Hyundai Ioniq 5 Inspiration AWD 77kWh Review
30 Dec 2023|13,791 views
What We Like
Effortless power
Space
Extra range
Feels like the rightful, fully-realised vision of the Ioniq 5
What We Dislike
Hard-to-miss heft
Needs more differentiation as the top-of-the-line variant
Downsized power is all the rage in Singapore's car market today - and in particular, so that carmakers can move certain models from point (Cat) B to A.
It's a trick that's been pulled off not just by the Germans, but indeed, makers of electric SUVs too, all in the name of making their cars more amenable to our taxes. Notably, the sequence is such that the more powerful variant arrives first and stirs up some buzz, before the detuned, more affordable one swoops in to tug at the sleeves of the rational car buyer here.
With the benefit of a later launch, however, Hyundai appeared to have already studied these trends before diving fully into the rollout of the Ioniq 5 across the length of this year. The result: A remarkable show-of-hand spread of a few powertrain variants released all at once, including, of course, one that could duck under the Cat A power ceiling.
Much of the (completely understandable) buzz surrounding the Ioniq 5 thus far has consequently been rooted in the fact that it's made both in Singapore, and for Singapore (that Cat A variant was crafted specially for, well, Cat A). But ostensibly doing things inversely to the crowd, Hyundai is now turning our attention upwards to what stands at the top of the range: The Inspiration 77kWh, which gets a larger battery, a couple more goodies, and of course, far more firepower.
To the untrained eye, the Inspiration trim may not bring anything visually new of note to the Ioniq 5 on first glance. Still, we're not kidding when we say this introduces, quite literally, a couple more goodies that the rest of the variants do not get.
A fancier pair of leather loafers does wonders in elevating an already well-tailored suit; likewise, the larger and more intricate 20-inch rims the Inspiration exclusively gets are impossible to ignore once you've noticed them.
More importantly, however, even the tyres themselves are upgraded. Here, the Ioniq 5 Inspiration is shod in high-performance EV-specific Michelin Pilot Sport 4s, compared to the Kumho ECSTA PS71s on the rest of the range.
Square-jawed, boxy delight: The Ioniq 5's Parametric Pixel-studded frame is still a head-turner on our roads
The lack of differentiation otherwise is not to say this isn't still a delicious and riveting masterclass in automotive design, bridging Hyundai's future and past.
Amidst HDB carparks, and when rolling along in peak-hour traffic, the Ioniq 5's outsized - and very handsome - pixel-studded hatchback shape (its SUV label is really no misnomer, considering its size) continues to be a magnet for outstretched necks and prolonged stares.
The Ioniq 5's 'living room'-inspired cabin continues to delight, and is further enhanced with an eight-speaker BOSE sound system in the Inspiration trim
Spacious, sumptuous living room
The largely similar story carries on when you climb in, where the Inspiration trim packs one extra and unique feature specially for the audiophiles: An eight-speaker BOSE sound system, replete with a subwoofer and amplifier, to bring the best out of your Spotify Wrapped playlists.
Admittedly, some extra generosity would have been welcome, considering this is the top-of-the-line variant. (Would wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto be too much to ask for at this price point?) Nonetheless, taking the wider context of the lineup into consideration shows how much is already being offered in the lower trims.
Make no mistake - the Ioniq 5 Inspiration is stacked full of equipment - but the same can be said for the Prestige 58kWh and Prestige 77kWh. Both the innovative 'Universal Island' sliding centre console and gorgeous, dual-pane sunroof, for instance, are standard across the range. Meanwhile, step up the to Prestige variants, and you get reclinable front seats with ventilation as well as the full, advanced suite of driving assistance systems.
Features like the sliding 'Universal Island'-centre console (pictured) and dual-pane glass roof are standard across the range, while the Ioniq 5's Zero Gravity reclinable seats, which also feature seat ventilation, are already available on the Prestige trims
All this is built atop of the fact that Ioniq 5's 'living room'-inspired interior design continues to fascinate and deeply satisfy. Worth noting too is this test unit is fitted with light, cream-coloured upholstery (against the Black Monotone one we got in the Prestige 58kWh variant), which further elevates the sense of airiness within.
Space in the second row for stretching out is genuinely impressive, given the car's 3,000mm wheelbase. But as a car built solely with an electric powertrain in mind, what is even more remarkable is how expansive the front quarters feel for the driver and shotgun passenger. Also, this is no small car - it's wider tip to tip than a Tucson, and even something like the Toyota Vellfire - meaning that shoulder room for rear passengers is fantastic.
Yet another praiseworthy aspect of the Ioniq 5's spacious, space-age cabin is the retention of physical controls despite the wealth of digital real estate.
In a setup that's indisputably minimalist-modern, it's nice to be able to have shortcut buttons to depress. The most essential of functions - your dual-zone A/C - is also not buried behind endless menus on the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, but rather, displayed permanently on a touch panel with an intuitive layout.
