2021 News Corp Car of the Year revealed

In a history making effort a surprising new car has trumped all this year’s newcomers to be named the best car of 2021.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 has become the first electric vehicle to win News Corp’s Car of the Year trophy.

The breakthrough model provides a glimpse into the future of motoring and an insight into the once-in-a-century transformation of the car industry.

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COMMENT: AWARD WINNER OFFERS GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE

At the moment, less than 2 per cent of new-car sales are electric, but the Federal Government predicts EVs will make up 30 per cent of sales by 2030.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been named the 2021 News Corporation Car of the Year. Pictures by Mark Bean

The Ioniq 5 is the first Hyundai produced on all-new platform designed from the outset to house electric motors and batteries. Previous EVs from the brand were modified designs based on petrol cars.

The Ioniq 5 takes advantage of the extra space freed up by the lack of an internal combustion engine, petrol tank and exhaust system. It looks like a small hatchback but the wheelbase – the distance between the front and rear wheels – is longer than a Toyota LandCruiser.

As a result, there’s generous rear legroom and cargo space, including a small storage space under the bonnet.

Two electric cars and five petrol/diesel powered cars made up this year’s field. Pictures by Mark Bean

But the ace up the sleeve for the Ioniq 5 is its super smooth, quiet and powerful electric motor. Maximum torque, or pulling power, arrives instantaneously, which means it’s quick off the mark. There are no gearshifts, either, so the flow of power is uninterrupted.

In comparison, petrol and diesel engines feel coarse and unrefined.

The Ioniq 5 has smooth and quiet acceleration. Pictures by Mark Bean

Judges deemed the Ioniq 5’s 451km range acceptable for the vast majority of motorists, while acknowledging that it wouldn’t work for buyers who travelled long distances frequently.

The car’s fast recharging capability also earned it points. Hooked up to a super-fast charger, it can replenish its battery from 10 per cent charge to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes, adding more than 300km of range.

The Ioniq 5 is one of the fastest charging electric cars on sale. Photo by Thomas Wielecki

In a nice touch, the front seats recline like a business class seat so drivers can have a quick snooze while the car recharges. Given that fatigue is a major killer on our roads, the feature is a potential lifesaver.

Judges were divided about the car’s futuristic styling. Some argued it suited the car’s character, while others thought the sharp edges may date.

The cabin features lots of sustainable materials.

Inside, the Ioniq lives up to the exterior design with a cabin design dominated by large Apple Mac-influenced twin-screens and packed with hi-tech features.

Many of the cabin materials are sustainably sourced, including carpet made from sugar cane fibres, seat trim from recycled plastics, paint made from plant oils and panels created using recyclable resins.

The dual screens have an heavy Apple Mac feel to them.

Safety is top notch, as well. The Ioniq can slam on the brakes if it senses a collision, display a video feed of your blind spot, steer you back into your lane if you wander and brake if it sees something in your path when you’re backing out of the driveway.

At $71,900 plus on-roads the Ioniq 5 is not cheap. But initial customer response – the first batch of 240 cars sold out in about two hours – suggests people are willing to pay the premium.

The Ioniq beat a field that consisted of the Subaru Outback, Kia Carnival, Volkswagen Golf, Kia Sportage, Toyota Kluger hybrid and the Polestar 2, another electric car.

Read the full coverage here.