# No Question, The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a Splendid Electric SUV *By Dave Taylor — Updated October 2026* Written by: [Dave Taylor](https://menwhoblog.com/dave-taylor.html) Last Updated: 02 October 2026 New!Hits: 136Reading time: 07:25 Hyundai has come a long way since the 1986 Hyundai Excel became its first car sold in the United States. Cheap and cheerful was the formula but car buyers have moved beyond that to seeking luxury and performance. No surprise, the company has spent the ensuing four decades moving its lineup upmarket while becoming considerably more adventurous with design and technology. The first battery-electric passenger car sold to the US market from the Korean manufacturing giant was the 2017 IONIQ Electric, followed by the longer-range Kona Electric. The big EV leap came with the [IONIQ 5](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/2026-ioniq-5). Unveiled in 2021 and arriving in the U.S. as a 2022 model, it was the first vehicle from Hyundai’s dedicated IONIQ EV brand and the first built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP electric-vehicle platform. That gave the car an 800-volt electrical architecture, fast DC charging, an 118-inch wheelbase, lots of interior room, and styling that remains remarkably fresh. It’s a quirky, distinctive vehicle in a market where too many crossovers look like they're from the same assembly line. ### Tips For Traveling With Your Wife (And Still Enjoying The Trip!) ManTripping: Men's Travel and Lifestyle Blog for busy men who love to travel. ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/Zlk-YFeiftn7w2hGXqXFgg.2059) ### Why Carnival Splendor Is a Great Choice for a Family Alaska Cruise Our family just returned from our first Alaskan cruise. And it was one of the best vacations we�ve ever taken. On board were myself, my wife, our three kids (aged 11, 12, and 13), and my mother-in-law. Our cruise was a 7-day adventure from Seattle, Washington to three ports of call in Alaska, one in Canada, and the spectacular Tracy Arm Fjord. This was, coincidentally, not our first cruise, but was our first family cruise with everyone on board. MenWhoBlog [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/Zlk-YFeiftn7w2hGXqXFgg.2459) ### I Tried Cellular At Sea Cruise+ On Norwegian Getaway A hands-on review of the Cellular At Sea Cruise+ service on Norwegian Getaway, useful for cruisers deciding whether to stay connected at sea. MenWhoBlog [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/Zlk-YFeiftn7w2hGXqXFgg.377) Promoted by FlowAds For the 2025 model year, [Hyundai](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/) gave the IONIQ 5 a substantial refresh, including a larger 84-kWh battery, increased driving range, native NACS charging which added compatibility with Tesla Superchargers, updated interior controls and a rear-window wiper. The 2026 model carries those improvements forward with few significant changes. The IONIQ 5 remains one of my favorite electric SUVs and, in my view, one of the top choices in today’s increasingly crowded EV market. As a result, I looked forward with enthusiasm to my week with the [**2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Limited AWD**](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/2026-ioniq-5) with 20-inch wheels. In Cosmic Blue, with a *dude-it's-so-spacy*, err, sorry, Gray interior. From the get-go, it looked great, and when I drove into the Colorado Rockies, it handled the elevation gains with aplomb: Unlike so many EVs that have flat fronts with either no grille at all or the barest imitation of an air-cooling grille, the IONIQ 5 actually has an attractive front profile comprised of a variety of surfaces and materials. While some people prefer their vehicle to be overt about being electric powered (think "Cybertruck" here) a lot more prefer a vehicle that just looks like, well, a regular vehicle, without any fanfare about the motor or power system. Notice again the slick 20-inch wheels. Part of the Limited trim level of the IONIQ 5, they definitely balance out the lines and give it an overall smart, coherent appearance. The drive experience, powered by 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque from its dual-motor AWD powertrain, is very enjoyable. From passing on the highway to zipping around tight turns to navigating steep uphill climbs or downhill stretches, it tackled everything with ease. Range-wise, it's rated for a max of 269 miles and, as mentioned earlier, can be charged with a NACS (Tesla) charger or a regular J1772 charger. How? Because the charging kit tucked into the frunk included the necessary adapter to utilize a J1772 system. My home 40A/9.6 kW Level 2 charger - a J1772, not NACS - added about 10% / hour to the vehicle; a higher amperage charge would have gone even