We’ve Seen the Future of the Hyundai Ioniq 5's Infotainment, and It’s Worth Waiting For
The Ioniq 5’s user interface is about to go from fine to great.
Of all the things our 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets right, its infotainment isn’t among them. Sure, the system does the trick, but it’s not something that contributes much to my overall enjoyment of the electric crossover. Little irks stack up enough that I prefer using Apple CarPlay over the native interface. I'm not expecting over-the-air updates to fix it—nevertheless, significant improvements are on the way.
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Hyundai Ioniq 5 Infotainment: Pros and Cons
I definitely appreciate the size of the infotainment screen. Measuring 12.3 inches, it’s large enough to look modern and, more important, easily see and use while on the move. Nor is it too big, avoiding being aesthetically superfluous or functionally distracting. There’s enough space for a split-screen view, when approximately a third of the screen shows basic information like a clock, compass, radio station, weather, or charging station information.
Overall, the user interface is intuitive. The home screen arranges app icons in rows and columns, which are all a bit small and use the same color, but each is clearly labeled for what it controls. It takes some hunting to find certain preferences buried within menus (activating dark screen mode, configuring the multifunction mode and star buttons on the steering wheel, and adjusting various driver assist feature parameters), but those are set-and-forget items.
For such an exceptional EV, the infotainment’s EV menu could be better. It shows the Ioniq 5’s current state of charge, range projections with and without climate control, and the nearest charger. Within that menu is where a maximum charge level or scheduling for home charging can be set. This menu would be better if it showed additional nerdy details, such as information about the previous charge session or energy consumption over time. Oddly, real-time energy consumption can only be seen in the split-screen view outside of the EV menu. These things aren’t necessary to get where you need to go, but studying that information could lead to more efficient driving habits.
On the subject of getting where you need to go, the Ioniq 5’s navigation system leaves some to be desired—it's a key reason why I use Apple CarPlay, so I can run my preferred navigation app. Google Maps doesn’t integrate with the car to the extent that it knows the battery status or places to recharge along a route. That’s unlike the Ioniq 5’s navigation, which plans charge stops if a destination is out of battery range. Even so, Google Maps’ more intuitive layout makes me prefer it to Hyundai’s somewhat cramped, confusing native system. Sometimes I’ll use both, leaving my final destination on CarPlay Google Maps while using the built-in system to route to chargers I’ve used before.
Finding other chargers using Hyundai’s interface isn’t ideal, either. A point of interest submenu within the navigation contains an icon that generates a lengthy list of chargers, organized by proximity or alphabetically. It can be filtered by specific networks and a minimum charge speed, and it shows the station’s current availability—but it’s prone to discrepancies against information on the networks’ own apps. Ultimately, it’s not better than using the charging networks’ own apps on my phone to better see locations and reliable real-time information. I’d need to open those apps regardless because the built-in Hyundai Pay function, which allows credit card information to be stored within the car, doesn’t communicate with charging networks.
In this era of smartphone reliance, how quickly the Ioniq 5’s infotainment reacts to inputs stands out—it can’t reasonably be called slow, but it isn’t as quick as the device I tap a million times daily. That never truly hinders how I use it, yet load times across the system take long enough for it to seem a little behind the times. That could be about to change.
Wait for the 2025 Ioniq 5
I recently spent time with the 2025 Ioniq 5 N. Hot damn, is it a riot to drive. Relevant to the topic here, its infotainment system receives a significant upgrade. Screen size remains unchanged, but behind the pixels is the new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (CCNC) operating system, which is rolling out across Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles.
Faster processors and a completely redesigned user interface are key attributes of CCNC. They make a tremendous difference. The new menu structure greatly eases finding and using apps, while response and load times are noticeably shorter. Everything just looks better, too, with more colorful icons and different fonts that make it all seem more modern—potentially trivial details that nevertheless enhance the user experience.
Likewise, CCNC is packed with capabilities that allow for deeper functionality. There’s fun stuff, like more precise control of interior ambient light settings, and even the ability to change the illumination pattern of the wireless charging pad’s indicator lights. But there’s a huge amount of useful potential, too, like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air update capability that can extend beyond the infotainment and into various vehicle driving systems.
Hyundai hasn’t confirmed all 2025 Ioniq 5 models will get CCNC, but it seems highly likely: In addition to the super-sporty N, Ioniq 5 models in the Korean market already have it. Even if the infotainment system equipped in 2023 and 2024 Ioniq 5 models isn’t terrible, I’d suggest waiting if you can—when the Ioniq 5 gets this updated tech, it’ll make your ownership experience more enjoyable.
Alex's earliest memory is of a teal 1993 Ford Aspire, the car that sparked his automotive obsession. He's never driven that tiny hatchback—at six feet, 10 inches tall, he likely wouldn't fit—but has assessed hundreds of other vehicles, sharing his insights on MotorTrend as a writer and video host.
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