Dual motors send 321bhp and 605Nm of torque to all four wheels on the Ioniq 5 Inspiration, propelling the car from 0 to 100km/h in a mere 5.1 seconds
More firepower, but more weight to carry too
Watch the traffic ahead thin out, however, and the Inspiration's step up becomes the clearest. Where the exterior and interior upgrades on the Inspiration trim may require more initiated parties to detect, the leap in power is impossible to miss from behind the wheel.
Aided by an additional electric motor on the front axle, the Ioniq 5 Inspiration gets a total of 321bhp, and not-insignificant 605Nm of instant torque, which can be sent to all four wheels. Likewise, it completes the century sprint in a much quicker 5.1 seconds, against the Prestige 58kWh's 9.5 seconds.
Put the car into Sport mode, and you'll see the graphic light up, showing that both motors are doing their work with every stab of the accelerator pedal. The sensation from behind the wheel translates; the Ioniq 5 Inspiration truly possesses the ability to pin its occupants heads back into their seatrests at full tilt - something the Prestige 58kWh we previously tested was less predisposed to do.
A rear-biased setup helps to reduce the car's energy consumption when power and traction are required less - but put the car into Sport, and those dual motors will make their presence felt fully
Consequently, piloting the Ioniq 5 Inspiration on the highway is an even more pleasant experience. With its good cabin insulation and settled ride, the Ioniq 5 was always a gifted cruiser, but the extra confidence provided by the bolstered power output means overtakes and lane merges are even easier to execute, taking the effortless air of the car to even greater heights.
Here's where the caveat lies, though: The Ioniq 5 Inspiration is still decidedly not a full-fledged electric hot hatch. When thrown around a bend, the car's low centre of gravity and grippy Pilot Sport 4s are clearly palpable as they do their best to keep it in line - and the car does feel stabler than you'd expect for something of its heft and size. But 2,125kg of metal and glass is a fair bit to keep in check. Coupled with its softer-skewing suspension, the weight is hard to miss, even if its outright firepower feels bottomless (at least on our roads).
Otherwise, the car's drivetrain is still rear-biased; in Eco and Normal modes, power quickly shifts solely to the rear axle once the car has accumulated enough momentum, helping it to consume less energy. If left in Eco mode and driven sensibly, getting close to Hyundai's 5.26km/kWh claim is possible. The Inspiration trim also comes with a larger 77kWh battery (reminder - the Cat A variant gets a 58kWh one), and is thus endowed with more range (up to 454km) despite the dip in efficiency caused by the extra motor.
Admittedly, the Ioniq 5 Inspiration may lack an aggressive 'wow' factor as the range-topper here - but that only underscores how much buyers are already getting on the lower trims
Few cars have arguably stolen the limelight the way the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has here this year.
First impressions alone are likely to cut it already - there's really nothing quite like it visually on the road - but throw in a 'Made in Singapore', 'Made for Singapore' backstory, and the intrigue surrounding the car is amplified even further. On the note of tailoring the car to the local context, even the Hyundai Bluelink Singapore app has an integrated map that can seamlessly send directions to the nearest charging station straight into your car's native satnav.
Besides providing a driver with remote functions (such as turning on the air-conditioning; locking and unlocking the car), the Hyundai Bluelink Singapore app also integrates other features that make the EV ownership experience more seamless - such as syncing directions to the nearest charging station
While 'Made in Singapore' now holds true for every new Ioniq 5 rolling out of Bulim Avenue, however, the same can't be said for the 'Made for Singapore'-half of the equation. In particular, even as the Ioniq 5 Inspiration imagines and demonstrates how far out the lineup can reach in terms of power, it remains fettered by taxes in the real world.
That brings us back to the question - who exactly is the Ioniq 5 Inspiration for? I suspect the mention of 'dual-motor all-wheel-drive’ might lead some into pegging this as the 'performance variant', and against its lower powered siblings, it's not hard to see why. Yet this isn't technically true - and to Hyundai's full credit too, isn't what they've set out for the Ioniq 5 Inspiration either. There's one very special and unique variant for that (as yet, still not in Singapore): The Ioniq 5 N.
It would thus be more accurate to recognise this simply as the range-topper of the lineup, bringing performance up to par with the delectable creature comforts and advanced technology we've always known the model to have. If a fully-rounded package is what one has always sought from the Ioniq 5, the Inspiration trim stands as the fully-realised vision of what can await. Otherwise, the relative lack of an aggressive 'wow' factor here only underscores how the lower trims have done exceedingly well - and if you go for those, you'd also not be losing out on too much.
Here are a few other dual-motor electric cars on the market today to consider!
