The new Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric has better autonomy and practical features.

Three years after its launch, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car is getting a small update, for the moment, in Korea. The electric compact is gently evolving its design, but especially its battery, for the benefit of greater autonomy. But that's not all...

Hyundai is starting to offer a well-rounded range of electric cars, with its Kona, Ioniq 5, and Ioniq 6, while the Casper could also arrive here, to compete with the Dacia Spring. But the manufacturer does not want to rest on its achievements; quite the contrary.

Some aesthetic developments

This is how it offers some small improvements to its Ioniq 5, launched in 2021 on the global market. This information was relayed by the Chinese site It Home, while this new version is already available on the brand's Korean site. We then discover some new features in terms of design, with new front optics and a charge level indicator on the outside. Furthermore, the spoiler installed at the rear is a little larger than before.

We note that the length is up by 20 millimeters, now reaching 4.65 meters, due to a slightly redesigned shield. The N Line version gets new bumpers as well as reworked wheel arches, among other things. Finally, the compact's camera mirrors have also been improved on the Korean version, which should also arrive in Europe a little later.

We also appreciate that this new version offers a rear windshield wiper for the first time, while onboard access is via a digital key via mobile phone or Apple Watch. But that's not all, because the Korean manufacturer has also made numerous improvements to the driving position of its electric star. In addition to the optimized sound insulation, we note the arrival of a new redesigned steering wheel.

Four light indicators also appear, to indicate the car's charging status. The general ergonomics of the driving position have been redesigned, with a new central armrest that features a new USB-C port. The driver can also charge his smartphone in induction if he wishes. Finally, and this is an excellent thing, the air conditioning and seat heating now benefit from real physical buttons.

Increasing autonomy

This is very good news since we know that all-touch is not necessarily a very good idea. When it comes to infotainment, Hyundai has also made some small optimizations, including support for remote OTA (over-the-air) updates. This feature was already available on the Ioniq 6 sedan, a rival of the Tesla Model 3.

And what about the mechanics? It seems that the range of engines still needs to be reworked, while the compact is available with powers ranging from 125 to 478 horsepower thanks to a boost on the N version. On the other hand, the battery capacity is up by 7 kWh, going from 77.4 to 84 kWh. This benefits autonomy, which is now announced at 485 kilometers in the mixed cycle, compared to 458 kilometers so far in Korea.

In Europe, you should expect a range of around 550 km, compared to 507 km on the WLTP cycle currently with the most energy-efficient version.

What about charging time? The latter has not been improved, but it has not been lengthened either, despite the increase in the size of the accumulator. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, the latter can always be filled from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes. Just like its cousin, the Kia EV6. You should know that the car is also equipped with V2L bidirectional charging, as was already the case before.

In Korea, this new Ioniq 5 starts at 52.4 million won, which is around 36,252 euros according to the current exchange rate. A price that does not change compared to the previous version. In France, the compact is priced at 50,400 euros and is not eligible for the ecological bonus. It remains to be seen when the reworked variant will finally arrive here.