The Online Photographer

Yes. You already love them and it’s a great price.

I've several friends that LOVE their Ioniq 5's - I don;t know if it's the generally appreciation of the simplicity of an EV, or the car itself, but unlike the frustrations some of the same folks have had with Nissan Leafs, or early Tesla 3's, it seems like it's a well sorted car form people that have gotten build a car down decently well.

It's something I've also been thinking about. For my use case I think some kind of hybrid or plug-in hybrid makes more sense. But I'm interested. I say go for it.

I cannot comment on the vehicle itself, don't know IONIQ. But if your normal driving distances are such that its range works for you, then yeah, why not. A 2024 battery is not old and from what I've read, batteries are turning out to have longer useful lives than expected. I don't know if anyone, AAA?, offers a battery-health check.

A friend from motorsport days has had a Chevy Bolt for 9 years and other than tires has not spent a single penny on maintenance. Its battery was replaced once by GM because of a recall. The range of the Bolt is about 50-60m more than the distance from their home in Toronto to their cottage and they drive it almost every weekend. He says that after some self-training with the regenerative braking, you can almost get away with never using the car's brakes.

Installation of a home rapid charger will probably be viewed as an asset by future buyers of your home.

You should get the Ioniq if you can. There are a number of reasons:

1. Electric cars are just plain fun. That instant torque is great.

2. My next car will be electric in large part because they are quiet. I have very bad tinnitus, and driving in standard cars really exacerbates that hugely.

3. Again regarding torque, I consider the ability to accelerate rapidly from a stop to be a safety consideration. I don't want to be t-boned because I can't get out of the way.

4. Environmentally, it's the right choice. Sure, there is a carbon debt associated with making a new car. But, each mile you drive in an ICE-based automobile adds immediately to air-quality problems. If you're concerned about the carbon debt, save a few bucks and get a used version for a lower price. Win-win.

5. Operating costs are much lower than with combustion cars.

6. Photographically speaking, you'll want to go shooting more because it's fun going places.

There are definite downsides--more questionable reliability, higher insurance costs, potentially higher registration costs, having to get service at a dealership, environmental costs of rare earth extraction and shipping, and more. Nonetheless, there's a lot to be said for being on the right side of history.

Grab & run Mike, that's a great deal for someone in your position. I couldn't though I would want an EV but even going from a 2000 Chevy pickup to a 2014 Chrysler 200 convertible last year was such an improvement...

Just note that electric car range and really cold weather do not mix …. Also, since you are not living in the inner city, what charging infrastructure is there between you and where you are likely to need to go for medical appointments, etc.? Electric cars are great but really do need infrastructure to support them, especially outside major cities. Oh - and the weight and torque of the vehicles tend to cause them to chew through tires - but that cost should be offset against the limited maintenance costs of electric motors.

Alternatively, you could go hybrid. Many hybrids have a 500+ mile range. They get very good gas mileage. I have a Sienna minivan hybrid that, during summer months, regularly tops 36 mpg (12.7 kpl) regardless of type of driving. Of course all vehicles with batteries will suffer a little bit in the cold.

My wife and I have had 3 Hyundais, they have been fantastic cars. The first two had over 200,000 miles when we retired them. Hyundai #3, a 2008 Elantra has, I kid you not, nor do I exaggerate, 340,000 miles. It just keeps chugging along. We’re saving for an EV, possibly an Ioniq or Chevy Bolt.

Hey Mike,

One word - hybrid. You have mentioned your electric intermittency issues before so that's a real consideration.

I know you like Mazda Miatas but there's no real good hybrid/electric yet. We were in the same decision situation about six months ago. We thought about electrics and hybrids and gas and we ended up buying a "last car" petroleum powered Mazda 3 HB AWD Turbo.

