2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Expert Review
Reviewed by Billy Rehbock
Hyundai snagged our coveted Golden Calipers when the Ioniq 5 won our 2023 SUV of the Year award, and the compact electric SUV has only gotten better in the intervening years. For the 2025 model year, the Ioniq 5 underwent a major refresh and received two new variants: the high-performance N model and the off-road oriented XRT trim.
Now, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 receives further refinements as it continues to compete with rivals including the Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Chevrolet Equinox EV.
What’s New
Basics
- A combination Level 1/Level 2 charging cable replaces the included Level 1 cable
- A NACS port replaces the Ioniq 5 N’s CCS port
- Ioniq 5 N’s N Drift Optimizer Pro now has 10 selectable stages
Exterior
- Sage Silver Matte paint option
- Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl no longer exclusive to XRT model and available on all other trims
Interior
- An in-cabin camera to monitor driver attention in the Ioniq 5 N
- Automatic down and up functionality for the Ioniq 5 N’s rear windows
What We Think
Attractively styled to recall the boxy Lancia Delta hatchback of the 1980s, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 successfully blends retro nostalgia with optimistic futurism. It also happens to be a stellar vehicle and one of our top choices for buyers in the market for a new all-electric compact SUV.
While the Ioniq 5’s goodness starts with its exterior, our appreciation for Hyundai’s EV also extends to the cabin. The Ioniq 5’s interior is spacious and ergonomically laid out. Unlike other rivals, Hyundai hasn’t forgone physical switchgear either.
Acceleration is quick on lower level models and launches in the Ioniq 5 N are downright ballistic. That model happens to exhibit tremendous handling and driver engagement, making it the one of the most fun EVs currently on sale.
As for the mainstream versions of the Ioniq 5, those versions of the SUV are generally refined with balanced handling. Across the board, the Ioniq 5’s ride errs on the stiff side with the exception of the off-road XRT model. That trim benefits from a raised suspension that allows for more wheel and body travel, resulting in beautifully smooth damping.
Seeing as the Ioniq 5 gets so much right, it’s an easy recommendation from our editorial staff to those shopping for a compact SUVs, even when compared against many of the gas-only options currently on the market. Pricing can get steep up the trim ladder, but those that find an Ioniq 5 in their garage are sure to be satisfied with this well-rounded EV.
Top-Ranked Competitors:
MotorTrend Tested
Hyundai offers the 2026 Ioniq 5 with a variety of single- and dual-motor powertrains. The most basic layout is a single-motor rear-wheel drive setup developing 168 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. We expect this version of the Ioniq 5, which is equipped with a 63-kWh battery, to require 7.3 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph.
With the Ioniq 5’s larger 84-kWh battery pack, the single-motor model’s output rises to 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph acceleration should fall to the mid-six seconds for models configured this way.
Equipped with dual-motor all-wheel drive, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 produces a combined output of 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. In our testing of the pre-refresh Hyundai Ioniq 5, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph took a mere 4.4 seconds. The post-refresh XRT variant, which rolls on all-terrain tires, only loses out on a tenth when it launches. The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT needs 4.5 seconds to get the job done.
The quickest version of the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the N model, which churns out an outstanding 601 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque. When the N Grin Boost mode is deployed, those figures rise to 641 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. The 2026 Ioniq 5 N blasts off from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. It’s the most powerful Hyundai road car, soon to be tied by the upcoming Ioniq 6 N sedan, and one of the most entertaining EVs to drive.
EV Range and Charging
The 2026 Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range is the entry-level version of Hyundai’s all-electric compact SUV. It uses the smaller 63-kWh battery and can drive 245 miles per charge. DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent takes just 20 minutes.
Range for models with the larger 84-kWh battery drive farther with the exception of the Ioniq 5 N. The rear-wheel drive variant is the furthest-driving Ioniq 5 of the bunch, rated at 318 miles.
Non-XRT models with 19-inch wheels are good for 290 miles of range while those with 20-inch wheels are pegged at 269 miles. The off-road oriented XRT variant falls to 259 miles due to its all-terrain tires. Least efficient is the Ioniq 5 N, which comes in at just 221 miles of range.
Charging the Ioniq 5’s bigger battery from 10 to 80 percent on a 350-kW Level 3 DC fast charger takes 20 minutes, just like the smaller battery.
