It takes less than 1/10th of a second to form an assessment of someone’s face.
The competence of politicians, based solely on their appearance, can predict their success in an election – even when the audience has no idea who the politician is.
Welcome to the Australian electorate … and Canberra.
So, when we picked up Hyundai’s EV Ioniq 5 Dynamiq, I used the 1/10th evaluation – “nice”, one of the most condescending descriptions for anything.
Settling into the off-white upholstery with red piping, the ambient lighting which glows from behind the armrests and the illuminated rings around the speaker grills, this car was “very nice, very nice indeed”.
Judges of the Good Design Gold Accolade in recognition of outstanding design and innovation and the Carsales Car of the Year Award chose the Ioniq 5 Techniq the overall winner, elevating it above formidable luxury segment EV finalists such as the Polestar 2 and the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.
The panel agreed the Ioniq 5 was the “unequivocal winner”, securing more top votes than any model in the history of the award. The judges’ choice was based on ownership cost and affordability calculations, price, packaging, and equipment of each model’s top-selling private-buyer variant.
Cost-to-run factors over three years and 60,000 km included fuel, tyres, insurance and servicing, and cost-to-own data such as financing, warranty coverage, depreciation, retail price and value for money were compared to key segment rivals.
Expressions of interest in a new car don’t always translate to sales; it’s fair to say Hyundai could sell many more Ioniq 5s in Australia if it had the stock. Ask anyone searching for an all-electric vehicle right now.
Part of the Ioniq 5’s popularity is style, but there’s a lot to be said for Hyundai’s five-year warranty and brand equity earned over the last two decades.
The Ioniq 5 is capable of 800 volts and 350 kW DC fast charging, good for a 10 to 80% recharge in a claimed 18 minutes in optimal conditions.
Key to the changes implemented at the back end of 2022 is an improved battery pack, with a move to 77.4 kW, which is an 8 kW lift in battery capacity over the previous model.
Boot capacity is rated at 524-litres, regardless of variant. For maximum practicality, the space under the bonnet is used as an extra luggage compartment, or a ‘frunk’, a contraction of the words ‘front and trunk’.
Powering the entry-level Dynamiq is a 77.4 kW battery pack and 168 kW/350 Nm electric motor on the rear axle, which results in a 7.3-second 0-100km/h spurt.
The new rear-drive-only Dynamiq variant is pitched as the entry-level model starting from $72,000 plus on-roads going up to $79,285 for the top variant.
Standard kit across the range includes an augmented-reality head-up display, which projects navigation arrows onto the road ahead. and a second vehicle-to-load port, allowing the car’s battery to power external electrical devices.
Driving range has been increased in the form of 19-in. rims and Michelin Primacy 4 tyres for the Dynamiq, which increase the range claim from 481 km to 507 km.
Any range beyond 500 km going to appeal to all those EV enthusiasts.
The Ioniq 5 is the first mainstream mid-size electric SUV to arrive in Australia and, says, Hyundai Australia CEO Jun Heo, “it’s “the “coolest Hyundai has ever produced.”
Very cool … very nice.
