PALM SPRINGS, Calif.—Can it really have been four(ish) years since we first drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5? With looks like a scaled-up hatchback from the 1980s, and one of the most advanced electric vehicle powertrains on the market, the Ioniq 5 was an instant hit with Ars and car buyers. Since then, Hyundai has begun building Ioniq 5s at its new plant in Georgia, and for model year 2025, it has made some tweaks that have turned a great EV into an even better one.
The Ioniq 5 was the first EV to use Hyundai’s new E-GMP platform, designed for mid-to-large EVs with rear- or all-wheel drive. The powertrain uses an 800 V architecture, which endows it with a number of advantages, some obvious, like very fast DC fast charging, some less obvious, such as less mass (and expense) given over to high-voltage cabling. On the road, it proved highly efficient, not to mention stylish and practical.
The tweaks for model year 2025 are subtle as far as midlife upgrades go. There’s a new wheel design, and some of the details at the front and rear bumper are more pronounced. The idea was to “accentuate the CUVness” of the car, according to Brad Arnold, head of exterior design at Hyundai Design—perhaps broadening the appeal to those who have no affection for late ’80s hatchback vibes.
People are often surprised that the Ioniq 5 is larger in person than they expect. Jonathan Gitlin
New batteries, more range
The new Ioniq 5 features a pair of new battery packs. The $42,500 SE standard range Ioniq 5 gets a bump from 58 kWh to 63 kWh, which gives it a range of 245 miles (394 km), up from 220 miles (354 km). All other versions now use an 84 kWh pack, up from 77.4 kWh in last year’s model. For the most range, you’ll want a rear-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 with this battery—318 miles (511 km) in either SE ($46,550), SEL ($49,500), or Limited ($54,200) trim.
