Hyundai is a famous South Korean automaker, and like most automakers worldwide, the company is going electric. The Ioniq 5 is one of Hyundai’s first entries in the EV market, and it’s already getting good reviews from car critics. Here’s a look at the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and why it’s such a practical and capable electric SUV.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 provides a ‘cocktail of practicality’

U.S. News recently reviewed the Ioniq 5, and the car critic had a lot of positive things to say about the electric SUV. Overall, the site summarized its review by saying, “This electric SUV is a captivating cocktail of practicality and performance with futuristic styling flair.”

The South Korean automaker gave owners several powertrain options with the Ioniq 5, and it starts with a single electric motor that gets 168 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

That electric motor is paired to a 58-kWh battery, allowing drivers to get about 220 miles on a single charge. Hyundai offers two other powertrain options, and they’re both paired to a 77.4-kWh battery.

The first option is a single electric motor that gets 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and the second option has two electric motors that work together to get 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque.

That 225-hp powertrain option provides drivers with the longest range that Hyundai offers, as the Ioniq 5 gets 303 miles of range with that configuration.

The 320-hp option, on the other hand, gives drivers all-wheel drive. However, it has a lower range as it gets 266 miles. Overall, the Ioniq 5’s standard range isn’t remarkable, but its longer-range options provide a good amount of range for an EV.

There aren’t that many issues with the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Not only did U.S. News praise the Ioniq 5’s powertrain options and range numbers, but the car critic also liked almost everything else about the electric SUV.  The South Korean automaker improved the SUV’s towing capacity for the 2023 model year, and now it can tow up to 2,300 pounds. That’s a decent amount for an EV, and it’s better than a few of its rivals.

Hyundai also added a battery heating system to all trims of the SUV, and this can be helpful for owners who live in cold climates. The Ioniq 5’s interior is also solid, but it’s the source of the only issues that the car critic had about it. It seats five, and the seats are spacious and comfortable. It also comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster display and a 12.3-inch touch screen display. 

Not only are those large screens, but its infotainment system is also easy-to-use. That said, the Hyundai SUV has a “middling” amount of cargo capacity as it maxes out at 59.3 cu. ft. The Ioniq 5’s biggest flaw, however, is its interior design. It has a minimalist design, and not every driver is a fan of it.

U.S. News named the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 the second-best electric SUV

A car’s interior design isn’t usually a big deal, though, so it’s not surprising that the car critic gave the Ioniq 5 an overall score of 8.5 out of 10. It simply did well in most areas that car shoppers care about, while having few flaws to speak of. 

That score made it the second-best electric SUV on the market, and it trailed the Kia EV6, which had a score of 8.7 out of 10. Unlike the EV6 though, the Ioniq 5 starts at about $41,500, and that makes it relatively affordable and high-quality.