Hyundai’s electric brand has its first ground-up model.

    The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been revealed, and it’s bound for Australia in the third quarter of 2021.

    Here are the headline numbers:

    • There are two battery pack options: 58kWh and 72.6kWh
    • Maximum range of 480km on the stricter WLTP test cycle
    • A choice of two- and all-wheel drive

    Measuring up at 4625mm long with a 3000mm wheelbase, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a similar size to the Hyundai Tucson SUV, and will go head-to-head with the Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model Y when they arrive in Australia.

    Although it looks quite compact from some angles, boot space is 531L with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1600L with them folded flat. There’s also 57L under the bonnet.

    The standard range model with its 58kWh battery pack is available with a single electric motor has 125kW of power and 350Nm of torque, good for an 8.5-second run to 100km/h.

    The dual-motor all-wheel drive model ups those outputs to 173kW and 605Nm, and drops the 100km/h sprint to an i30 N-rivalling 6.1 seconds.

    Opting for the longer-range 72.6kWh model gets you 160kW and 350Nm in two-wheel drive models, and a serious 225kW and 605Nm from the dual-motor setup.

    The 100km/h sprint in the most powerful model is dispatched in 5.1 seconds.

    Maximum range (in the long-range, single-motor model) is 480km on the WLTP test cycle.

    Built on the Hyundai e-GMP platform, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 supports 800V fast charging when plugged into a DC public fast charger. A 10 per cent to 80 per cent charge takes just 18 minutes, and 100km of range takes just five minutes.

    The 5 is also able to act as a 3.5kW generator and provide power to other cars, homes, or businesses.

    The interior is a modern space that shares very little with the mainstream Hyundai range.

    The dashboard is dominated by two Mercedes-style screens, both measuring 12 inches in diameter. There are no chunky hoods or shields for them, either.

    Many of the interior touch points are made of recycled materials – including the seats, door trim, headliner, and armrest – in keeping with the car’s eco-friendly billing.

    The floating centre console you see is actually movable, meaning it can be slid under the dashboard to create a walk-through cabin.

    Rear seat passengers have access to multiple USB ports and a 15W wireless phone charger, along with their own cupholders.

    A panoramic glass roof is optional, along with a solar roof capable of providing incremental power to the battery.

    Along with its smart new electric platform, the Ioniq 5 debuts a new highway driving assistant for Hyundai, along with a full range of active safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

    Remote smart park allows owners to use their key to pull the car out of a tight parking spot, and a full suite of BlueLink connected services means a phone app can be used to remotely check on charge levels, turn on the heating, or activate the headlights.

    Local pricing for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 will be revealed closer to launch.

    Scott Collie

    Scott Collie is an automotive journalist based in Melbourne, Australia. Scott studied journalism at RMIT University and, after a lifelong obsession with everything automotive, started covering the car industry shortly afterwards. He has a passion for travel, and is an avid Melbourne Demons supporter.

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