Hyundai Ioniq 5: The Future That Feels Like an Upgrade

Most electric cars ask you to give something up in return for the future: range anxiety, a spaceship dashboard, a price that stings. The Ioniq 5 asks for none of it, and that is exactly why it wears our crown.

What it is

A mid-size electric SUV that looks like nothing else on the road - all sharp retro-futurism outside, and a lounge of a cabin inside with a flat floor and seats that slide like business class.

Why you'll love it

• It flatters everyone who drives it. Effortless, quiet, quick when you ask - and it intimidates no one.
• Ultra-fast charging that makes road trips real. On a fast charger it tops up in the time it takes to enjoy a proper coffee, not endure one.
• Space you can feel. The long wheelbase turns into genuine lounging room; the boot and front boot swallow the lot.
• Seriously safe, seriously equipped. Top-tier active safety and a cabin full of clever, generous touches.

A few honest notes

It is bigger in person than the photos suggest, which is only ever a problem in a tight multi-storey - and its cameras and tight turning circle have your back there too. Home charging is where it is happiest, so it rewards a driveway or a workplace plug.

What to pay in Australia

New, the range spans the high $60s into the $80s driveaway depending on battery and drive. It holds value strongly, and the running costs - charged at home - are a quiet, ongoing joy.

Queen's verdict

Five crowns and Car of the Year. It does the hardest thing in motoring: it makes the future feel like a promotion. If you buy one car in 2026 and want to look clever in five years, this is it.

Prices reflect the Australian market as of mid-2026 and move around - treat them as a compass, not a valuation. General guidance, not financial advice.