Test drive one in Sport Mode using the paddle shifters on a twisty road and if it doesn't put a smile on your your face ... I dunno what to suggest. Soul Red Crystal of course. 0-60 in 5 seconds, AWD and Zoom-zoom Mazda aesthetic. 8500 miles in snow, rain and heat so far lol.

If we were making the same decision today, we would probably get the latest shiny Prius or Corolla Cross. Good luck buying a car today as the human interface/aesthetic doesn't seem to matter much anymore. I'm pretty sure that a lot of the current crop of automotive designers don't actually drive cars on a daily basis.

Cars just ain't fun anymore and are way too complicated,
Ed

I've always liked the look of the Ionic 5, and placed and order for an Ionic 5N last week. They're a sharp looking design to my eyes.

BUT - I'd recommend you don't. The Ionic 5 is one of the less reliable EVs and I'd be wary for something you would plan to own for an extended period of time. Google 'ICCU issues'.

I'm from Australia, so we have different competing vehicles, but one in common is Tesla. I know Tesla as a brand might be problematic, and it has it's quirks (austere interior with lack of buttons, no indicator stalk) but as an appliance car it objectively just gets so much more right for day to day needs. Range in particular is excellent that you will probably find worthwhile in a cold climate.

Base Ionic 5 is RWD, in climates where you are, maybe FWD (or AWD if cost permits) might be preferable?

With 13 years experience driving electric, I will second Andre Y's comment. The first question you should ask yourself when planning to buy an electric car is "how will I charge it?" Given you're out in the country, if you can't install a 240 volt level 2 charger, then you probably shouldn't buy it.

My wife and I have had four Nissan Leafs, starting in 2011. We were early adopters. My wife has a tough commute, and we started buying Leafs so that she could drive in the HOV lane as a solo driver. (Mass transit is not an option for her.) We had a 220 volt line installed in the garage along with a Blink brand charger. The first Leaf had a range of about 75 miles, and was very reliable. After five years, we sold it and either leased or purchased three more, with each later model year offering progressively more range. Because the HOV stickers in California are good only for about four years, we were forced to get three other Leafs for my wife to continue as a solo driver in the HOV lane. Our current Leaf is a 2023 model and has 212 miles of range. It does not have the newest fast charge port, but we do not need this as we do not travel very long distances with it. In fact, all of the charging we have done has been at our house. I highly recommend getting a dedicated 220 volt line installed at your house to charge the EV. Your utility company might even give you a discounted rate. You do not want to hang out somewhere else while the vehicle charges, especially in the winter.
The Blink charger stopped working last year, but the 2023 Leaf came with its own charger which we plug into the socket that was installed along with the 220 volt line. We have had absolutely no problems with it, and I don't think that Nissan would include it with the car if it was not safe. In other words, if you have a dedicated 220 volt line with the proper receptacle (there are different configurations to the 220 volt sockets), a dedicated home charger might be optional if the vehicle comes with its own charger, but that might vary by manufacturer. We also have a 2014 Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid that I use with either a 110 volt charger that came with the car plugged into a standard receptacle, or with the 220 volt Nissan charger. I have had no problems with either arrangement.
EVs are great. As you are aware, they have instant torque, which makes them fun to drive. (There is a saying that Americans buy horsepower but like torque.) They generally handle well, as the batteries afford a low center of gravity. They are quiet. They are space efficient, as there are no longer fuel or exhaust systems. They should be reliable, as they are mechanically less complicated than vehicles with internal combustion engines. You might personally miss the manual transmission.
As a final note, be sure to check insurance rates. Some EVs can be expensive to insure.

Rick Sammon is posting bitterly about his lemon Hyundai Ioniq 5 and his lack of support from the manufacturer. You should reach out to him.

We have had a Kia E-Niro for five years.

It's just a car. It works. It doesn't drip oil. It's always ready to go. Very simple to drive with LOTS of power if ever needed. Feels roomy, comfortable on long journeys. Range is approx 280 miles, might be 320 in warm weather, bit less in winter. After 5 years and 60,000 miles there is no noticeable deterioration in the battery.