What We Like
Effortless power
Space
Extra range
Feels like the rightful, fully-realised vision of the Ioniq 5
What We Dislike
Hard-to-miss heft
Needs more differentiation as the top-of-the-line variant
Downsized power is all the rage in Singapore's car market today - and in particular, so that carmakers can move certain models from point (Cat) B to A.
It's a trick that's been pulled off not just by the Germans, but indeed, makers of electric SUVs too, all in the name of making their cars more amenable to our taxes. Notably, the sequence is such that the more powerful variant arrives first and stirs up some buzz, before the detuned, more affordable one swoops in to tug at the sleeves of the rational car buyer here.
With the benefit of a later launch, however, Hyundai appeared to have already studied these trends before diving fully into the rollout of the Ioniq 5 across the length of this year. The result: A remarkable show-of-hand spread of a few powertrain variants released all at once, including, of course, one that could duck under the Cat A power ceiling.
Much of the (completely understandable) buzz surrounding the Ioniq 5 thus far has consequently been rooted in the fact that it's made both in Singapore, and for Singapore (that Cat A variant was crafted specially for, well, Cat A). But ostensibly doing things inversely to the crowd, Hyundai is now turning our attention upwards to what stands at the top of the range: The Inspiration 77kWh, which gets a larger battery, a couple more goodies, and of course, far more firepower.
To the untrained eye, the Inspiration trim may not bring anything visually new of note to the Ioniq 5 on first glance. Still, we're not kidding when we say this introduces, quite literally, a couple more goodies that the rest of the variants do not get.
A fancier pair of leather loafers does wonders in elevating an already well-tailored suit; likewise, the larger and more intricate 20-inch rims the Inspiration exclusively gets are impossible to ignore once you've noticed them.
More importantly, however, even the tyres themselves are upgraded. Here, the Ioniq 5 Inspiration is shod in high-performance EV-specific Michelin Pilot Sport 4s, compared to the Kumho ECSTA PS71s on the rest of the range.
Square-jawed, boxy delight: The Ioniq 5's Parametric Pixel-studded frame is still a head-turner on our roads
The lack of differentiation otherwise is not to say this isn't still a delicious and riveting masterclass in automotive design, bridging Hyundai's future and past.
Amidst HDB carparks, and when rolling along in peak-hour traffic, the Ioniq 5's outsized - and very handsome - pixel-studded hatchback shape (its SUV label is really no misnomer, considering its size) continues to be a magnet for outstretched necks and prolonged stares.
The Ioniq 5's 'living room'-inspired cabin continues to delight, and is further enhanced with an eight-speaker BOSE sound system in the Inspiration trim
Spacious, sumptuous living room
The largely similar story carries on when you climb in, where the Inspiration trim packs one extra and unique feature specially for the audiophiles: An eight-speaker BOSE sound system, replete with a subwoofer and amplifier, to bring the best out of your Spotify Wrapped playlists.
Admittedly, some extra generosity would have been welcome, considering this is the top-of-the-line variant. (Would wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto be too much to ask for at this price point?) Nonetheless, taking the wider context of the lineup into consideration shows how much is already being offered in the lower trims.
Make no mistake - the Ioniq 5 Inspiration is stacked full of equipment - but the same can be said for the Prestige 58kWh and Prestige 77kWh. Both the innovative 'Universal Island' sliding centre console and gorgeous, dual-pane sunroof, for instance, are standard across the range. Meanwhile, step up the to Prestige variants, and you get reclinable front seats with ventilation as well as the full, advanced suite of driving assistance systems.
Features like the sliding 'Universal Island'-centre console (pictured) and dual-pane glass roof are standard across the range, while the Ioniq 5's Zero Gravity reclinable seats, which also feature seat ventilation, are already available on the Prestige trims
All this is built atop of the fact that Ioniq 5's 'living room'-inspired interior design continues to fascinate and deeply satisfy. Worth noting too is this test unit is fitted with light, cream-coloured upholstery (against the Black Monotone one we got in the Prestige 58kWh variant), which further elevates the sense of airiness within.
Space in the second row for stretching out is genuinely impressive, given the car's 3,000mm wheelbase. But as a car built solely with an electric powertrain in mind, what is even more remarkable is how expansive the front quarters feel for the driver and shotgun passenger. Also, this is no small car - it's wider tip to tip than a Tucson, and even something like the Toyota Vellfire - meaning that shoulder room for rear passengers is fantastic.
Yet another praiseworthy aspect of the Ioniq 5's spacious, space-age cabin is the retention of physical controls despite the wealth of digital real estate.
In a setup that's indisputably minimalist-modern, it's nice to be able to have shortcut buttons to depress. The most essential of functions - your dual-zone A/C - is also not buried behind endless menus on the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, but rather, displayed permanently on a touch panel with an intuitive layout.
