Hyundai IONIQ 5 review: The family EV that gets the basics right?

Join us as we take a closer look at the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the family EV that's not too big, not too small, and not short on power either

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 sits right in that sweet spot of the brand's lineup. Spacious enough for family life, without tipping into behemoth territory.

In fact, if you're not a fan of SUVs, you'd barely know this was one just from looking at it.

The family EV market's currently flooded with cheaper Chinese rivals, and while they're offering some serious value, question marks still linger over their long-term reliability.

The IONIQ 5 gives you a proven alternative instead.

You've got Hyundai's track record behind it, an impressive range, and a turn of pace that's properly nippy when you need it.

It also comes in under the £50,000 expensive car supplement threshold, so it won't sting on running costs either.

So, is the IONIQ 5 simply a safe, sensible choice? Or does it go further than that? Let's find out.

What we drove:

Model: Hyundai IONIQ 5 Ultimate 325 AWD Electric 84kWh Auto

Body Style: Hatchback

Power: Electric (239 kW / 325 PS)

Battery: 84 kWh

Colour: Cyber Grey

Specifications correct at the time of publication.

SUV in a sporty hatchback disguise

Officially, the IONIQ 5 is a midsize crossover SUV. Look at it though, and you'd swear it was a scaled-up hot hatch.

Its retro-futuristic design, complete with "8-bit" style LED lighting, still looks fresh and modern despite the car first launching back in 2021.

The design also went on to influence Hyundai's later design language across the wider IONIQ range, the Kona, and the Santa Fe.

Flush door handles, sharp angular lines, and aerodynamic sculpting all play their part in the look, while also doing some quiet work on efficiency behind the scenes.

It's all built on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP EV platform too, which explains the short overhangs, long wheelbase, and low centre of gravity from the underfloor battery placement — a big part of why it looks (and drives) the way it does.

A cabin built for the whole family

Step inside, and the interior is nothing short of impressive.

The dashboard is surrounded by contrasting details and soft-touch surfaces. Twin 12.3-inch infotainment screens dominate the dash, though they look more Samsung than typical car tech.

The hazard button sits directly beneath the screens, with a row of shortcut buttons and climate controls just below that.

No more hunting through a touchscreen menu to do the most basic of tasks. Hyundai's going against the norm here, and we're all for it.

Under the controls sits a wireless charging pad with a cooling function, so your phone won't overheat mid-journey.

There are five USB-C ports too: Three in the front and two in the back, meaning the kids won't be arguing over who gets to charge their tablet first.

The seats are heated and ventilated (which was a godsend during the heatwave when we took the IONIQ 5 out for a photoshoot).

Space is genuinely practical here too.

There's plenty of storage throughout, and head and legroom are generous for passengers of all sizes, front and back.

The boot comes in at 520 litres, or up to 1,580 litres with the seats folded down, which is seriously impressive for a car this size, and cabin space doesn't suffer for it either.

Everything here feels intentional and properly thought-through, exactly what a family needs from a car that's doing the school run one day and a road trip the next.

There's even a frunk under the bonnet coming in at up to 57 litres.

Nippy where it counts, calm everywhere else

Put your foot down and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is properly nippy. 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds, to be exact.

That power's there when you want it, but the IONIQ 5 doesn't feel like it's trying to prove a point.

The suspension does a good job of keeping things settled, soaking up the road without ever feeling harsh or unsettled.

Adaptive cruise control is a particular highlight.

Some adaptive cruise systems leave such a large gap to the car in front that the tech ends up overcorrecting, braking sharply the moment it judges you've drifted too close. The IONIQ 5 keeps a sensible distance throughout, so it never feels the need to react so suddenly.

Indicate to change lanes, and the blind-spot cameras kick in, displaying a live feed directly on the driver's display. It's a small touch, but a genuinely useful one.

The steering is light and precise around town. Though the turning circle (12 metres) is on the larger side, which makes tighter manoeuvres a bit more difficult.

Regenerative braking is also adjustable via paddles on the steering wheel, letting you dial in exactly how much the car slows itself when you lift off the accelerator.

On faster B-roads, the softer suspension setup does bring some body roll through corners, though it stays composed rather than unsettled.

The IONIQ 5 isn't trying to rival something like the Ford Mustang Mach-E for outright fun.

It's comfort that's the priority here, not thrills, and for a family SUV, that's exactly the right call.

Built for long trips, not just the school run

With the IONIQ 5, you get up to 354 miles of range (WLTP Comb).

Charging is where things get clever. DC rapid charging tops out at up to 260kW, meaning a 10-80% top-up takes as little as 18 minutes on a suitable ultra-rapid charger.

At home, an 11kW three-phase supply gets you a full charge in 2.5 hours, while a standard 7kW wallbox takes around 3.5-4 hours overnight, perfect for waking up to a full battery every morning.

There's no charging card needed either.

Plug & Charge tech handles authentication directly between the car and the charge point, so you can just plug in and walk away.

The multi-charging system also supports both 400V and 800V infrastructure without needing any adapters, so you're covered wherever you charge.

One clever touch families will appreciate is Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities.

It lets you power devices like e-bikes, camping equipment, or laptops directly from the car, either via the onboard 230V socket or an exterior adapter, up to 3.6kW.

Handy for camping trips, days out, or even the odd power cut.

A heat pump comes as standard across the range too, helping preserve range when temperatures drop, which is every British winter.

What's good, and what's not

What's good:

• Genuinely nippy for a family SUV (0-62mph in 5.3 seconds)
• Physical buttons and shortcuts instead of touchscreen-only controls
• Blind-spot camera feed on the driver's display when indicating
• Up to 354 miles of range (WLTP Comb)
• Generous boot space (520-1,580 litres) without sacrificing cabin room

What's not:

• Some cheaper-feeling plastics on shortcut buttons despite the premium feel elsewhere
• Softer suspension brings some body roll on faster B-roads
• Not as engaging to drive as something like a Ford Mustang Mach-E

What's the verdict?

Overall Rating: 9/10

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 doesn't need to shout to make its case. It's spacious enough for family life without tipping into full-size SUV territory, quick enough to feel genuinely fun day-to-day, and sensible enough with its tech that it never gets in the way.

In a market increasingly flooded with cheaper, newer Chinese rivals, the IONIQ 5 offers something harder to put a price on: A brand with a genuine track record, and a car that gets the fundamentals right.

Physical buttons where you need them, cruise control that behaves sensibly, and a genuinely useful blind-spot camera system all point to a manufacturer that's thought about how families actually use a car, not just how it looks in a showroom.

It's not the longest-range EV on sale, and efficiency isn't quite class-leading.

But for most families, none of that will matter day-to-day.

What will matter is a car that's comfortable, practical, and properly nippy when you need it to be.

Top five reasons to consider the Hyundai IONIQ 5:

1. A proven badge in a market full of unfamiliar Chinese newcomers
2. Genuinely practical for family life, without needing the typical large SUV
3. Performance that never feels like an afterthought
4. Tech that works for you, not against you
5. Backed by Hyundai's five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty

Would we recommend leasing a Hyundai IONIQ 5?

Yes! The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is possibly the ultimate car for families who need space and practicality, without a behemoth SUV or MPV.

It's spacious, properly quick, genuinely practical for family life, and backed by a brand you can trust to still be around in five years' time.

Leasing takes the guesswork out of driving an EV too.

No worrying about battery degradation, resale values, or being tied to a car as the market moves on, just a straightforward monthly cost for a car that does everything a family needs it to.