“Fortunate me,” I believed as I navigated the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 into the final spot of a Tesla Supercharging station in Palm Springs.
The EV didn’t actually need any juice. However this refreshed compact all-electric SUV comes outfitted with Tesla’s North American Charging Normal port; it was time to check out how effectively Hyundai would match up with the Tesla Supercharging community.
The expertise uncovered a niche — within the literal sense. And whereas Hyundai shouldn’t shoulder all of the blame, it did illustrate how a seemingly good concept doesn’t all the time translate in the actual world.
For instance, I reversed into the parking spot, opened the cost port on the passenger-rear quarter panel, and grabbed the charging twine, nestled within the cupboard sitting all the best way over on the driving force’s aspect of the automotive.
Uh, Hyundai, we’ve got an issue. It didn’t attain.
I may wait for one more Tesla to vacate its area and use that charging cable, basically taking over two areas, or I may use the in-car navigation to discover a CCS-equipped charging station and use the adapter that comes with the automotive.
I selected to toddle on with my day as I had loads of battery, however others may not be so fortunate.
CCS, or Mixed Charging System, was the usual in North America and utilized by each automaker aside from Tesla, which developed its personal port and charging station referred to as the North American Charging Normal, or NACS.
Automakers started to shift to NACS in Might 2023 after Ford reached an settlement that will give homeowners of its EV entry to greater than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers throughout the U.S. and Canada. GM adopted and inside six months practically each automaker had struck an identical take care of Tesla. Entry would initially be completed with a Tesla adapter, however most of those automakers — Hyundai and Kia included — additionally agreed to combine the NACS charging tech into their future EVs.
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is considered one of these.
In fact, not all of that is Hyundai’s fault. The Ioniq 5 has all the time had its charging port on the rear passenger aspect, and shifting it might be a spendy proposition. And Tesla says the issue needs to be solved with the rollout of its V4 charging stations with longer cables, though its web site says, “we encourage all automobile producers to standardize cost port areas to the rear driver aspect or entrance passenger aspect.”
Consumers of the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 may have higher luck discovering a CCS station and utilizing the adapter. Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 can go from 10% to 80% of cost in about 20 minutes at a CCS charger. The identical fill-up will value you as much as half-hour at an NACS charger.
Hyundai makes it a bit simpler along with your selection of a $400 charging credit score or a free ChargePoint dwelling charger with the acquisition of an Ioniq 5 and people with an older Hyundai EV with a local CCS port can get a free NACS adapter by the MyHyundai proprietor portal beginning in March.
Hyundai homeowners may also have entry to the deliberate Ionna charging community. The Ionna community, which is anticipated to have 30,000 NACS and CCS charging factors by 2030, is a collaboration between BMW, Basic Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Stellantis, and Toyota.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5: Greater batteries, extra vary, new trim
The 2025 Ioniq 5, which is able to are available SE, SEL, XRT, and Restricted trims in rear- or all-wheel drive, might appear like its earlier mannequin years. However there are some key variations, beginning with the battery measurement.
The usual vary battery ratchets up 5 kWh to 63 kWh, whereas the prolonged vary sits at 84 kWh, a rise of 6.6 kWh. Relying on the mixture of drivetrain, battery, and trim, anticipate to see 245 miles of vary on the low finish and as much as 318 miles of vary for a rear-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 with the bigger battery.
Energy output varies, too, beginning with 168 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, rising to 225 ponies within the prolonged vary battery. Probably the most highly effective setup settles in at 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque for all-wheel-drive automobiles with the larger battery.
Tech upgrades
The 2025 Ioniq 5 has some new parlor methods too.
The digital key perform now works along with your cellphone inside a pocket or purse, a pleasant improve for once you’re juggling children, groceries, and a drink.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are actually wi-fi and all fashions have over-the-air updates.
Moreover, Hyundai Pay permits homeowners so as to add their bank card to the infotainment system to pay for reserved off-street parking mechanically. Drivers additionally get up to date blind-spot collision avoidance and parking help.
Let’s get soiled
For these wanting a bit extra journey with their electrical SUV, the Ioniq 5 now comes within the XRT trim.
This mannequin is designed for venturing off the trail only a bit due to a one-inch elevate and 29-inch Continental CrossContact ATR tires for higher efficiency within the grime and over gravel. This mannequin additionally will get a Terrain button on the steering wheel that provides up modes for Snow, Mud, and Sand.
Hyundai let me free on a enjoyable grime loop and I discovered that the automotive has sufficient playfulness in it to induce a smile. Sand mode doesn’t flip the traction management all the best way off — it’s important to manually push the traction management button to try this. It does alter the brake regen properties so the automobile doesn’t mechanically begin to decelerate once you elevate. It additionally splits the torque 50/50 for optimum traction.
It’s enjoyable to toss it into corners and get somewhat slidey, however the ABS system — whereas nice on pavement — can intervene with traction and off-road stopping distances by not permitting any grime to construct up in entrance of the tire.
It might be nice if the drive modes additionally tweaked this method. Nonetheless, the moment electrical torque means it’s straightforward to get on the throttle and energy out of a flip and scream towards the subsequent one, slinging grime rooster tails within the course of.
The XRT isn’t some form of rock crawler. The overall floor clearance is just seven inches — that’s two inches lower than a Subaru Forester Wilderness. The off-road geometry, whereas higher than the Toyota RAV4 Woodland Version, is supposed extra for small obstacles and undulations.
I discovered the restrict of the 19.8-degree method angle on my drive and returned with a part of the XRT-exclusive entrance fascia tworked only a bit. There isn’t any particular underbody safety for the battery within the XRT, however the departure angle is a wholesome 30 levels and the automotive comes outfitted with two entrance tow hooks.
The place the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 shines
On the pavement, the Ioniq 5 is simply as pleasant because it ever was, with zippy acceleration, well-balanced dealing with, and a cushty experience.
A part of my first drive took me to increased elevations the place the all-season tires have been put to the slushy snow check. The automotive by no means misplaced grip, inspiring confidence on this desert dweller.
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 begins at $43,975, together with the vacation spot payment for a base SE mannequin in rear-wheel drive with the usual battery. The off-roady XRT could be had for $56,875 whereas a high Restricted trim in all-wheel drive will set you again $59,575.
You will get a Ford Mustang Mach-E at a decrease beginning worth and comparable vary, and all Mach-E automobiles are normal outfitted with the hands-free/eyes-up BlueCruise freeway driving help. You’ll pay a subscription payment to make use of the know-how, however Hyundai doesn’t provide something prefer it.
In the event you’re into futuristic appears, the Kia EV6 is a worthy competitor, particularly in case you’re in search of efficiency. The GT AWD trim nets 576 ponies and 545 pound-feet of torque. Yowza.
It’s robust to seek out fault with the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5. This refreshed Ioniq 5 maintains its pavement poise and provides a little bit of journey thrills with the brand new XRT trim. However homeowners might discover themselves avoiding Tesla Superchargers regardless of that built-in NACS port.
