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The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Is the 2023 MotorTrend SUV of the Year What Is an SUV, Anyway? Christian Seabaugh, Writer; Evan Klein, Photographer – October 20, 2022 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV of the Year Winner 02 What exactly constitutes an SUV? That’s a question that has sparked more debate than a political election. Ask a dozen people, and you’ll likely receive a dozen different answers. For some, it conjures images of rugged, body-on-frame vehicles with true four-wheel-drive systems, echoing the original Jeeps that essentially birthed the segment. To others, it’s simply a two-box design characterized by higher ground clearance and the utility to haul gear for a weekend getaway. Yet another camp defines an SUV as any hatchback that’s a bit larger than a standard car. We can all generally agree on the purpose of an SUV, but pinning down a universal definition of its form remains elusive. As Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously put it when grappling with the definition of pornography, “I know it when I see it.” Well, we know a truly great SUV when we drive one. A superlative SUV instills confidence; it masters the daily commute with ease, transforms into a capable road-trip companion for extended journeys, and handles everything from snowy roads to light off-road trails without breaking a sweat. Beyond capability, an SUV must prioritize spaciousness, ensuring every row offers ample room for both passengers and their cargo. Safety and reasonable efficiency are also non-negotiable. And, let’s be honest, a touch of stylish flair never hurts. ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW More 2023 SUVOTY: Finalists | Contenders | Behind the Scenes We’ve spent countless hours hashing out the semantics of the term, but we’ve yet to devise a more objective method for distinguishing mere automobiles from genuine SUVs than our rigorous Of The Year testing and evaluation criteria. Regardless of how any individual chooses to define it, one thing is undeniable: our 2023 SUV of the Year contender handily satisfies, and even exceeds, the diverse expectations of the compact SUV segment it enters. It’s visually stunning, a joy to drive, remarkably roomy, comfortable, efficient, and offers exceptional value. By now, you’ve probably guessed what it is: our 2023 SUV of the Year, the Hyundai Ioniq 5. ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5—the very first fully electric vehicle to claim our prestigious SUV of the Year award—represents a paradigm shift in what an SUV can be. The Ioniq 5 strikes a perfect balance between approachable modernity and innovative engineering. Its design and controls are refreshingly familiar to anyone transitioning from a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) SUV or crossover to their first electric vehicle (EV). Yet, the packaging and performance it delivers are made possible only through its compact, energy-dense electric motors. More significantly, the Ioniq 5 boasts cutting-edge 800-volt electric architecture, positioning it among the fastest-charging EVs available. Its charging times rival the duration of a typical rest stop on a road trip. And with a starting price just over $40,000, it stands as the most affordable vehicle offering this advanced technology on the market today. Simply put, no SUV in our remarkably diverse field of 33 contenders more comprehensively embodies our six core SUV of the Year criteria than the new Hyundai Ioniq 5. 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV of the Year Winner 01 Advancement in Design Admittedly, the Ioniq 5’s exterior styling is where some might question its SUV credentials the most. Featuring a steeply raked tailgate, a complete absence of a D-pillar, and a mere 6.1 inches of ground clearance—hardly more than a Subaru Legacy sedan—the Hyundai’s appearance leans more toward a “midsize hatchback” than a “compact SUV.” Nevertheless, the Ioniq 5 is undeniably one of the most visually striking mainstream vehicles to grace our roads in the last decade. Drawing inspiration from the Giugiaro-designed Hyundai Pony concept car from decades past, the Ioniq 5 masterfully blends 8-bit retrofuturism with sharp, clean lines and distinctive lighting signatures. This aesthetic expertly taps into the nostalgia of Gen X and Gen Y demographics. ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW “I absolutely love the interior and exterior styling,” commented digital director Erik Johnson. “It’s like a Trapper Keeper with Max Headroom on its cover that I might have toted to elementary school, but brought to life on wheels.” Associate editor Duncan Brady echoed this sentiment: “I want to specifically call out the hash marks along the wheel arches, and of course, those super-rad wheels.” The interior design is equally successful, even if some judges expressed a wish that Hyundai’s designers had brought the same level of playful creativity to the cabin as they did to the exterior. The EV’s cockpit is characterized by its clean, simple, and intuitive layout. It features twin 12.3-inch displays, a brandless two-spoke steering wheel, and a thoughtful mix of physical buttons, knobs, and switches. “Hyundai really sweated the details and smoothed out the user experience,” noted head of editorial Ed Loh. “This is a fantastic transitional EV—it’s new yet refreshingly familiar. You have a push-button start, just like most people expect, and plenty of physical knobs for selecting gears and adjusting settings with satisfying tactile feedback. There’s no need to guess or stare at a screen to confirm your input. It’s simple and elegant, which is deceptively difficult to achieve.” ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW Engineering Excellence Beneath its stylish exterior lies Hyundai Motor Group’s state-of-the-art E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) architecture. This same exceptionally versatile platform also underpins the Kia EV6 (a fellow SUVOTY finalist) and the Genesis GV60 (along with future Ioniq family vehicles). The E-GMP platform allowed Hyundai Motor Group’s three brands to engineer three distinct electric SUVs with varying wheelbases and hardpoints, all while sharing the same fundamental battery and motor components. This strategy enables customers to enjoy more choices and access more advanced technologies at more accessible price points. Speaking of choice, Hyundai offers two distinct battery and motor configurations for the Ioniq 5. The entry-level Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range models come equipped with a 58.0-kWh battery pack paired with a single, rear-mounted electric motor, delivering 168 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This configuration achieves an EPA-estimated driving range of 220 miles. Moving up one rung on the trim ladder unlocks the larger 77.4-kWh battery pack. Rear-wheel-drive versions of the big-battery Ioniq 5 feature an upgraded motor producing 225 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Optional dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants boast a robust 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 models can travel up to 256 miles between charges (though this increases to 266 miles for 2023 models), while the single-motor variant achieves an impressive 303 miles per charge. Even more remarkable is the Ioniq 5’s charging speed. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, this Ioniq is one of the few vehicles on the road capable of utilizing 350-kW Level 3 DC fast chargers. With a peak charging rate of 239 kW for large-battery models (base models are limited to 195 kW), the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes—roughly the time it takes for a standard fuel stop, bathroom break, and stretch on a road trip with a conventional car. Furthermore, Hyundai is actively working on improving charging speeds through over-the-air updates, with the ultimate goal of making DC fast charging truly comparable to a traditional gas station experience. The Ioniq 5 also stands out as one of the few production EVs offering vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. This feature allows an adapter to convert the charge port into a standard 120-volt outlet, enabling the vehicle to power external devices. Performance of Intended Function Despite its unconventional, hatchback-like styling, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 truly excels when asked to perform the duties we expect of an SUV. For starters, it is exceptionally roomy. With a wheelbase longer than that of Hyundai’s full-size Palisade SUV, wheels positioned at the absolute corners, and a completely flat floor, the Ioniq 5’s cabin feels open, airy, and genuinely welcoming. Both adults and children will find every row comfortable and spacious, offering an upright, commanding view of the surroundings. Storage options are plentiful, including a clever center console that slides forward and backward by 5.5 inches and various cubbies throughout the interior. “The center console offers an enormous open space, making it easy to stash a large bag there,” observed buyer’s guide director Zach Gale. “Or at least two tubs of ice cream.” And while the Ioniq may lack a front trunk (frunk), it compensates with a spacious, tiered cargo area—perfect for, you guessed it, more