It is heavy; driving quickly on bendy roads requires a bit of technique to keep it smooth and comfy. Essentially for bends 'in slow, out fast' it's happiest if you do all the braking before turning into a sharp bend and accelerating round the bend to exit quickly. Most cars are happiest like this anyway so it's nothing new.

We charge it overnight in our driveway using an ordinary UK standard 13A socket and a 10Amp AC charger. This is in England and I have no idea what US electricity supply is like.

Overnight charging adds approx 100 miles to our range; most of the time this is all we need to do. Much less trouble than visiting gas stations, much cheaper.

On long trips we often manage to plug in to friends or hotels electricity. Alternatively we use public chargers: expensive, waste time on journeys, two or three times we have had to wait until a charger becomes free.

The drivetrain is quiet, no vibration, no juddering, no hiccups, can't stall, doesn't waste energy when not moving. The downside is that one becomes very aware of tyre and wind noise.

Go for it!

( and yell for mor information if wanted )

You’ve pretty much heard the spectrum of opinion. I would especially echo having a charge station at home, and it being at least a level 2. The 8 years I’ve had the Bolt has been great, but “range anxiety” never goes away if you go beyond local driving. For longer trips up and down I95 we’ve got a Subaru ICE. As an around town vehicle, the Bolt’s been easy peasy. But it’s only got 40k miles after those 8 years.

Absolutely get it. You will never want a combustion engine vehicle again in your life.
Regarding the expense of a Level 2 charger and it's install - I have driven my electric vehicle in the Seattle area for over 30 months now, using only the Mobile charger which plugs into a standard 110V socket found in all homes. It gets me about 60 miles range in a 12 hour overnight charging session, enough to cover my daily commute. I don't drive that car every day, so there is no problem approaching the weekend with what ever level of charge I want to have in the car for my weekend needs.

A fewthings to help if you get the car, in response to some of the concerns others have brought up (based on our Kona Electric):
1. A 220 charger is worth it, but yes you’ll need to budget for it. Ours cost around $1700 all in with installation and charger on the side of our house. But we can fully charge the car in just a few hours overnight.
2. “Fully Charging” for us means usually up to 80%. Most electric cars have the option to automatically stop charging at 80% to extend the operating life of your battery. It can make a huge difference for the life of the battery and minimizing degradation. Make that a part of your charging routine. Charging occasionally to 100% for longer anticipated trips is not a big deal, but staying between 20%-80% is best practice.
3. Winter range: we do see a drop. We get about 290 miles in the summer, about 230 in the winter. That’s significant, but irrelevant for us. We don’t drive that far. I believe the Ioniq 5 has a heat pump, and that’ll help (we don’t have one).

You should check out “The Car Care Nut Reviews” YouTube channel for a mechanics take on Hyundai Electric cars. He always focuses on the thermal management system in his EV reviews. His most recent Hyundai electric car review is of the Ioniq 5 N which is a performance car that does not seem to be radically different from what you’re considering.

Some things to know from my experience with my 2023 Ioniq 5:

1. Great car and mine has been perfect. Incredibly powerful and quiet.
2. There have been some recalls, mostly related to charging (including charging the 12 volt battery). You should get these, although in my case I never had any problems.
3. By all means get a Level 2 home charger.
4. Charging on the road has just gotten way better because Hyundai sent all owners a free adapter for Tesla chargers.
5. I bought an extended warranty from the dealer when I got my car. If the car you're considering has this already, then that's great. If not, you may not be able to get one.
6. Mine came with a tow receiver, and you can have an after-market one added. The car can easily tow a small (5x8) utility trailer, and I find this extremely convenient.

1) The reason why there are still 2024 Ionic 5's on the lot may be because the Ionic 5 has had multiple issues for multiple years with its 12V battery and its ICCU - the charging computer.

