HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 VS. TESLA MODEL Y

Consumer appetites for small SUVs seem insatiable, and as electrification reaches every corner of the automotive landscape, a spotlight has appeared over compact EV SUVs.

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For two years, the Tesla Model Y has led this burgeoning niche with longer range estimates, cutting-edge driver aids and an established charging network. But other automakers are offering new alternatives, and the most promising may be from Hyundai.

Hyundai introduces the Ioniq 5, the latest member of the Ioniq family of vehicles, as its first electric vehicle designed from the ground up. It is positioned as an attainable, feature-rich and stylish crossover with strong range figures. Which EV is best? Experts compared them to find out.

CHARGING AND RANGE

The Tesla Model Y is equipped with a 75-kWh battery and all-wheel drive for both Performance and Long Range trims. The 2022 Long Range variant is EPA-rated at 330 miles, though our range test of a 2021 model, with an EPA-estimated 326 miles, returned just 317 miles.

For quick charging on the go, Tesla’s nationwide Supercharger network is unparalleled. A 30-minute visit can bump the Model Y’s battery from 10% to 80% in ideal conditions.

Hyundai offers the Ioniq 5 in three trims with two battery packs. The rear-wheel-drive, 77kWh model touts 303 miles of range, but a more comparable all-wheel-drive version is EPA-rated at 256 miles. The range test revealed a more impressive 270-mile range.