When we expand our families, everything in our lives expands with it – the shopping bill, the house, the car. *Sigh* Yep, you read it right, a new car usually comes alongside the expansion – but for many, the idea is daunting to find the right car that will achieve the shopping trips, the playgroups, the doctor appointments.
Car manufacturers bring out new cars all the time and all claim they’re the next “best thing to buy” with different variations of engines that will suit all of our needs. But how do you know if it is the perfect family car for you?
And then there’s the question of whether joining the electric revolution is a viable notion…
It could be easy to be enticed into buying an electric family car when it looks to have the right dimensions – but does it have the essentials you need for it to be useful in your everyday life?
Keeping practicality in mind – as well as the latest technology – Hyundai’s flagship electric car is a refreshing vision of the future. Dubbed the IONIQ 5, this is an electric crossover that should definitely be considered for a family car for those looking for their first EV, especially since it has collected several accolades since its launch, including both World Car and Electric Car of the Year for 2022.
The Korean manufacturer has put a lot of thought and numerous hours into ensuring that the people sitting inside the car are comfortable and well pampered, not just surrounded by hi-tech mumbo jumbo. Not only does the Hyundai IONIQ 5 interior introduce smart living concepts, but it is also a car with a progressive clean design. With its bold and distinctive character lines, it makes quite an eye-catching statement.
So, let’s dive in to find out why the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is an ideal option for families.
Electrifying Exterior
Firstly, you might be wondering what a crossover car is? Well, in this case, you’ll find a crossover between a hatchback and an SUV, with the IONIQ 5 combining the looks of the former and some of the added practicality of the latter.
That being said, the retro-modern Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a crossover that is built on a platform specifically designed for electric vehicles. This resulted in a car that did not need the requirement for an engine bay or any extra transmission tunnels – meaning that it could provide plenty of legroom space, especially for the middle passenger in the rear seats. Not only that, but the Hyundai IONIQ 5 range also offers a 527-litre boot (with the seats up), and an additional 57 litres of storage space beneath the hood, great for fitting in the pushchair and any other luggage.
With a flat and lengthened floorboard, Hyundai has also introduced a sliding centre console below the armrest between the front two seats, creating enough room to store a baby changing bag. This sliding console allows 140mm front and rear travel.
Comfort is the key, especially in the new Hyundai car, as the front seats are electrically adjustable while the rear seats can be manually reclined and slide backwards and forward up to 135mm, perfect for both the kids and grown-ups.
Intelligent Interior
Sometimes as a parent, we want to get into the car and not have to stress over what all of the random gadgets car manufacturers have added. However, the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s cockpit is clean and uncluttered, with a dual 12.3-inch display (one a multimedia touchscreen and the other is a digital driver’s console). Innovatively, the magnetic dashboard gives a unique option to clip a parking ticket or a photograph on it, alongside an eight-speaker Bose music system and smartphone connectivity.
Furthermore, the new Hyundai EV comes with a unique Vehicle to Load (V2L) technology that can supply up to 3.6 kW of power. There is one V2L port located at the charging channel, which can charge high-power electric equipment like small refrigerators for any food or bottles or camping equipment if you’re going on a staycation, all without switching on the vehicle. There is also a second power outlet underneath the rear seats for charging mobile gadgets.
This Hyundai electric car is equipped with advanced driver assistance system features like Driving Assist with Lane Changing Assist function, Lane Following Assist, High Beam Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, and much more. There are also additional safety features like seven airbags including a driver seat’s centre-side airbag and eCall or an SOS call facility.
Getting from A to B will be Easy
Anyone new to electric cars would be forgiven for being a little confused at all the numbers relating to their power, battery capacity and how long they take to charge, as their respective units of measurement all contain a reference to kilowatts (kW). For battery capacity, an EV is measured in kilowatt-hours. In short, this tells you how much electricity can be stored in the battery pack.
There are two types of EV battery capacity options available for this electric Hyundai car. When equipped with the entry-level two-wheel-drive (2WD) and 58 kWh battery, its maximum driving range on a single charge will be around 238-366 miles (depending on driving settings), according to the WLTP standard. If you desire a car that has a higher battery span, the IONIQ 5 73kWh can provide you with 398 miles on City mode, or 286 miles using a combination of the driving settings. This could be perfect if you need an electric car that doesn’t need charging all of the time.
Thanks to the bespoke architecture created by the brand, the Hyundai IONIQ 5’s performance offers 800V ultra-fast charging capabilities for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 18 minutes – great if you have the kiddies and don’t want to sit around waiting to get back on the road.
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It doesn’t stop there with the IONIQ 5, with Hyundai making great inroads elsewhere in its range with other EVs, as well as hybrids for those not quite ready for the changeover to pure electric. Whatever you choose, remember to think about the long term, and make sure you’re getting a vehicle that will work for the next few years.