The ADAC (Germany’s automobile club) has published its roadside assistance/breakdown statistics for the past year.

For 1000 registered cars there were—on average—9,4 calls for road side assistance for ICEs and 3.8 for EVs, but 22 for Ioniq 5s.

NB - the ADAC data only covers up to model year 2022. But ICCU persist past that model year

2) You may well be able to get a Chevy Equinox EV for less than or about $29,000. It is highly rated and has more EV range and more room than the Ionic 5, and also comes with AWD versions. The base FWD retails for $35,000, the AWD for ~ $3300 more. But Chevy offers many discounts - $2000 cash back; $1250 CostCo Executive rebate; $1250 non-GM owner Incentive; $7500 Federal rebate; 0% financing; and some other rebates you may not qualify for - military, 1st responder, student etc. Different dealers offer different discounts - yo may need to shop hard.

Your electricity provider and NYS may also offer many thousands in rebates. But, you have to purchase before September 30th for the $7500 Federal rebate.

Good luck!

I've had my Mustang Mach E for a year now (30,000 miles), and I'd say go for it. Yes, get a level 2 home charger. Yes, check out insurance and registration costs to make sure that doesn't mess up your budget. Yes, cold weather makes a big difference in range, but I haven't had any problems (living in Michigan); you simply adjust your expectations in winter. I wouldn't worry too much about finding chargers while out and about; get the Plugshare app and take a look. Last summer I drove from Michigan to Buffalo, then through the Finger Lakes, into the Adirondacks, and back again. No problems finding chargers throughout.

I wouldn't want to go back to a gas-powered car at this point, and my wife wants to switch to electric for her next car.

Consumer Reports say that 'the Ioniq 5 is one of the most impressive EV's we've tested, with punchy acceleration, agile handling, a reasonably comfortable ride, and generous interior room.' Range depends on the model -- 2wd or 4wd (with dual motors and 84kW battery 290 miles). They report below average reliability. That would be a red flag for me.
Overall score is 64/100

OMG, I've been reading this blog for years and this is like the perfect question for me.

My wife and I got a 2024 Ioniq 5 Limited (top US model) rear-wheel drive in November 2024. We absolutely LOVE it. It was our first electric.

My neighbor came over for dinner early in 2025. We talked about it for a couple of hours and he test-drove mine. Long story short, he got a 2025 Ioniq 5 SEL and he and his wife LOVE it. We went out to dinner with them last night and spent the last hour in his car going over all the features/options/menus etc. so he can get the most out of it. (My wife said from the back seat "Next time, let's just go through a drive through and spend the entire dinner in the car!"

Anyway, get an EV if you can charge at home most of the time. I suspect you do and can. You probably have reasonable local electricity rates where you are. If so, your "EV gas" cost will be 1/3 of what a gasoline vehicle costs.

If you go on road trips and use fast chargers along the way, your "EV gas" cost will be about the same as gas. Plus you will spend more time figuring out your charging stops, actually charging, etc. so trips will take very roughly 1.2 times compared to a gasoline car.

At least the Ioniq 5 has 800 volt architecture meaning that at a fast charger giving 350 kvh or more, your charge time from 10% to 80% will be about 20 minutes. That is fast for an EV. (Because of heat and other Technical Things, charging slows after 80% so this is not normally recommended unless you have time and the need to go all the way to 100%, like a long drive to the next charger.)

Around town, charging at home, you are golden. Just plug in at night and you're full by morning, no waiting at the pump. (This is assuming a level 2 charger. It is possible to do level 1 only (110VAC) but charging is reallllllly slow.) Add in the cost of a level 2 charger for home.

I have the RWD for mileage. You should get the AWD because you are in a snowy zone -- better traction & driving. I'm in Florida so RWD is fine here.

The car itself is a delight. Both design features and driving comfort and performance. Read enough reviews, see YouTube videos and you'll see. I could go on for another 20 paragraphs.

