The new Ioniq 5 is surging in popularity in North America..Top 3 Strong Competitors
Apr 14, 2025
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The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a successful EV that keeps rivals on their toes. As electric vehicles become increasingly popular in the United States, the Ioniq 5 has already proved to be an outstanding model. Unlike the era of internal combustion engines, it is undeniable that Hyundai Motor is taking the lead in the electric vehicle market and is achieving great success.
Ioniq 5 is a strong contender in the electric crossover segment. It ranked second or third after Tesla Model Y in North America.Sales in North America reached 44,400 units in 2024, up 31% year-on-year. Ioniq 5, which debuted in 2022, was sensational due to its boxy style and cost-effective specifications.
The partially altered new car introduced in North America in the second half of last year came with single and dual motor power trains and 63 and 84 kWh battery options.The single-motor rear-wheel drive model provides 168 horsepower and 350 Nm torque.The 63kWh battery version can travel up to 245 miles (394 km) on a single charge.
It is important to note that this combination can only be selected from the basic SE Standard Range Trims available starting at $42,600. All other trims are equipped with a larger 84kWh battery pack.RWD models have a driving distance of 318 miles (511 kilometers), and most AWD models have a driving distance of 290 miles (466 kilometers).
The four-wheel-drive SE trim, which starts at $46,650, adds a total output of 320 horsepower and an all-wheel motor that increases the total torque to 605 Nm.In terms of space, the Ioniq 5 provides enough space for four adults thanks to its wheelbase of 3m.
With best-in-class charging time, spacious interior, and excellent mileage, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a highly satisfactory model regardless of trim level. Nevertheless, SE trim with AWD is attractive.Electric trunks are basic, so it is convenient to use trunks.
A strong contender is the first Ford Mustang Mach-E. It still bears the same name as the revered PONICA to this day, but the Ford Mustang Mach-E is far from what you would expect from its name alone.
This electric SUV has a higher seat position than conventional internal combustion engine muscle cars thanks to its electric platform. Still, the Mustang Mach-E is capable of track driving in the case of upper trim. Ford continued to sell aggressively last year, lowering the Mustang Mach-E price.
The base select model price starts at $36,495 this year, significantly lower than the Ioniq 5.The basic single-motor model offers a 73kWh battery with a driving range of 260 miles (428 km) in the form of a RWD drive. The output produces 264 horsepower and 387 lb-ft of torque. Installing AWD on select models reduces driving distance to 240 miles (386 km).
Upgrading to a larger 88kWh battery and selecting all-wheel drive improves output to 325 horsepower and torque to 500 lb-ft.In the case of RWD, the mileage increases to a whopping 320 miles (514 kilometers). AWD can drive 300 miles (482 kilometers).
The second competitive vehicle is the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which is scheduled to be released in Korea. It's a purely electric version of the Equinox, a popular gasoline SUV, but it's actually been developed on a different platform. With the discontinuation of the entry-level bolt, the Equinox EV became an entry model in GM's EV lineup. It comes in two trims: LT and RS.
The Chevrolet Equinox EV model is mounted on the same 85kWh battery pack, but the mileage varies from one drive to the other.Equinox EVs with front-wheel motors have the best EPA-estimated driving range of 319 miles (513 km).
The AWD model reduces the driving distance to 307 miles (494 kilometers).In terms of performance, the FWD model offers 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The AWD model adds a rear-wheel motor to produce up to 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque.
Cheap LT trim starting price $34,995.At this price point, the Equinox EV has 19-inch tires and industry-standard convenience equipment.Both models are equipped with a 17.7-inch touchscreen display. It is the largest electric SUV in its class.
The third competitor is the Nissan Ariya. The Nissan continues to decline in popularity in North America at the moment, but the Arya is a fairly robust electric SUV compared to the internal combustion engine Nissan model.Nissan entered the North American electric vehicle market early with the Leaf in 2010, but ultimately missed their preoccupation position.
Only with the launch of the Nissan Ariya in 2023 did it compete with models such as the Ionic 5 and Mustang Mach-E. The Arya Basic Engage, which starts at $39,770 is front-wheel drive. It is equipped with a 63-kWh battery that can travel 216 miles (347 km). Charging time can reach from zero to 80% in about 35 minutes. The performance is not very high, with 214 horsepower and 221 lb-ft torque.
The true power of Nissan Ariya comes from the AWD model. Engage+ AWD starts at $45,370. It has an 87kWh battery and dual motor. Its driving range drops to 272 miles (437 kilometers), but its performance surges to 389 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque.The Platinum+ AWD trim, which starts at $54,370, gives 267 miles (429 kilometers) of reduced mileage due to additional equipment such as sunroofs.
Arya offers quite a competitive space. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. This is a factor that has the upper hand over Chevrolet Equinox EVs. There is no doubt that the Nissan Arya is a fairly solid electric SUV, but the driving range of the base model is quite limited compared to its competitors.Arya is remarkably a middle model with nothing good enough and no worst.
Electric SUVs are now trending in the United States. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a solid model with an excellent balance of performance and efficiency. Not to mention the best-in-class ultra-fast charging speed.Nevertheless, the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Nissan Ariya, and Ford Mustang Mach-E are all strong competitors with their own charms.
Among the four vehicles, the Ioniq 5 seems to have the highest overall competitiveness. The most powerful rival is the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Meanwhile, Ioniq 5 is currently selling facelift models in Korea. Among Hyundai Motor, it ranks first among electric vehicles and second after EV3 when combined with Kia.
Editor Song Moon-cheol mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
