I was cruising past a gas station last week in an all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 sedan with gasoline at $3.65 a gallon. My respect for electric cars reached a higher level of economic frugality.
The IONIQ 5 is a top award electric all-wheel drive sedan that is wining many honors. It should, because it is a very good drive in all respects with a range of 260 miles on a full charge. Charging times are all over the place depending upon home units and commercial stations ranging from 9 hours to 30 minutes. I’m still very weary of venturing on longer trips, fearful of charging station availability.
The IONIQ has two dual all-electric motors; horsepower is not rated, but this car would fly if it had wings. Along the way it racks up 110 miles in city driving and 88 on highways, both in MPGe calculations.
The model is elegant in style with light gray paint and a gray interior. The gear shift is a dial for drive, reverse, and park. The one gear range is all that is needed. With electric cars the acceleration is instant, and so is the descending speed, not like an internal combustion engine that winds up and down more slowly.
Everything, of course is electric from the Bose sound system to the heating and cooling controls; each use up electricity and decrease mileage. I learned early on, driving the electric cars going uphill with the air conditioning on, the mileage drops rapidly.
I really like this car that has final assembly in Ulsan, Korea and has a suggested manufacture’s price of $58,085. Hyundai offers an outstanding 100,000 mile/10-year power train warranty on their vehicles.
The car is loaded with safety features with all the latest camera views and warning notices. The rear view camera pictures are handy with the cross-traffic alerts. New safety features are one of the best reasons to trade in “old Jenny” for a new car, electric or gasoline.
Front seats adjust with power controls and leather covered steering wheel. LED lighting all around the vehicle with a sunroof and window shades. This is a complete package with many features along with a center screen control system. I think this is the “pick-of-the-litter, so to speak, with the line of electric vehicles I’ve driven so far. They are expensive, but impressive to drive, and best say “goodbye” to high-priced gasoline.