Page 1: Hyundai IONIQ 5 58kWh Prestige – Introduction, Styling and Interior

Hyundai IONIQ 5 58kWh – Powertrains

Here in Singapore, there are four variants of the IONIQ 5 on sale. Two of which come with a 58kWh battery pack and a single motor in the rear generating 145 horsepower and 350Nm of torque – power figures that allow it to slide under the Category A COE threshold, which tends to be cheaper than Category B COEs.

The 58kWh version is available in an “exclusive” trim and our test car’s “Prestige” trim, which comes with a few more bells and whistles (Parametric Pixel headlamps, more lashings of chrome, ventilated seats, a HUD, remote smart parking assist and more safety features).

Another rung up the IONIQ 5 family tree is a 77kWh Prestige, which also comes with a larger battery pack (77kWh) and a rear-mounted motor. However, in this guise it produces 228 horsepower and 350Nm of torque, giving it a 0-100km/h time of 7.1 seconds. It’s also the one with the highest range with a quoted WLTP figure of 507km on a full charge.

The final and most powerful version of the IONIQ 5 is the 77kWh AWD “Inspiration”, which has a dual motor powertrain generating 352hp/605Nm. It’s the quickest (doing 0-100km/h in 5.1 seconds) and the most expensive model in the line-up at S$260,800.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 58kWh – The Drive

Setting off in the IONIQ 5, you’d be struck by how serene and amenable the car is on the road. Of course, the hallmark trait of EV commuting is the silence that an electric powertrain provides. It’s no different in the IONIQ 5’s case, with only the odd tyre or wind noise permeating the cabin. The supple suspension setup allows you to waft over road imperfections without upsetting the tranquil ambience in the cabin.

Granted, it’s not a very quick car by EV standards, but it has a decent amount of shove thanks to the 350Nm of torque available from the get go. The IONIQ 5 in this 58kWh guise does 0-100km/h in a modest 9.5 seconds, but it’s at lower speeds where the immediacy of the EV drivetrain becomes more apparent. As you approach highway cruising speeds, the acceleration forces begin to taper off for a smoother, linear buildup of speed. 

However, it’s not as if you’d be darting in and out of traffic in a 1.9-ton SUV that has a longer wheelbase than a Palisade. As we mentioned earlier, the IONIQ 5 is a rather sizeable vehicle that occupies a considerable footprint on the road. The long wheelbase endows it with a slightly wider turning radius that may pose a slight challenge while traversing multi-storey carparks, but the IONIQ 5 Prestige’s surround view cameras make it easier to avoid obstacles in narrower confines.

On paper, the IONIQ 5 58kWh has a quoted efficiency figure of 16.7kWh/100km for a total range of 384km on the WLTP cycle. While it is possible to squeeze more range in ideal scenarios, the reality of driving in Singapore is less than ideal. Factoring in congestion, idling and combating the equatorial heat by turning up the AC, you should expect to get efficiency figures between 17-18kWh/100km, which translates to about 340km of range.

Hyundai quotes a maximum charge rate of 11kW with AC charging, which should take just under 5 hours to fully charge the car from 10%. With DC quick charging however, Hyundai claims that the IONIQ 5 has a maximum charge rate of 350kW, which should theoretically charge the battery pack from 10% to 80% in 17 minutes. It’s a bold claim, and one that we can’t test. But realistically, sustaining that charge rate on a day-to-day basis could be detrimental to the battery pack, so we’d advise against it to err on the side of caution.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 58kWh – Conclusion

As it stands, the S$199,800 you’d have to fork out for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 Prestige 58kWh would be money well spent. In addition to that, the lowered operating and “refuelling” costs of daily driving an EV would pay dividends in the long run. 

As an added bonus, the car does come with a 10-year warranty for the batteries in addition to a 10-year free service program, catered to the average life cycle of Singapore-registered vehicles. The IONIQ 5 also comes with BlueLink app that acts as a remote for some vehicle functions (climate preconditioning, lock/unlock and charging door release), and an IONIQ Care+ app that provides insight and advice on sustaining your battery longevity.

While the IONIQ 5 isn’t without its shortfalls, it just might be the most value for money EV you can buy in Singapore today. But considering what a comprehensive and competent package it is for the price, it’s almost a no-brainer.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Prestige 58kWh

Click here to return to Page 1 where we talk about the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s design and interior styling

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