Hyundai Ioniq 5 hatchback - Interior & comfort

The Ioniq 5 looks refreshingly different from the outside and its clean, uncluttered design language continues when you get in. It's quite unlike anything we’ve seen from Hyundai, instead looking more like a concept car from just a few years ago. A Nissan Ariya may feel a bit more premium, but the Ioniq 5’s cabin still matches the Toyota bZ4X for quality, while looking more daring than that of the Volkswagen ID.4 – especially thanks to the standard-fit 64-colour ambient lighting.

The seats are squishy but still offer decent support, making them comfortable in a wide variety of situations. That even includes taking a nap, as the front seats can recline to an almost flat position. One point to note is that the Ioniq 5 has no rear wiper, so visibility out of the rear windscreen can quickly become restricted – especially in the winter.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 infotainment and navigation

All Ioniq 5s come fitted with dual 12.3-inch screens. The left-hand display acts as a touchscreen and features similar graphics to other recent Hyundai models – albeit with a slightly brighter appearance. The system itself is incredibly easy to use and comes packed with features including DAB radio and sat nav, plus wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A ‘Sounds of Nature’ feature plays relaxing ambient sounds, while ‘Quiet Mode’ turns off the rear speakers so as not to disturb a child sleeping in the back.

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The second display takes the form of a set of digital instruments, something the rival Tesla Model Y is sorely missing. These are clear and easy to read and can be configured to display a variety of information such as your current range and sat nav directions – although you can’t get a secondary view of the map like in Audi’s Virtual Cockpit.

What is impressive, however, is Hyundai’s integration of its driver assistance functions into the dials; for cars fitted with blind-spot cameras, a video feed is displayed in the instrument panel when you indicate to change lanes. It also shows you when you’ve changed the wiper and light settings, which is a handy feature.

Equipment

Three trims are available: Premium, Ultimate and Namsan Edition. We’d recommend sticking with the entry-level Premium model as this has all the equipment you’ll ever need including the aforementioned 12.3-inch infotainment display with sat nav, digital instruments, wireless phone charging, blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera. This list doesn’t stop there, however, as Premium cars also get 19-inch alloy wheels, part-leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, LED projector headlights, and a powered bootlid. 'V2L' (vehicle-to-load) comes as standard, too, which makes it possible to use the car's electricity to power external devices and even recharge other electric cars.

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Available exclusively with the 77.4kWh battery, the Ultimate version adds 20-inch alloy wheels, full leather upholstery, a ventilation function for the front seats, heated rear seats, a Bose stereo system, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system with blind spot cameras and tinted rear glass.

Ironic as it may be, the Ultimate model isn’t actually the ‘ultimate’ Ioniq 5. This honour instead goes to the Namsan Edition, which gets a full-length panoramic sunroof, along with door mirror cameras that help boost efficiency, thanks to their more aerodynamic shape. Hyundai’s Tech Pack is also thrown in, with features like retracting door handles and remote control parking, while a fuel-efficient heat pump helps the Ioniq 5 get closer to its claimed range in the colder months.

Options

Aside from the various trim levels, there is only one option available to Ioniq 5 buyers: the aforementioned £1,000 heat pump, which comes as standard of Namsan Edition cars. Of course, there’s also the matter of paintwork; the desaturated Lucid Blue Pearl is the only free colour offered, with other shades ranging in price from £300-£600.