[Taboleo] Electric Cars, Goodbye to Motion Sickness~

Test Drive of the Facelifted Ioniq 5
Focus on Battery and Ride Comfort Over Design
New Car Paradigm Shift in the Electrification Era

The Ioniq 5, Hyundai's first dedicated electric vehicle, is a symbolic model not only for the company but also in the domestic and international electric vehicle markets. Although it was a step behind pioneering electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla, it gained attention as one of the early mass-produced cars to apply a dedicated electric vehicle platform among major automakers. It also received favorable reviews for its product appeal, fully utilizing the unique characteristics of electric vehicles while inheriting the design legacy of the well-received domestic car Pony.

The new Hyundai Ioniq 5. It is a facelift model released after about three years since its first launch in 2021.
[Photo by Hyundai Motor Group]

The new Ioniq 5, released three years after its initial debut, is a facelift model. Typically, facelifts focus more on interior and exterior design rather than the powertrain, but this new Ioniq 5 clearly shows efforts to increase battery capacity and improve ride comfort. This suggests that new car development patterns in the electrification era may unfold differently from those in the past internal combustion engine era.

The battery capacity has increased from 77.4 kWh to 84 kWh. The initial model had already increased once from 72.6 kWh, and this time it has increased again. The driving range per charge has increased by nearly 30 km to 485 km. Although the curb weight has increased by about 70 kg due to the larger battery and additional convenience features, the efficiency of the battery and power electronics system has also improved, keeping the energy consumption at the same level as before.

The test vehicle was a rear-wheel-drive 20-inch model with a rated cruising range of about 453 km. When received, the battery was at 84% charge, and the display showed a driving range of 443 km. With good driving habits, it is possible to achieve around 500 km on a single charge.

The rear spoiler has been extended, and a rear window wiper has been added. [Photo by Hyundai Motor Group]

Thinned Digital Side Mirror
Photo by Hyundai Motor Group

Ride comfort has been significantly improved when driving over rough surfaces such as bumps. Electric vehicles generally handle vibrations well due to the battery weight, but this new model gives the impression that more attention was paid to absorbing and filtering shocks.

Hyundai recently applied frequency-responsive shock absorbers to new models, which proved effective here. This system adjusts damping force by utilizing frequencies that vary depending on driving speed and road conditions. It effectively controls the bouncing phenomenon that occurs when suspension springs compress and extend.

Increasing the rigidity in front of the driver's seat also contributes to improved ride comfort. The motor operation feel has been refined to be smoother. Due to regenerative braking, passengers other than the driver often dislike the characteristic jolting sensation, and efforts were made to minimize this as much as possible. The rigidity of the vehicle's underbody and rear wheel housings was increased, and the sound absorption area of the rear motor was expanded, reducing noise intrusion from outside.

The center console layout has been changed, and the display bezel has been switched from white to black.
[Photo by Hyundai Motor Group]

These considerable changes are because the vehicle is positioned as a family car. Over three years of sales domestically and internationally, Hyundai boldly applied customer feedback and shortcomings to this facelift model. Advanced safety and convenience features such as front and rear, side parking distance warnings, collision avoidance assist, parking assist, and lane keeping assist were improved, as these are the options most commonly chosen by those selecting a family car.

On the exterior, the extended rear spoiler, a rear wiper that was not present on previous models, and sleeker digital side mirrors stand out. However, the interior changes are more prominent. The wireless smartphone charging pad was moved upward, frequently used seat ventilation and heating buttons were given their own space on the center console, a 3-spoke type steering wheel was introduced, and the display bezel color was changed from white to black. Considering the recent decline in electric vehicle demand, Hyundai froze the price despite the extensive upgrades.