I recently reviewed the Hyundai Ioniq 5, well as much of a review as I could by watching videos,
and researching the specifications. I also had a lot of feedback too in the comments. Of course a
lot of people thinking I am just bias as a Tesla shareholder or fanboy. But I finally got to take
one out for a test drive, I am genuinely trying to what I can to research the EV industry first hand.
This is not a channel that goes and listens to what other people say and simply paraphrase it
back. This is original research and thought, that may go against the grain at times. I might be
wrong at times, but I will at least offer unique perspectives, to make you think differently.
I actually went in a couple of times to try and drive the car, but it was always out, in
fact when I got to this time, it was only because someone else had not turned up to their test drive
appointment. I have had similar issues trying to test drive other EVs in the city too. It's almost
like EVs are really popular or something. Maybe the way of the future of transportation perhaps.
The Ioniq they had available was the 2 wheel drive version. In person it kind of looks cool,
but once you get really close up, and look at the lights, they don't look quite as good.
I am not sure how to explain it, but although it looks futuristic it still looks, I think cheap,
for lack of better word. The design just didn't seem to flow quite right. I think
this design will date quickly too, it almost feels like it's somewhat dated already. Compare
it to a Tesla Model 3, with a design we first saw revealed over 5 years ago now,
and it still looks current. Well at least the ones with chrome delete.
A lot of people criticize Tesla's designs, but they age very well.
Hence the 10 year old Model S design still selling today, ok sure with some refreshes.
Ok I should admit, I am a car snob, I think that probably is an accurate
way to describe my appreciation of cars. For legacy autos I only ever liked European cars,
I just had a great appreciation for the higher quality builds, superior performance and all
those extra safety acronyms. It was a passion I had, I loved European cars.
So I am coming in as a car snob, rather than a Tesla fanboy. But looking at the interior,
then I have to say, the Hyundai has done a good job as far as minimization. Minimalism
is the best design, although I don't think many other auto companies realize this yet,
or simply have the technology to achieve it, they need buttons.
But the Hyundai was not so bad. There was still a whole section of buttons for the climate control,
which looked a bit cheap, especially with the small LCD screen displaying the
temperature. It also had a start button, something that is not necessary with electric vehicles.
Quite a few extra buttons on the steering wheel too.
However, the air vents were not as hideous as on other cars, it looked like they had simply
made them smaller. I guess they are aware of how much better it looks like in the Tesla,
and tried to reduce their air vent foot print. But it's still old air vent technology,
I guess it's simply too difficult for them to do air vents like Tesla.
I played around with the buttons, and to be honest, they all felt quite solid,
not as cheap as we see in many other cars. Almost all the car felt fairly robust,
which was good to see. The cupholoders in the middle were just like a floating
island of cupholders, it was fairly solid, but could be moved about a bit, a slight wobble.
However with no major center console, this felt like a bit of wasted real estate.
There were two widescreens, but they both felt very small when coming from a Tesla.
The future definitely requires large widescreens similar to an ipad as the major entertainment and
control center. Very few vehicles have realized this. Even Lucid got this wrong, I think Rivian,
XPeng and BYD are the only ones that actually have a large enough center widescreen,
aside from Tesla of course. Along with the placement of the screens too,
if it's a touchscreen then you want it to be lower down. Same for every single car.
Except the issue is, they all put air vents right below the screens, so they can't ever
put the screens in the right place that easiest to control and view for the driver.
Hyundai are still using usb for charging, in a brand new car. Tesla has been using
USB-C for sometime, not only that, even wireless charging too. I don't know if it is upgradeable
extra with the Hyundai perhaps, but still, it goes to show how wrong companies like this
can get technology. It is pretty obvious these days, to have a usb-c charger, not usb.
Although the interior did feel minimalist, it still felt cheap. It felt like it was finished
with cheap plastic, cheap upholstery, the seat didn't feel overly comfortable.
There was no soul to the car. It didn't feel like anything special.
Then we took it for a test drive. Now admittedly I do not have a lot of experience with non-European
cars, I try to avoid driving them driving them, so I may possibly have a higher standard than
the typical driver. But the first thing I noticed was how loose the steering was,
it barely felt like it was connected to the wheels. It moved around
so loose, and there was very little response to detect from the road.
Now the salesperson told me the car was 74 kWh and front wheel drive, but online it appears to
be 77 kWh and rear wheel drive. Now given that my Tesla has a similar battery size at 82 kWh,
I might have expected some sort of performance out of this. I put my foot down, and it felt
like nothing happened. Absolutely no sudden whip of power. I am not joking. I thought electric
was all about instant power due to the motors having so much torque. This was just a gentle
smooth accumulation of speed. I couldn't believe it. It is supposedly 0 to 60 in 7.4 seconds.
Which I guess isn't particularly quick, and it's been a long time since I ever drove something
that slow, to compare it with. But either way, I expected better with a battery this size,
and this car was not at all cheap. You could buy a Model 3 for the same price.
Admittedly there is the dual motor version of the Ioniq that hits 60 in 5.2 seconds,
which was about the same as the old standard range model 3. The dual motor sacrifices a lot of range
in order to that though. Dropping from 303 miles to 256 miles. Along with the additional cost.
Whereas the long range dual motor Tesla is hitting 358 miles of range with 0 to 60 or 4.2 seconds.
Ok sure the Model 3 is not a cross over, but this Ioniq wasn't that big a car,
in fact it was quite compact. In fact the Model 3 is about half a meter longer than the Ioniq.
This was the first non-Tesla EV I have ever driven, so I really was keen to see how much of
the magic in my Tesla was because it was simply battery powered, and how much of it was Tesla.
Ok Hyundai are not up there with the German legacy autos, but they are a reasonable brand, and have
done an excellent job in building their brand over the years. This also was not their first electric
vehicle, I think it might even be their 3rd, excluding Kia's. But I was extremely underwhelmed.
I may not have gone in with the highest of expectations, but the car didn't even meet those.
I am still planning on test driving a few other EVs,
like the Mercedes, that will be interesting to see how much better a job Mercedes can do,
given the car will cost 50% more than the Hyundai. But this offering, was not even close to anything
like a Tesla. I really wish I could test drive an XPeng, NIO, or BYD, and see just how close
the Chinese are getting. Polestar may arrive here though sometime, which will be good to try.
I find all other car reviews to be grossly inaccurate, are simply praising the Hyundai
too much, or perhaps just comparing to other such vehicles, and ignoring the elephant in the room,
Tesla. Or perhaps there would be little point in watching car reviews that simply say every car is
either so antiquated because it has to burn dead dinosaurs to make them go, or if they are electric
failing miserably to be anything remotely close to Tesla. Which is kind of how my car
reviews generally go. But that's how I see them through my eyes. And I don't think I am wrong,
when you just compare the specifications and even relative to price. I am pretty good at math, all
these cars fail miserably against Tesla. Therefore I believe I truly am being objective. Honestly,
I get the feeling some people think I should be giving them a participation medal or something.
Well ok then, Hyundai have participated in making an EV, that may be as good as their ICE vehicles,
but likely can't make enough of them and can't make them at a profit. The truth is the truth.
But if you have to have a Hyundai cross over, that needs to be electric, than the Ioniq is
definitely the car for you. If you simply want something electric, at a similar price point then
the Model 3 all day long. But a lot of people like this car, and it still seems to be selling well.
Besides it doesn't need to beat Tesla, or even come close, no one can compete with Tesla. Hyundai
just need to beat their ICE offering, at least for now. Except despite it's popularity, they can't
make enough, and they can't make a net profit either. So there is that issue too.