Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has officially launched the Ioniq 5 electric vehicle (EV) in Malaysia. Order books for the EV opened last week, and we also brought to you a first look of the uniquely-designed EV from its teaser preview at 1 Utama.
As revealed earlier, the Ioniq 5 comes in three variants, namely Lite, Plus and Max, as per the Kona Electric that was launched late last year. The Lite comes with the 58 kWh lithium ion polymer battery and rear-wheel drive, and the Plus is a higher-spec version of the 58 kWh RWD car. The Max is the range-topper with a 72.6 kWh battery and dual-motor AWD.
The prices are RM199,888 for the Lite, RM229,888 for the Plus and RM259,888 for the ultimate Ioniq 5 Max. Of course, these on-the-road without insurance prices are fully exempted from import and excise duties, 50% sales tax as well as road tax, as announced in Budget 2022. By the way, the smaller Kona Electric’s price range is from RM149,888 (39.2 kWh) to RM199,888 (64 kWh), so HSDM has full EVs covering a wide RM150k to RM260k space.
Note that the Ioniq 5 prices above are with the standard warranty of two years or 50,000 km plus an EV battery warranty of eight years or 160,000 km. An “extended warranty and service package” costs an additional RM10k and will take the warranty to five years of 100,000 km, and include service maintenance for three years or 50,000 km. The EV battery warranty remains the same.
HSDM is offering two home charging stations, which are optional items. Choose from a 7 kW AC unit for RM6k or a 22 kW AC unit for RM7,000. Prices include “standard installation” but there may be extra charges for additional cabling and extended installation requirements. If you opt for the Max and add on the extended warranty plus the 22 kW charger, the max price is RM276,888.
“Hyundai is paving the way for affordable EV ownership. There will be more EVs in the line-up by various brands under Sime Darby Motors as we aim to lead in Malaysia’s push towards low carbon mobility with a suite of products, services and capabilities across the automotive value chain to support the country’s EV plans,” said Jeffrey Gan, MD of retail and distribution at Sime Darby Motors Malaysia.
To the specs. 58 kWh RWD cars have a 170 PS/350 Nm (125 kW) rear motor, good for 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds, while the dual-motor AWD gets a combined 305 PS/605 Nm (225 kW) and a 0-100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds. WLTP range on a full charge is 384 km for the 58 kWh car and 430 km for the two-tonne 72.6 kWh AWD. Top speed is 185 km/h for both. There’s an i-Pedal function for single pedal brakeless driving.
As for charging, with a 350 kW DC fast charger, users can juice the Ioniq 5’s battery from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes, and even just five minutes of plugging in will be able to net an extra 100 km of WLTP-rated range. Although we don’t have such powerful chargers yet, it’s good to know that the Ioniq is capable of faster charging when the hardware arrives.
Current DC fast chargers such as those on the Shell Recharge network are rated at 180 kW. At 50 kW, Hyundai says that the Ioniq 5 will replenish from 10% to 80% in 47 minutes, so expect much shorter waiting times at 180 kW DC chargers, even if it’s shared with another EV. Juicing up with a 11 kW home AC charger takes five hours for the 58 kWh and slightly more than six hours for the bigger battery. The Ioniq 5 has a CCS2 port.
Built on Hyundai’s dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) for EVs (not shared with ICE cars, like in the Kona Electric’s case), the Ioniq 5 supports both 400V and 800V charging infrastructure without the need for additional components or adapters. By the way, the Ioniq 5 can play powerbank too, with vehicle-to-load (V2L) sockets under the rear seats that can supply up to 3.6 kW to power things like electric bicycles, scooters, camping equipment, or even another EV with a dead battery.
Interestingly, HSDM calls the Ioniq 5 a Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV). We don’t see a lot of crossover or SUV in the design, but perhaps they’re referring to the EV’s size. It might look like a Golf-sized hatchback in pictures, but the scale is larger. At 4,635 mm long and 1,890 mm wide, it’s 430 mm longer and 90 mm wider than the Kona Electric, a B-SUV, and the three-metre wheelbase is 400 mm lengthier than the Kona’s.
