The Hyundai Ioniq 5’s 73kWh battery has been swapped for a larger unit with better conditioning, along with new technology features and upgrades suspension tweaks.
The pure-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been given a minor update, with the range-topping model’s 73kWh battery pack being swapped for a slightly larger 77.4kWh unit. Hyundai has also introduced a couple more optional extras and some suspension tweaks.
Hyundai Australia has not confirmed the update for Australia’s although it is so far confirmed for most other markets.
First deliveries of the updated model with the larger battery are scheduled to arrive in 2023.
Hyundai is also tight-lipped on the range benefit the new 77.4kWh battery pack will have over the old unit, as it’s still pushing the car through the final stages of its homologation process. However, it’s certain to push the EV’s maximum figure closer to the 480km mark with only a minimal impact on charging times.
The outgoing 73kWh unit is capable of covering up to 450km on a single charge, when paired with Hyundai’s 160kW single-motor electric powertrain. Thanks to the car’s 800-volt electrical architecture, the system can also take on an 80 per cent charge in around 18 minutes if you can find a quick enough rapid charger.
Hyundai will continue to offer the Ioniq 5’s 58kWh battery at the lower end of the EV’s line-up. The most basic version is powered by a 125kW electric on the rear axle, and is capable of covering up to 380km between charging stops.
The fresh battery pack will be complemented by a new battery conditioning system, which will allow the Ioniq 5 to automatically adjust the temperature of its battery while on the road, ensuring optimum charging conditions once the car reaches a charge point.
The system will automatically activate if the driver enters the location of a charging point on the car’s sat-nav – and Hyundai claims the system will “improve real-life charging performance’ in both hot and cold temperatures.
Extra equipment options for the 2023 Ioniq 5 will include a new Digital Centre Mirror (or DCM for short), which sends a video feed to a monitor in place of the usual rear-view mirror from a camera mounted under the car’s rear spoiler. The addition could be a remedy for the car’s lack of a rear wiper and washer jet.
Buyers will also be offered new Digital Side Mirrors as an optional extra in some markets. Hyundai says the system has the added benefit of cutting down on drag, as the cameras have a much smaller surface area than conventional door mirrors. The company also claims the cameras offer a better rear view than mirrors, even in poor weather conditions.
The last tweak in this current bout of updates are a new set of Smart Frequency Dampers. Hyundai hasn’t yet told us how the new suspension works, although the brand claims the system will improve the response of the rear axle, benefit ride comfort and improve the EV’s body control and handling.
Luke Wilkinson