Because cars are so crucial to the culture of Los Angeles, they are almost necessary for life. However, there are car clubs for people who care about cars. The one I joined regularly took trips to the hills in various high-performance automobiles. There are always many MS and AMGs, and there are also a lot of Porsches. We won’t forget about American V-8 power. Many deliciously weird chance things happen, but none get my attention as much as the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. No one ever asks, “What’s that doing here?” They don’t have to be there. I know that the strange electric SUV I’m following stands out in a sea of sports cars that hug the ground. By the time we get to the first break, all that’s left is amazement and wonder. The Ioniq 5 is fine keeping up. More importantly, I respect it because it is an EV. As soon as I got the keys to the Ioniq 5, I could tell how fast it was. With its two 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque motors, it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and run the quarter mile in 13.2 seconds. But quick EVs are a thing of the past, and speed isn’t the only way to have fun. When going around a bend, it’s more fun to use the regenerative stopping action of the motors to keep the bike balanced. When you lift the accelerator, the weight moves forward, and the front tires dig in. Pressing the pedal, the rear drops, and the speed increases. Because it is measured in millimeters of foot movement, it is a more accurate exercise than using the gas and stop pedals. Because the Ioniq 5 has regenerative solid braking, I use the friction brakes less often. However, the brakes’ original pads and rotors slow the car down more. In the separate brake Sport mode, the contact point is moved up, but when you brake hard, the bite is sharp once the regen reaches its maximum, which isn’t great. Controls that look like paddle shifters are used to change how intense the regen is. The “i-Pedal” levels that let me drive well with just the accelerator are the strongest or Level 3, the next lowest. But at those speeds, the constant on-and-off motions of everyday driving are smoothed out. When convoying with the car club, I’ll slam the left paddle down to Level 1 or 0 and then use the right paddle to return to a higher level. The Sport drive option makes everything sharper and, regardless of the amount of regenerative braking, gives more power to the back wheels. In this mode, the Ioniq 5 looks like it wants to turn, but the front motor keeps pulling in a way only possible with performance-tuned all-wheel-drive systems. But, as it should for a friendly EV car, stability control stops any slide as soon as it starts. Even though the steering is heavy because the Ioniq 5 has a walking mode, it gets even more severe when you switch to Sport mode. Because the ratio changes so quickly and accurately, hand-over-hand moves are rare. Much road noise gets through the big, oval steering wheel rim. I’ve always liked how it looks, but drives like this make me like it even more. Like other electric vehicles, the Ioniq 5 has a low center of gravity and a high curb weight. Our long-term car weighs close to 4,700 pounds. Even though there are no problems with body roll or delay, the weight is noticeable on an uneven surface. When the suspension is overused, the body moves in wavy, bouncing motions that don’t feel too bad, but this must be considered. Regen’s ability to stay balanced is helpful in this case, and the accurate steering helps me spot too many bumps. The Ioniq 5 needs more elegance and accuracy to make it a genuine athlete. Even though it was made for daily driving, it does very well in difficult situations. During my first run with the car club, I didn’t go too fast out of respect for the racing cars, which would be much faster. On our most recent trip, though, I felt confident when I took the wheel because the people behind me told me the speed was right. The upcoming 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N could set a new standard for cheap-performance EVs because it has a better chassis, a lot more power, a lot more regenerative power, and a lot of software tricks. Our Limited-spec long-termer has become a quick and fun place to start.
