The Ioniq 5 is a mixed bag. The EV parts of it are wonderful (fast charging!!!), but the software and minor features are a little mystifying. Besides the lack of a rear wiper, it has a wireless charging pad and Apple CarPlay, but not wireless CarPlay. So the wireless charging pad basically went unused until I installed an aftermarket wifi CarPlay dongle.
Hyundai fixed these issues (and more) with the 2025 model year (I leased one several months ago).
The 2025 AWD Limited in my driveway has a larger 84 kWh battery (up from 78 kWh), wireless CarPlay, rear wiper, NACS charging port, roof rails, updated interior with physical buttons for HVAC/heated/cooled seats and heated steering wheel, auto proximity unlock and starting from your smartphone/Apple Watch,...
The list goes on and on, it's about the longest list of meaningful improvements I've ever seen from a single mid-cycle model year change.
There is still no auto-lock as you walk away. This seems trivial to implement, so I wonder if this is a legal / liability concern, despite other manufacturers having similar systems. Doesn't bother me, since none of our previous vehicles had auto-lock either, but I know it's frustrating to not have a feature you're used to.
My only minor complaints about the car so far:
- The auto wipers aren't great in very light rain / mist. I wish there was a true intermittent setting in addition to auto, low, and high speeds.
- The air recirculate setting won't stay on. Sucks to be behind a diesel burner and realize (too late) that recirculate has turned itself off again. May be able to tweak this via settings.
- The Limited's rear cross traffic safety systems gives haptic feedback and bleeps and bloops as we wait to back out of our driveway on a busy street. It will sometimes hit the brakes as you're backing up if it thinks you're going to back into a car going the other direction. I try to back into our driveway when possible, but definitely an annoyance.
- It's larger than I really want for city driving and parking. I'd love the features and comfort this car has in a vehicle that's 2/3rds the size like the Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro EV, or Chevy Bolt. There just doesn't seem to be a market in the US for a luxurious small vehicle, particularly an EV.
This is by far the nicest car we've ever owned or driven, and I've had two (used) luxury cars along with our Hondas, Toyotas, and Subaru. 9.5/10, would highly recommend. Hushed interior, among the fastest to DC fast-charge, tons of creature comforts, stupid amounts of power.
