Elly Awesome reviews Hyundai IONIQ5 electric car features

Not only does this electric car look good but it also has some “insane” features that sees it compete with Tesla.

Hyundai’s new feature packed electric car, the Hyundai IONIQ 5, sold out in just two hours after it became available in Australia.

It’s retro-futuristic design, similar to what was being imagined in sci-fi films as a futuristic car a few decades ago, evokes simultaneous feelings of nostalgia and ‘the future is now’. To be fair, the car has a solid price tag but I certainly enjoyed testing it.

Design

Available in six colours, the lucid blue IONIQ 5 is one of the coolest cars I’ve seen. Each design detail compliments the next, from the LED ‘pixel lights’ (front and rear) to the 20” alloy ‘fractal wheels’.

And flat door handles aren’t just for Tesla’s – the IONIQ 5’s handles are flush until you approach your car, key in pocket, when they pop out so you can open them. The exterior of the car is so monumental, I had policemen and women hold me up to get a closer look and chat about how awesome the car seems.

The Hyundai IONIQ5 is an attractive car.

When peeking into this particular model to find a white and grey interior (black is also available), two new-aged wide-screen displays, coloured ambient lighting and a huge sunroof, it’s pretty hard not to be in awe.

From the ridiculously adjustable electric seats (front and back), spacious flat-floored interior, seat warmers and open console with room for a two-litre water bottle – what’s not to love?

The car interior looks good and has practical features.

Safety

The safety features and assistive driving features are some of the most impressive. I felt ridiculously safe in this car.

It’s got cameras on both side mirrors so any time you indicate you can view the lane next to you, while also getting a visual and audible warning about cars in your blind spot.

Lane-keep assist will nudge you back into your lane if you happen to drift slightly over the lines and adaptive cruise control will maintain your speed but slow you down automatically if the car in front slows and reduces your following gap. I could go on!

Insane features

However, as a tech reviewer predominantly, it’s the techy features that I was blown away by. One insane feature that got me excited, that even Tesla is missing, is the car’s V2L (vehicle to load) function. With this, you can basically use your car like a giant portable power bank. Using an included Hyundai adaptor that plugs into the car’s ‘charging port’ you can plug in and power a multitude of household appliances such as a mini fridge, electric BBQ or electric skateboard. I even powered up a PlayStation 5, a TV and external speakers all at once in the middle of nowhere.

The car can provide up to 3.6kW, which I found out is not only enough energy to power multiple devices at once but to also (slowly) charge another electric car if need be.

The car is roomy enough to take away on a camping trip.

And for those who love camping, who might be getting quite excited right now, not only can you use the IONIQ 5 to power all your creature comforts, but it can also tow 1.6 tonnes – allowing you to easily bring along a small boat, jet ski or trailer on your weekend adventures. And with all of this being said, there’s no need to have battery anxiety. You can set the maximum battery percentage that you’re willing to use up on powering your appliances.

Once set up, the car will intelligently shut off, when required, to conserve your preferred amount of remaining battery life so you’ll always have plenty of power for the trip back home.

Battery Life

The car boasts a range of 451km when fully charged (on the 2WD). And when you’re getting low on range it has the ability to charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in only 18 minutes at your local charging station, often found at shopping centres.

Alternatively, I tried charging the car at home using its included charging cable that plugs into a regular household power point. This method is convenient, though slower, and I was able to get at least 15 per cent of extra charge into the car overnight.

The electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 can charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 18 minutes.

On top of that, the car has the ability to recharge the battery as you drive using a feature called ‘regenerative braking’. Once turned on, every time you let your foot off the accelerator the car will capture the kinetic energy from the wheels as they slow down and convert it back into electricity.

How cool is that? Regenerative braking is a common feature in electric and hybrid vehicles – it really makes me wish EVs were more commonplace.

The only faults I can find is that the car is filled with regular USB ports (awesome) – but – surely such a futuristic car should be fitted with USB-C ports? I had to chuckle at this. And although the seats are incredibly comfortable for me, a small framed female, they may be a little narrow for people with a larger frame.

Honestly, I enjoyed the entire experience while testing this car, including its speedy pick-up.

Its feature-packed nature makes sense when you find out that the price of the 2WD starts at $71,900 here in Australia. I can only hope that the prices of all electric vehicles become more competitive in the near future so I can afford to drive one.

Elly Awesome is an Aussie tech and lifestyle vlogger | @ellyawwesome | YouTube