In fact, that 3m wheelbase is longer than that of a Toyota Camry (2,825 mm) and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2,939 mm), and 20-inch wheels look natural on this body. That’s what the AWD car gets (it’s the more elaborate looking set you see here, with 255/45 tyres), an inch larger than the 19-inch items (235/55) on the Lite and Plus. Boot space is a good 527 litres, expandable to 1,587 litres max. The frunk is 54L in the RWD and 24L in the AWD due to the front motor.
The electric hardware is great, but what really sets the Ioniq 5 apart is its form. This EV is a faithful adaptation of the Hyundai 45 Concept from Frankfurt 2019, which was in turn inspired by the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, hence the retro-modern look dominated by straight lines and sharp edges.
The ‘Z’ on the profile is the marque’s “Parametric Dynamics” style in action, as seen on the latest seventh-generation Elantra. The Tetris-style “Parametric Pixel” tail lamps – also found on the Staria MPV’s twin towers – are very cool, as are the flush door handles and clamshell bonnet. This is a fresh piece of design that doesn’t look like anything else on the market today.
Inside, Hyundai says that the Ioniq cabin uses eco-friendly and sustainably sourced materials. The seats are clad in an eco-processed leather that is dyed and treated with plant oil extractions from flaxseed, while textiles are derived from sustainable fibres such as sugar cane bio components, wool and poly yarns, as well as material woven from fibres made from used PET plastic bottles. By the way, the no-logo steering wheel is intentional, and not a Photoshop error.
As for kit, the Ioniq 5 is well equipped. Two 12.3-inch screens dominate the dashboard, and the central one is a touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also standard are a smart key with remote start, dual-zone automatic air con, wireless charging, auto lights and wipers, electrochromic rear mirror, electronic parking brake with auto hold, and a tyre pressure monitor, among other things.
Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of driver assist features is standard across the range, but the Lite misses out on the blind spot view monitor (camera feed, normal warning is present), Safe Exit Alert’s active door assist (warning only) and surround view camera. The Lite gets LED reflector headlamps while the others sport dual LED projectors.
As for seats, it’s fabric and electric driver’s side for the Lite, and leather with electric front seats for the rest. The Max adds on ventilated/heated front seats and heated rear seats, which are also powered (Malaysia probably doesn’t need heating, but it comes in a pack), Staria-style Premium Relaxation Seats (driver and passenger), solar roof (powers auxilaries) and a Bose sound system with seven speakers plus subwoofer and amp.
The Lite and Plus have all-black cabins, but if you’re going for the Max, you can choose from full black or two-tone with dark or light grey seats. One of the two-tone options even have a dark green dashboard that’s almost black, but not. Oh, and the signature Gravity Gold Matte colour is reserved for the Max, which can also be had in Shooting Star Grey Matte and a glossy Lucid Blue Pearl hue.
Once again, the duty-free pricing for the Ioniq 5 is RM199,888 for the Lite, RM229,888 for the Plus and RM259,888 for the Max with the 72.6 kWh battery and dual-motor AWD. It’s an additional RM10k for the extended warranty and service package, BMW-style, and HSDM sells two kinds of AC home chargers. What do you think of this EV?
GALLERY: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Max, 72.6 kWh AWD
GALLERY: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Plus, 58 kWh
GALLERY: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Lite, 58 kWh
Not bad
Will go ahead and buy, no question ask
The price is not too bad and it’s beautiful car…but the price is going to drop like a rock for second hand. More EVs coming very soon with better technology, longer range and faster charging.
You are right, most cars hv no RV, but if one can afford it one wouldn’t mind because we earn to spend not bring to the grave.
Yeah…take public transports. No need to worry about RV problem.
Beautiful…. But the price tho’… ouch
Price not really bad
affordable?
For the price I think it’s quite affordable since it much bigger and more features than Kona Electric. It looks good too. If they could bring the MAX spec with RWD 72.6 kWh battery version it would be much nicer.
this is a nice proper and well made car a global brand. unlike the Chinese EVs (glorified Golf Cars). a good line up with BMW. Porsche and other proper EV car brands.
