Walter Melena Macas, Santiago de Chile

It is 100% electric and was awarded as the best vehicle of the year, electric and by design at the World Car Awards 2022. It is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 of the eponymous brand.

Flavio Cuareli, regional product manager, mentioned that the South Korean brand wants to take a bold step into the future with the launch of this electric model, a crossover that has caused a stir in the automotive industry due to its avant-garde design, technology and focus on sustainability.

The Ioniq 5 is like a new version, a reinterpretation and update of the Hyundai Pony, Hyundai’s first mass-produced vehicle more than 45 years ago, Cuareli said, adding that the E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform, for acronym in English).

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It is a platform specifically designed for electric vehicles and offers several advantages in terms of flexibility, efficiency and performance. In addition, it is optimized to take advantage of energy efficiency and maximize driving range.

This platform allows a distance of up to three meters between its axles, providing enough space to accommodate the battery on the floor of the vehicle. This contributes to a lower center of gravity, which improves stability and handling. And it helps optimize interior space as it does not compromise luggage or passenger space.

The electric motors of the Ioniq 5 are placed on the outer parts of the car. This means that the vehicle can be rear-wheel drive with a single motor or front- and rear-wheel drive with two motors, which can be adapted to the needs and preferences of the driver.

Ioniq 5 test drive

In order to test the characteristics of speed, safety and autonomy that Hyundai is promoting at the launch of its electric model Ioniq 5, two tests were carried out: a route directed towards the city of Coya, located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, more precisely in the Rancagua Region of Chile, and a speed test on an international racing track Codegu path.

The start is quite quiet, apart from the sounds of the vehicle starting. The driving position of the Ioniq 5 is comfortable and more like an SUV than a conventional sedan. External visibility is adequate thanks to large windows and large mirrors.

As for handling, it does not show demanding levels and reacts correctly to sudden changes in the trajectory, driving quickly. In evasive maneuvers, he showed satisfactory reactions.

The operation is smooth and quiet. In Sport driving mode, it showed a more lively response compared to Eco and Normal modes, although the top throttle remained constant in all of them. In addition, it has an additional mode called Snow, which softens the throttle response, which is useful when driving on surfaces with poor grip.

Hyundai electric models have regenerative shift levers that allow the vehicle to slow down without using the brakes. These cameras have 4 regeneration modes, from mode 0 without blocking to mode 3 with strong regeneration.

The new Ioniq 5 introduces an additional level, Mode 4 or i-pedal, which allows driving using only the accelerator pedal and bringing the vehicle to a complete stop when released. This feature is handy for city driving, and once you get the hang of it, there’s hardly any need to use the brake pedal unless a quick stop is needed. These modes can be selected while driving, but will only activate when the throttle is released. Regenerative cams on Hyundai models brake directly from the engine, functioning as an engine brake independent of the foot brakes.

With the regenerative braking system in freewheel mode, you hardly lose speed, and the steering faithfully responds to cues, even at higher speeds. We even managed to perform the maneuver at 80 km/h in a medium hold, which is quite a speed. When testing began, the vehicle had a 95% charged battery and had a range of about 420 kilometers. So far we have done a fairly demanding test drive and it still has 335 kilometers of range and 83% charge left.

A test of speed, safety and technology on the racetrack

One of the characteristics of the Ioniq 5 was tested on the Codegu track, namely the acceleration from 0 to 100 in Sport mode, which was achieved in just over 5 seconds.

For these tests, we used the Ioniq 5 in the version with two engines and the HTRAC traction system, which is a technology developed by Hyundai that allows optimal distribution of power between the front and rear wheels, thus improving the stability and performance of the vehicle. .

As for safety, there is the Hyundai SmartSense system, which includes a wide range of advanced driving assistants. Some of the features included are autonomous emergency braking systems, lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, driver alert and intelligent cruise control.

The Ioniq 5 has sustainable and eco-friendly features, such as electric drive and eco-friendly materials in the interior design.

Ecuador is an emerging market for electric vehicles

The entry of electric vehicles is somewhat slower than in other more developed markets, and the reason for this is the problem of available infrastructure for charging batteries, which somewhat limits the size of this market, both in Ecuador and in the entire region. . However, there is room and there is room to move due to the demand of consumers who want to buy electric cars, although there is some fear regarding the autonomy and the availability of chargers during the trip. Overall, the Ioniq 5 stands out compared to the competition and there is certainly a place for it in Ecuador, noted Flavio Cuareli.

Today, an electric vehicle can be more expensive than a regular combustion-powered vehicle, not only in Ecuador, but all over the world. However, this price difference is gradually decreasing as battery technology advances, which are now cheaper than before. Pricing in each market depends on the specification available and is something Hyundai Latin America can manage locally, the manager concluded.