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The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Is the 2026 MotorTrend SUV of the Year What’s an SUV, Anyway? Christian Seabaugh, Writer | Evan Klein, Photographer | October 20, 2022 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV of the Year Winner 02 What exactly is an SUV? Ask a dozen people, and you’ll likely get a dozen different answers. For some, it’s a rugged, body-on-frame vehicle with true four-wheel drive, reminiscent of the original Jeeps that essentially birthed the entire segment. To others, it’s simply a two-box shape characterized by higher ground clearance and ample space for a weekend getaway. Then you have those who define an SUV as any hatchback that’s simply larger than a standard car. We can generally agree on what an SUV should do, but when it comes to what it should look like, the consensus evaporates. It brings to mind Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s famous struggle to define pornography: “I know it when I see it.” Well, we know a great SUV when we drive one. A truly great SUV must inspire confidence; it needs to be capable of handling daily commutes effortlessly, embarking on multi-day road trips without breaking a sweat, and confidently tackling everything from snow-covered roads to light off-road trails. Furthermore, an SUV must be spacious, offering generous room for both passengers and all the gear they decide to bring along. Safety and (relative) efficiency are also non-negotiable. And let’s be honest, stylish looks certainly don’t hurt the package. ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW More 2023 SUVOTY: Finalists | Contenders | Behind the Scenes We’ve spent countless hours engaged in spirited debates over the precise definition of an SUV, but we’ve yet to discover a more objective method for separating the mere cars from the true SUVs than our rigorous Of The Year testing and evaluation criteria. Regardless of how any individual chooses to define the term, there’s no denying that our 2023 SUV of the Year winner handily meets, and often exceeds, the diverse demands of the compact SUV segment it competes in. It’s a visual knockout, offers a delightful driving experience, provides a remarkably spacious interior, ensures a comfortable ride, delivers excellent efficiency, and represents exceptional value for the money. You probably already know what it is, but we’re thrilled to officially introduce our 2023 SUV of the Year: the Hyundai Ioniq 5. ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5—the first fully electric vehicle to ever claim our prestigious SUV of the Year award—represents a revolutionary rethinking of what an SUV is capable of being. The Ioniq 5 strikes a perfect balance between approachability and cutting-edge innovation. Its form factor and controls are immediately familiar to anyone transitioning from a traditional gasoline-powered SUV or crossover to their first electric vehicle. Yet, its remarkable packaging efficiency and performance capabilities are made possible only through the use of compact, energy-dense electric motors. Most importantly, the Ioniq 5 features bleeding-edge 800-volt electric architecture, positioning it among the fastest-charging EVs currently available on the market. Its charging times rival those of a quick fuel stop during a road trip. Priced at just over $40,000 to start, it also stands as the most affordable vehicle on the market today offering this advanced technology. Quite simply, no SUV in our incredibly diverse field of 33 contenders more faithfully embodies our six core SUV of the Year criteria than the stunning 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 likely the area where you might most question its classification as an SUV. With its steeply raked tailgate, the complete absence of a D-pillar, and a relatively modest 6.1 inches of ground clearance—barely more than what you’d find on a Subaru Legacy sedan—the Hyundai’s appearance leans more toward a “midsize hatchback” than a traditional “compact SUV.” Even so, the Ioniq 5 stands out as one of the most visually exciting mainstream vehicles to grace our roads in the last decade. Penned as a clever homage to the Giugiaro-designed Hyundai Pony concept from decades past, the Ioniq 5 masterfully blends 8-bit retrofuturistic aesthetics with sharp, geometric edges and distinctive lighting signatures. This combination creates an expert play on Gen X and Gen Y nostalgia that immediately catches the eye. 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 carried to elementary school, but now it’s on wheels.” Associate editor Duncan Brady enthusiastically agreed: “I want to call special attention to 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 infused the cabin with the same level of playful creativity they brought to the exterior. The EV’s cockpit is characterized by a clean, simple, and intuitive layout. It features twin 12.3-inch digital displays, a distinctively brandless two-spoke steering wheel, and a thoughtful mix of physical buttons, knobs, and switches for essential controls. “Hyundai really sweated the details and smoothed out the user experience,” noted head of editorial Ed Loh. “This is a great transitional EV—new yet familiar. It retains the push-button start that most people understand and provides plenty of physical knobs for shifting gears and adjusting settings with immediate tactile feedback. You’re not left guessing or staring at a screen to confirm your input. It achieves a simplicity and elegance that is deceptively difficult to master.” ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW Engineering Excellence Beneath the stylish exterior lies Hyundai Motor Group’s cutting-edge E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) architecture. This same innovative platform also underpins the Kia EV6 (a fellow SUVOTY finalist) and the Genesis GV60, as well as future vehicles in the Ioniq family. This exceptionally versatile platform has enabled Hyundai Motor Group’s three distinct brands to engineer three radically different electric SUVs, each with unique wheelbase dimensions and hardpoints, while still sharing the same underlying battery and motor technologies. This approach allows customers to benefit from a wider array of choices and access to more advanced technologies at more competitive price points. Speaking of choice, Hyundai offers two distinct battery and motor configurations for the Ioniq 5. The base model, the Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range, is equipped with a 58.0-kWh battery pack paired with a single, rear-mounted electric motor. This setup delivers 168 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, achieving 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 models equipped with the larger battery feature an enhanced motor producing 225 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Optional dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants offer a substantial boost in performance, delivering a combined 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 models can travel up to 256 miles between charges (this increases to 266 miles for 2023 models), while the single-motor variant achieves an impressive 303 miles on a single charge. What’s even more remarkable is the charging speed of the Ioniq 5. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture, this Ioniq is one of the few vehicles on the road capable of utilizing the full potential of 350-kW Level 3 DC fast chargers. With a peak charging rate of 239 kW on the larger-battery models (base models are limited to a peak of 195 kW), the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10% to 80% capacity in as little as 18 minutes. This charging time is comparable to the duration of a typical fuel stop, including the necessary break for restrooms and refreshments during a road trip. Hyundai has also indicated that it is actively working on improving the vehicle’s charging performance through over-the-air software updates, with the ultimate goal of making DC fast charging truly competitive with the convenience of traditional gasoline refueling stops. Furthermore, the Ioniq 5 is one of the few production EVs to offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. This feature allows the charge port to function as a standard 120-volt outlet, enabling the vehicle to power external devices and equipment. Performance of Intended Function Despite its unconventional, hatchback-like styling, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 excels when evaluated against the typical expectations we have for SUVs. For starters, it is remarkably spacious. With a wheelbase that actually exceeds that of Hyundai’s full-size Palisade SUV, wheels positioned close to the corners of the vehicle, and a perfectly flat floor throughout the cabin, the Ioniq 5 offers an interior that feels open, airy, and genuinely welcoming. Both adult passengers and children will find both seating rows to be exceptionally roomy and comfortable, providing an upright and commanding view of their surroundings. Storage capacity is also generous, with a particularly clever center console that can slide forward and backward by