There are main cons to going with a longtime automaker to your first EV. Electrical vehicles from so-called “legacy” producers are inclined to have clunkier software program, much less seamless integrations of key options and a worse gross sales course of that depends on irritating sellers. However as this 2.5-year possession overview of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 exhibits, there are massive advantages for going with a legacy-brand EV.
As The Ioniq Man explains in his newest video, the automotive has been just about flawless. Regardless of being a first-model-year automotive on a brand new platform, his Ioniq 5 has skilled no critical failures. That is significantly spectacular when you think about that the Ioniq 5 has a complicated, 800-volt-class electrical charger that is a technology forward of what most automakers have expertise with. Rivals just like the Tesla Mannequin Y, Volkswagen ID.4, Toyota bZ4x and even the newer Chevy Equinox EV all use extra pedestrian 400-volt-class architectures. The one different vehicles working at or above 800 volts—moreover different Hyundais and Kias—are issues just like the Porsche Taycan, Audi E-Tron GT, Lucid Air and Tesla Cybertruck. These are all far more costly.
One of many supposed downsides of transferring towards an 800-volt-class structure is that it is newer, extra superior know-how that automakers have much less expertise with. You’d anticipate reliability issues, like those Tesla Cybertruck house owners are going through. But Hyundai has managed to make a few of the fastest-charging EVs on the planet low-cost, dependable and satisfying to personal. The motors and high-voltage batteries appear to be stout, with no wide-scale issues.
But Client Experiences places the 2022 Ioniq 5 towards the underside of its reliability rankings, because of points like 12-volt battery drain, creaking rear hatches and inside charging controller points. The Ioniq Man wanted his battery changed and did not expertise the creaking hatch downside, whereas Hyundai has put out a service bulletin for the charging controller downside. But that is nonetheless a far much less critical listing of points than people who sometimes accompany first-model-year Teslas or Rivians, and Client Experiences information exhibits that reliability improved dramatically for 2023.
However Tesla has positively discovered its reliability points with the Mannequin 3. The corporate has just about perfected the drivetrain and all critical {hardware} points for the reason that bumpers-falling-off days. But it is the finer particulars of high quality the place Hyundai’s carbuilding expertise pays off. The Ioniq Man painstakingly goes over virtually each element of the Hyundai, with the entrance finish, inside, exterior trim, windshield and extra exhibiting shockingly little put on. The one high quality concern is a small paint bubble on the rear hatch, which he ought to get addressed earlier than the three yr/36,000-mile paint guarantee expires. Apart from that, although, the one markings on the Ioniq are from person error, not high quality. For a first-year car on a brand new platform, that is a great scorecard.
Extra importantly, it additionally showcases how worry-free electrical car possession might be sooner or later. Tesla, Rivian, Hyundai, Ford and others are all shortly fixing EV high quality and reliability issues, that are pure with any new know-how. As they’re refined, although, these EVs are going from headache-filled early adopter merchandise to inconsiderate consumer-grade tanks. As soon as software program and digital points are sussed out, there simply aren’t many transferring elements to fret about. As extra automakers acquire expertise and compete to decrease guarantee claims and enhance buyer satisfaction, reliability ought to far surpass ICE automobiles. Fairly quickly we’ll be bored of vehicles lengthy earlier than they begin breaking down.
