, the Kia EV6 is a worthy competitor, particularly in case you’re searching for efficiency. The GT AWD trim nets 576 ponies and 545 pound-feet of torque. Yowza.
It’s robust to search 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.