faster. In fact, on a high-speed DC fast charger, the IONIQ 5 can charge from 10% to 80% in *as little as 20 minutes* using a compatible 350 kW charger, or about 30 minutes at a compatible 150 kW Tesla Supercharger. In practice, that means you can plug in, grab lunch or do some shopping, and return to an EV with plenty of additional range for the next leg of your journey. Non-EV owners frequently talk about range and range anxiety, but I had no issues whatsoever, including multi-hour drives throughout the Colorado region. It can be charged with a Level 2 [ChargePoint](http://www.chargepoint.com) system, but they're so slow that I consider any Level 2 charger an emergency-only option. [Electrify America](http://www.electrifyAmerica.com) chargers are much more powerful, and when you include the more modern Tesla Supercharger stations, there are over 50 high-speed charging stations within 75 miles of my home! More amusingly, every time I charged the vehicle, a male voice boomed out "BEGIN CHARGING!" which was fine at 7:00pm, but might get annoying at 11:00pm or 2:00am. Undoubtedly, there's a way to mute the voice feedback. The interior of the vehicle is quite attractive, with a fabric finish on many components rather than the sea of plastic found in many similarly priced mid-size SUVs. Note the shape of the steering wheel too. Those four little lights on the center of the steering wheel are more than just decorative too: Hyundai calls them "interactive pixel lights" and they can change to indicate various vehicle status and error conditions. Now, will an owner know that? I'm skeptical. Because the drive system is so different from a gas vehicle, it's no surprise that the EV utilizes space differently. Nowhere is this more apparent than the IONIQ 5's take on the center console: It juts confidently up from the (flat) floor of the vehicle, offering a Qi wireless charging station that remains front-and-center for the driver or passenger, along with two cupholders and a number of convenient buttons for seat heating, external cameras, etc. Notice below that there's a large storage space *with a USB-C charging port*. A fine example of the attention to detail from the Hyundai engineers. Having said all of that, it's possible that the steering wheel controls are a bit too busy. There's a lot going on with most all drive functionality controls either on one of the two sides or the two sticks off the steering column. Again, notice the attractive fabric finish of the center portion. The Drive Mode button definitely seems inspired by the NOS performance buttons on the many street racers from *Fast & Furious* so if you want to pop off from a stop, you can easily switch and impress the Dominic Toretto wanna-be in the next vehicle. The instrument cluster offers an attractive view of all the key elements, including charge level, estimated range, and similar. Note that the EPA-rated max distance listed on the Monroney is 269 miles, but in the above, the vehicle's at 57% charge and it's estimating a max 216 miles range remaining. I know, it's just an optimistic estimate and doesn't imply a range of over 350 miles on a full charge... The 12.3-inch infotainment system was a breeze to operate, and includes support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Just as importantly, the climate control center is separate, making it much easier to control the internal cabin temperature than the all-digital touchscreen-based systems on many modern EVs. There's something to be said for actual discrete and well labeled controls, particularly if you're zooming along at 80mph while trying to adjust a setting or two. Another distinctive feature of the [IONIQ 5](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/2026-ioniq-5) is what Hyundai calls its "Vision Roof", a huge, panoramic sunroof. Worth noting is that it does not open up, but I found that was fine, it meant that the cabin stayed quiet even when seeking a quasi-convertible experience. Truth be told, though, the sun's darn bright in Colorado and I mostly kept it about half-open (interestingly, both ends close, with the covers meeting in the middle, so half-open meant that it was approximately above the headrests that it remained clear, while over the driver was more shaded). The IONIQ 5 had decent legroom for rear passengers, but it's still a compact vehicle, so if you have a 6-foot plus passenger, they still might prefer riding shotgun rather than being stuck in the back. Still, plenty of space for younger members of the family. The lever shown not only allows the rear seats to be flipped down for more rear cargo space, but they also allow rear passengers to adjust the back angle, a feature sorely missing in many modern SUVs. You can also slide the rear bench fore and aft, as desired. The cargo space was plenty for my purposes, including