Safety Ratings and Features
The 2026 Ioniq 5 enjoys a strong crash test safety record. For 2025, IIHS granted a Top Safety Pick+, its top award. All models are equipped with a robust suite of active safety tech as well, including features such as:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Forward and rear emergency braking
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Lane keeping assist
- Speed limit assist
- Driver attention warning
- Adaptive cruise control with highway driving assistance
The available features include Hyundai’s remote smart parking assistance, a 360-degree camera, side parking sensors, and an improved version of Hyundai’s highway-driving assistance with automatic lane changes.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a spacious interior. The cabin feels airy and there’s lots of legroom for second-row passengers. Cargo volume is competitive for the segment.
Technology
Infotainment
Every 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 receives a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All models use a configurable digital instrument cluster of the same size. There are three front-row USB-C ports and two in the second row. Wireless charging is standard on the SEL trim and higher. Hyundai updated its infotainment software for 2025, and we’ve found the hardware to be quicker and the interface to be better looking.
Sound System
Most versions of the Ioniq 5 work with a six-speaker arrangement. An eight-speaker setup from Bose is standard on the top-level Limited trim and the Ioniq 5 N.
Ioniq 5 N Performance Tech
In addition to the Ioniq 5 N’s jaw-dropping power and torque ratings, Hyundai equips the performance version of its SUV with lowered adaptive sport suspension, a widened track, and track-oriented aero. The N gets its own rear wing and a racy integrated brake light. The cabin is decked out with sport bucket seats with a lower seating position than that of the mainline Ioniq 5’s chairs.
Not only does the Ioniq 5 get chassis reinforcements like new welding points and reinforced subframes, it also gets a launch control feature. For 2026, there’s 10-level drift assistance software rather than the 2025 model’s one-level system. We’re particularly fond of the Ioniq 5 N’s shift model that uses torque interruptions to simulate the shifts of a gas car’s transmission. It can even pipe in several exhaust noises to heighten the excitement and entertainment factor. The Ioniq 5 N is a special car and demonstrates the full potential of electrified performance.
Value
Standard Features
The most basic version of the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 comes equipped with single-motor rear-wheel drive and a 63-kWh battery. Hyundai includes a combination Level 1/Level 2 charging cable with all Ioniq 5 SUVs. The Ioniq 5 rides on fully independent suspension and the entry-level SE Standard Range rolls on 19-inch wheels.
Hyundai equips standard LED lighting in the front and the rear, heated side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, and active grille shutters. The door handles automatically retract to be flush with the body.
Inside the cabin the Hyundai Ioniq 5 receives cloth seating with an eight-way power driver’s seat. The passenger seat is manually adjustable. Both front-row chairs are heated. Hyundai outfits dual 12-3-inch displays, navigation with traffic, six-speaker audio, and seven USB-C ports total.
Pricing for the SE Standard range should start under $45,000 for 2026. Stepping up to the SE model with the 84-kWh battery brings the price above $48,000.
Recommended Trim
Hyundai offers the 2026 Ioniq 5 in the following trims: SE Standard Range, SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and N. We recommend the SEL model with RWD. That way you get the bigger battery, the higher-output rear motor, and 318 miles of driving range.
This variant receives synthetic leather seating, an eight-way adjustable passenger seat, Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist 2 system, a hands-free tailgate with auto open functionality, wireless charging, and phone-as-key capability.
Pricing for the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL should start over $51,000. If you add a front motor for AWD, the MSRP jumps $3,500 and range falls 290 miles.
The Off-Road Ioniq 5: Hyundai’s XRT Trim
Equipping the Hyundai Ioniq 5 at the XRT trim level adds off-road hardware, giving the SUV a distinctive personality from the other models in the lineup. Hyundai offers the 2026 Ioniq 5 XRT with model-specific bumpers and side skirts, all-terrain tires, and a 0.9-inch suspension lift with distinctive tuning.
The Ioniq 5 XRT trim also gets black 18-inch wheels, black window trim, black side sills, black badging, and black mirror caps. The interior is differentiated with XRT-branded all-weather floormats.
The result of the Ioniq 5’s off-road upgrades include an increased approach angle from 17.5 degrees to 19.8 degrees. The SUV’s departure angle improves from 25.4 degrees to 30.0 degrees. Though not a hardcore off-roader, the 2026 Ioniq 5 XRT is entertaining to drive like a rally car on a dirt road.
