The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the most exciting vehicles to come from Hyundai since the Hyundai Pony of the 1970s. This Ioniq 5 EV gets a good amount of its styling inspiration from the 1974 Hyundai Pony concept car. With 1970s-era inspired retrofuturism found throughout its design, it is no wonder that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is catching the attention of so many drivers on the road today.

Beneath the radically designed body, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 does a lot of things well with a great list of standard features found throughout. However, not every aspect of the Ioniq 5 is a winner. Here is everything you need to know about the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and why you might be better off buying another EV unless you can buy a more expensive Ioniq 5 trim level.

Price, specs, and features of this iconic EV

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts at $41,450 MSRP, and for that price, you get the Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range. This model comes equipped with a 125-kilowatt electric motor that is good for around 168 hp. On this base model, heated seats, a digital gauge cluster, and a large 12.3-inch touchscreen are all standard equipment. Above the SE Standard Range is the Ioniq 5 SE, which is simply an SE model with a larger range with an MSRP of $45,500.

Above the SE model is the SEL, priced at $47,450 and comes with a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a hands-free liftgate, and Hyundai’s Digital Key. At the top of the lineup is the Ioniq 5 Limited, which starts at $52,600, and it comes with a good range of features, including ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a blind spot camera, and a surround-view parking system.

Steer clear of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range

While the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 may look futuristic on the outside, the SE Standard Range model is trapped in the EV stone age with a short range of just 220 miles on a charge. With most EV batteries easily propelling vehicles to well over 300 miles, it is shocking to see an EV like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 stuck with such a low range in the Standard Range model.

Of course, Hyundai’s EVs are very fast when it comes to charging, but it is tough to see the Ioniq 5 being useful for any driver other than those with a large charging system and a short commute. The price point of the Ioniq 5 makes it even harder to justify. Spending over $40,000 for an EV with such a poor range is hard to justify, especially when other EVs like the Chevy Bolt can be had for $26,500 with a better range than the Ioniq 5.

If you are looking for an EV and you need something with a decent amount of range, you might be better off looking elsewhere or looking up the Ioniq 5’s lineup. The Ioniq 5 SE comes with a range of 303 miles, which is a range that is much easier to live with. Tesla is still the gold standard for relatively affordable range, and with newer EVs like the Lucid Air coming out with over 500 miles of range, there are many other options to choose from.

If range is a priority for your EV purchase, it is probably a good idea to skip the Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range.