Plus when the power goes out, your car can provide 110VAC power for days. (I think it can power a refrigerator for 5 days.) In the Limited trim there is a 110VAC outlet in the back seats. You can also get a V2L adapter that plugs into where you normally put the electric cord for charging. The V2L has power coming out when the car is put in utility mode.

My wife and I prefer the 2024 to the 2025 because we have a light dash panel and light interior trim. The 2025 has a blah dark dash panel.

Do NOT worry about the fact that the 2025 has a Tesla/NACS charging port while the 2022-2024s have CCS. Charging at Tesla stations is generally slower than CCS fast charging stations. While there are more Tesla stations, there are enough CCS's now and more are coming. Plus with adapters, any year can use either Tesla or CCS.

I'm 68. This is the best car I have ever had. I would never go back to a gas car. My 70-year old neighbor who bought after I did would agree.

Economics and taxes are personal, but keep the following in mind:
1) The tax bonuses to buyers for EVs are going to disappear soon - so don't miss those deadlines for federal or (if there are any) state.

2) The average person *greatly* mis-understands their true cost of ownership. The cost of fuel has never been a major factor in any of the ~10 vehicles (some new, most used) I've owned or co-owned since the mid 1980s and at least two of those were 5+ liter V8s. Depreciation and insurance have utterly dominated the cost per mile. (though my 1999 Volvo - bought well used - tried to make repair bills a close third place factor around year 19 or so ...) If you drive enough miles, gas cost might shift some, but don't assume that what you'll save on gasoline makes the overall TCO net positive. The cost of acquisition (sales tax, fees, interest if you borrow) is gigantic in the first years. Depreciation on your current vehicle is now very flat as is the typical state tax/license fee - older vehicles pay less in most states - and I expect you are not making any interest payments anymore. Whatever you buy (new or used of nearly anything newer than what you have) will have a much higher insurance rate than you pay today.

I've pondered this EV game on multiple occasions and I still might do it for a second vehicle. But as the driver of a 13+ year old vehicle, I am under no illusions as to just how massive a financial gut punch it would be to replace my current vehicle.

Value wise, there are some great deals out there on used EV right now. The leases or buyers have taken a blood bath on depreciation. But if you run the math properly, I very much doubt any of them will cost you as little per mile as what you already own.

At the very least, have your insurance agent get you quotes on the vehicles you are seriously considering. You'll be amazed how "similar" vehicles can have 20% or more differences in premium.

I've been totally thrilled with my Kia EV6, the Ioniq 5's sibling. I charge at off-peak rates at home, and I calculate that it costs me less than $3 to go 100 miles.

The Hyundai/Kia electric platform is a quality "2nd Generation" EV, with 20 minute charging at fast charger. The Ioniq 5 is well-recommended by all the reviewers. The fake gear shifting seems weird, but even that comes out well-recommended. Outside it looks kind of small, but inside it is comparable to a Camry or Accord.

I'm not sure what model you're looking at, but the steering wheel heater, and the air-conditioning in the seat are both worthwhile luxuries!

Expect your insurance rates to go up quite a bit, but they will do that for ANY new or expensive car.

Not to dissuade you from that particular opportunity, but lightly used EVs are available at VERY steep discounts. A lot 2 year olds are coming off-lease, and you can still get a $4,000 tax credit if they are priced under $25k.

I follow EVs but don't have one. The ICCU issue does pop up frequently for Hyundais. But there a lot of IONICs around. Otherwise they seem fine. Is AWD or FWD required with a sophisticated traction control? Honest question. I regularly drove to ski from CT to VT with a rear wheel drive Volvo in the 70s. No chains. But you had the RWD Mazda to should know what's needed in your part of the country. Also used EV pricing is odd, because the buyer paid less than the list price because of tax rebates. So their final price is reduced and depreciation is from the final price not the list price. In general used EV prices aren't high, probably because of the unknown and the high prices of new batteries should one be required. Unlikely but it's a big dice roll. Do you have a nearby dealer?