Dual motors send 321bhp and 605Nm of torque to all four wheels on the Ioniq 5 Inspiration, propelling the car from 0 to 100km/h in a mere 5.1 seconds
More firepower, but more weight to carry too
Watch the traffic ahead thin out, however, and the Inspiration's step up becomes the clearest. Where the exterior and interior upgrades on the Inspiration trim may require more initiated parties to detect, the leap in power is impossible to miss from behind the wheel.
Aided by an additional electric motor on the front axle, the Ioniq 5 Inspiration gets a total of 321bhp, and not-insignificant 605Nm of instant torque, which can be sent to all four wheels. Likewise, it completes the century sprint in a much quicker 5.1 seconds, against the Prestige 58kWh's 9.5 seconds.
Put the car into Sport mode, and you'll see the graphic light up, showing that both motors are doing their work with every stab of the accelerator pedal. The sensation from behind the wheel translates; the Ioniq 5 Inspiration truly possesses the ability to pin its occupants heads back into their seatrests at full tilt - something the Prestige 58kWh we previously tested was less predisposed to do.
A rear-biased setup helps to reduce the car's energy consumption when power and traction are required less - but put the car into Sport, and those dual motors will make their presence felt fully
Consequently, piloting the Ioniq 5 Inspiration on the highway is an even more pleasant experience. With its good cabin insulation and settled ride, the Ioniq 5 was always a gifted cruiser, but the extra confidence provided by the bolstered power output means overtakes and lane merges are even easier to execute, taking the effortless air of the car to even greater heights.
Here's where the caveat lies, though: The Ioniq 5 Inspiration is still decidedly not a full-fledged electric hot hatch. When thrown around a bend, the car's low centre of gravity and grippy Pilot Sport 4s are clearly palpable as they do their best to keep it in line - and the car does feel stabler than you'd expect for something of its heft and size. But 2,125kg of metal and glass is a fair bit to keep in check. Coupled with its softer-skewing suspension, the weight is hard to miss, even if its outright firepower feels bottomless (at least on our roads).
Otherwise, the car's drivetrain is still rear-biased; in Eco and Normal modes, power quickly shifts solely to the rear axle once the car has accumulated enough momentum, helping it to consume less energy. If left in Eco mode and driven sensibly, getting close to Hyundai's 5.26km/kWh claim is possible. The Inspiration trim also comes with a larger 77kWh battery (reminder - the Cat A variant gets a 58kWh one), and is thus endowed with more range (up to 454km) despite the dip in efficiency caused by the extra motor.
Admittedly, the Ioniq 5 Inspiration may lack an aggressive 'wow' factor as the range-topper here - but that only underscores how much buyers are already getting on the lower trims
Few cars have arguably stolen the limelight the way the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has here this year.
First impressions alone are likely to cut it already - there's really nothing quite like it visually on the road - but throw in a 'Made in Singapore', 'Made for Singapore' backstory, and the intrigue surrounding the car is amplified even further. On the note of tailoring the car to the local context, even the Hyundai Bluelink Singapore app has an integrated map that can seamlessly send directions to the nearest charging station straight into your car's native satnav.
Besides providing a driver with remote functions (such as turning on the air-conditioning; locking and unlocking the car), the Hyundai Bluelink Singapore app also integrates other features that make the EV ownership experience more seamless - such as syncing directions to the nearest charging station
While 'Made in Singapore' now holds true for every new Ioniq 5 rolling out of Bulim Avenue, however, the same can't be said for the 'Made for Singapore'-half of the equation. In particular, even as the Ioniq 5 Inspiration imagines and demonstrates how far out the lineup can reach in terms of power, it remains fettered by taxes in the real world.
That brings us back to the question - who exactly is the Ioniq 5 Inspiration for? I suspect the mention of 'dual-motor all-wheel-drive’ might lead some into pegging this as the 'performance variant', and against its lower powered siblings, it's not hard to see why. Yet this isn't technically true - and to Hyundai's full credit too, isn't what they've set out for the Ioniq 5 Inspiration either. There's one very special and unique variant for that (as yet, still not in Singapore): The Ioniq 5 N.
It would thus be more accurate to recognise this simply as the range-topper of the lineup, bringing performance up to par with the delectable creature comforts and advanced technology we've always known the model to have. If a fully-rounded package is what one has always sought from the Ioniq 5, the Inspiration trim stands as the fully-realised vision of what can await. Otherwise, the relative lack of an aggressive 'wow' factor here only underscores how the lower trims have done exceedingly well - and if you go for those, you'd also not be losing out on too much.
Here are a few other dual-motor electric cars on the market today to consider!
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Car Information
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Electric Inspiration 77 kWh (A)
$262,800
CAT B|Electric|5.26km/kWh
Horsepower
239kW (321 bhp)
Torque
605 Nm
Acceleration
5.1sec (0-100km /hr)
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- Exterior
- Interior
- The Drive
- Conclusion
