2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5: A Love-Hate Situation

I had stints in all sorts of vehicles during our yearlong test of a 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. Whether I got time with a track-ready sports car or opulent luxury SUV, returning to our Hyundai was a delight.

- WORDS ALEX LEANSE

Often, it was even more delightful driving the Ioniq 5 again after another EV crossover. Those other electric rivals typically demonstrate why our 2023 SUV of the Year remains a benchmark—the rest still have catching up to do. 

Our Hyundai's deceptively long wheelbase contributed to those aspects. This length put distance between bumps in the road and added to the confident, settled way the Ioniq 5 cruised along. Even if the wheelbase somewhat dulled agility, it enhanced stability, as I found running with sports cars in spirited driving excursions.

The stretch also makes the cabin unexpectedly roomy. Passengers consistently commended the legroom, even sitting behind the driver's seat adjusted for your 6-foot-10 author—as if more proof was needed beyond how well I fit there. Cargo capacity was never a concern. Space with all the seats upright was enough to carry provisions with a load of friends, and folding the second row allowed me to slide my huge bike inside.

Design-driven details prevailed to enhance the experience. Bemusement about how to close the doors turned to amusement when I realized the entire armrest functioned as a grab handle. The magnet board beside the steering wheel was used only for an in-car gardening experiment, but its mere presence indicated Hyundai's whimsical yet function-focused approach to arranging the Ioniq 5.