An EV?'s motor is its baterry. How long does it lsst and how much does it cost to replace it?

You should consider the resale value of a one-year-old EV of the same model, if possible. Here in Australia, you lose a minimum of 50% of the purchase price of a new vehicle in the first year. We purchased a new Ioniq in 2023 and wanted to trade it in on a larger-sized EV after a year. (The interior of the vehicle was too small to suit our needs.) The best trade-in was about 40% of what we paid. Luckily for us, a one-year-old model was available used. We bought it and have been very happy with the car.

A year ago we bought a three-year old Kia e-Niro (in the UK). We love it. So easy, quiet, and pleasant to drive. Never going back to petrol.

We mostly drive short distances and so mostly charge at home (we got a charger installed) and have a cheap overnight electricity rate. When we've done long journeys we've stopped half-way and charged up while getting lunch. Not a big deal (but more expensive than charging at home.

In warm weather we get 280 mile range or so - no sign of the battery degradation doom-mongers bang on about so far. Over winter it dropped but was still easily over 200 miles.

No matter the product, some people love to focus on the negatives, the occasional horror stories, rather than the overall experience of owning and using it the vast majority experience. Any particular EV is no different.

There are some known issues and cautions about ev charging for pacer patients. Please look into them. I’m not sufficiently knowledgeable to offer greater detail. No need to post this.

Well you did ask for opinions! Here’s mine: I live in Canada (other side of the lake from you) in a condo building that has no gas or oil inputs (all electric). Heating and AC is by heat pumps backed up by solar and geothermal. I am in the odd position of owning a level 2 charger at my underground parking space, but don’t have an EV. Instead I own a Lexus GS350 which is now 12 years old, but has no issues.

EVs are quite popular in the building. My next door neighbor has a Tesla 3 which she likes very much and my neighbor across the passage has two Teslas. (Note, ALL Tesla owners here are quick to point out that they bought their cars before the US went bonkers, and would make a different choice now). There are also a few other makes of EV about the garage including the Ioniq 5 and 6. Nobody reports any significant cold weather problems, so that appears to be a myth.

My neighbor across the passage is currently touring Canada in one of his Teslas and has gone from Toronto to Vancouver where he is now. He told me that his research indicated that there would be no problems getting charged along the way, and that seems backed up by his experience. (Another myth gone!). And he is towing a 25ft Airstream trailer for he and his wife to live in as he goes. There goes yet another myth! I confess I was a bit surprised this was possible, but he assured me he had done all the research. He was originally going to tour across the US this summer, and likewise did not expect any charger availability problems, but cancelled his US plans in favor of Canada. (See comment above).

I would quite like to trade in my Lexus for a BEV, but can’t justify the cost as the Lexus has lots of life left in it yet. In my situation I calculated that running a BEV like the Ioniq 5 would be about 1/10th the cost of running my Lexus or even less. Keep in mind that gas in Canada is significantly more expensive than it is in the US, while for electricity it is the other way around (we even sell the stuff to the US). Also, my Lexus requires premium gas, which costs quite a bit more again than the number you see outside gas stations, while I could charge my yet non-existent BEV using my Level 2 charger overnight on the lowest cost electricity just about anywhere. I still can’t make the numbers work out to justify a change. But I will!

FWIW, Autoline has reported that Toyota is offering a three year lease on the bZ4X for $199 a month in some states:

https://www.autoline.tv/daily/ad-4093-tariffs-could-kill-the-hornet-tonale-gms-gen-z-concept-car-for-china-toyota-bz4x-only-199-month/

Regarding EVs in cold weather: almost all new cars sold in Norway are electric. Their winters are cold.

Yeah, I'm sure reality is not that simple. Probably people who live away from cities are more into ICE cars, for example. But still, EVs are good enough for Norwegians and they do get cold winters.