a Costco run, with 26.3 cubic feet, rear seats up, and 58.5 cu. ft. with the seats down. What I couldn't figure out was towing capacity for the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5, so if that's important to you, definitely quiz the dealer on that number. There's a lot to really like about the design, drive, and comfort of the IONIQ 5. Hyundai came out with a bold design and iterated beautifully with this electric SUV. If you're in the market for a full-electric vehicle, you really should add this to your shortlist and experience what I consider to be one of the best EVs on the market today. **[2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 AWD Limited](https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/vehicles/2026-ioniq-5), with 20-Inch Wheels. BASE PRICE: $48,975. Options Included: Carpeted floor mats and Vehicle load adapter. AS DRIVEN: $51,050. Props to Hyundai for not adding a $600 "premium paint" cost to the vehicle's sticker price, a frustrating modern industry trend.** *Disclosure: Hyundai loaned me the IONIQ 5 for a week in return for this candid write-up. This article originally appeared on [PlanetDave.com](https://www.planetdave.com/) as [The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a Splendid Electric SUV](https://planetdave.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/) and is republished with explicit permission of the original author.* **Hey Dave Taylor wants you to share this!**   --- [Follow me on X (opens in new window)](https://www.twitter.com/davetaylor)[Follow me on Facebook (opens in new window)](https://www.facebook.com/d1taylor)[Follow me on LinkedIn (opens in new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetaylor)[Follow me on Pinterest (opens in new window)](https://www.pinterest.com/d1taylor)   Written by: [Dave Taylor](https://menwhoblog.com/dave-taylor.html) #MenWhoBlog MemberTop #MenWhoBlog AuthorThought Leader Dave Taylor has been blogging and writing about cars and technology for many years. He's a single dad who earned his medals raising three children and currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, where he's surrounded by natural beauty and tons of electronic gear. You can find him at AskDaveTaylor.com or PlanetDave.com. ### Cruises and Resorts Thinking about a cruise or all-inclusive resort vacation? We can help you plan your dream getaway ... [Click Here](https://menwhoblog.com) ### Testing Out Cellular At Sea On Our Recent Canadian Cruise A few months back, I set sail on a 7-day cruise aboard the Norwegian Getaway with my buddy James from ManTripping.com, and unlike most of my normal tropical getaways, this time we decided to head north, visiting some of the most scenic ports along the Eastern… [Read More ...](https://menwhoblog.com/testing-out-cellular-at-sea-on-our-recent-canadian-cruise.html) ### Products & Gear For Men ### Step2 Contemporary Builders Kids Bedroom Set: Block-Inspired Furniture Your Kids Will Love Most people know Step2 for their outdoor gear - the water tables, playhouses, and yard toys that hold up through three hard summers without cracking. What's easier to overlook is that they bring that same build quality indoors. Their Contemporary Builders… [Read More ...](https://menwhoblog.com/step2-contemporary-builders-kids-bedroom-set-block-inspired-furniture.html) - [Login](https://menwhoblog.com/log-in.html) - [For Brands](https://menwhoblog.com/capabilities.html) - [Content Marketing](https://menwhoblog.com/content-marketing-services/content-marketing.html) - [** Privacy Policy](https://menwhoblog.com/privacy-policy.html) - [** Events](https://menwhoblog.com/events/) - [** Search](https://menwhoblog.com/smart-search.html) - [**](https://menwhoblog.com/sitemap.html) - [** Contact Us](https://menwhoblog.com/contact-us.html) - [** Pitch Portal](https://menwhoblog.com/pitchportal.html) - [List of Giveaways](https://menwhoblog.com/list-of-giveaways.html?view=giveaways) - [Test Giveaway](https://menwhoblog.com/test-giveaway.html?view=giveaway&id=1) ### Connect With Us: - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC73Mim8Djl8v43OweTNaing?sub_confirmation=1) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/menwhoblog/) - [Twitter](http://twitter.com/menwhoblog) - [Facebook Page](http://facebook.com/menwhoblog) - [Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/221775444677338/) Make sure to tag us and use #MenWhoBlog on Instagram or Twitter for a chance to be featured on our handles. ### Media, Guest Posts and Speaking: #MenWhoBlog leaders are available for guest posts, podcasts, or to speak with media or at conferences. --- *Source: [No Question, The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a Splendid Electric SUV](https://menwhoblog.com/no-question-the-2026-hyundai-ioniq-5-is-a-splendid-electric-suv.html)*