It is not affordable to most Malaysians but the Ioniq 5 starts at RM185,000 in S.Korea. It lists for RM492,000 in Singapore or RM308,000 (minus say S$60k COE).
We really do not have much to complain about as far as the sticker price is concerned.
U clearly haven’t seen NIO from CHINA!
Too expensive and the design is hmmm.. so so only..
430km is adequate for pure city use but user will be frighten of driving long journey. Let’s said 430km is max and 80% are practical use will be 340km range. This is merely enough to cover KL – JB 1 way trip without extra miles to run around the town. It will be excellent if the usable range is at 400km, WLTP always gives optimistical number not precise. If BMW i4 e40 launched with price below 300k it gonna sell like hot cake since the WLTP range is 590km or about 500km range in reality.
Americans have been travelling 1,000 miles and more with an EV car. No issues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L8-CuOPm04
Yes ,with charging ports.
I guess you need to plan accordingly. Shell high performance chargers is located in Muar.
Please bring in a RWD 72.6kWh. Road tax is too high for the AWD once the exemption ends. Paying close to RM3k yearly for roadtax should be reserved for proper luxury cars, not these.
Woo, 200K! Thanks Hyundai who make China EV, The Good cat look value for money now!
280k for a Hyundai???
the hyundai model that made into japan’s car market recently , good one
Too soon to buy EV now, maybe another 2 to 3 years when more charging stations available then can consider. Now EV best to be 2nd or 3rd car around city driving.
I LOL-ed at “Hyundai is paving the way for affordable EV ownership.”
For the vast majority of Malaysians, “from RM199,888” is way out of their reach. Just look at the median income.
One step at a time, it’s not really that expensive in today’s EV market. Its actually the 2nd most affordable EV in Malaysia, next to the Nissan Leaf. For the vast majority, as you say, will need to wait a few years until EV prices around the world to come down.
200k for kimchi car? Are these kimchiheads insane?!
Ringgit is worthless.
Malaysians complaining about everything as per usual.
Any chance of Hyundai i20 N HSDM?
Hope the charging network can supply at least 360kW 800V infrastructure. This will boost EV sales!
its a ripped off. missing in Max: 77KWH, panoramic sunroof, remote smart parking assist, 20″ alloy and AR HUD. no AR HUD is a missed..
If thats the features they ripped off then the the malaysian version is downgraded ver. of indonesian signature trim ioniq 5
I wonder how these EV fair against flood.
same as ab ICE vehicle what kind of silly question is that
The price is ok if you start comparing the retail price of such unit in UK or US (retailing around 46k usd). Tesla model 3 base pricing is also almost similar. Do take note tesla 3 grey import is still going above 300k range.
This is by far the most affordable and practical EV even for the 58kwh rwd range. Kona may be the cheapest but this is by far a ground breaking design from start. Forget the bmw mini ev or nissan leaf with range you cant even goto kuantan. With fast dc charging placed along interstate highway and i am seeing more of such EV charging being placed in hotels and office buildings, i wouldn’t say long distance is not possible. Just a matter of planning your journey. For urban usage, this ticks all the boxes provided you stay in landed properties since you will need their AC 22kW wall charging installed.
As for the max range model of ioniq awd, if driven on eco mode, it will disable the fwd and power only flow to rwd which further boost the range to almost 500km.
Many non believers will always laugh at korean brands and EV but this folks need to wake up and embrace that EV will be here to stay and it’s not easy to get accolades for car of the year 2022 from the european. I am excided that Sime bring in this car and priced at a competitive price range and i believe more players will bring in their own EV. First adoption is never cheap but at least you get to experience it first hand. Just like how porsche taycan have a 12 mths waiting list.
Unfortunately, this “competitive” 200k+ price is without excise duties and taxes. When our infrastructure (hopefully) gets built out, the early bird benefits would’ve ended, and it’s all back to square one with only the T20 being able to afford these toys without overstretching comfortably.
This maybe “affordable” in the sense of “reasonably priced” when it comes to EV. RM200K+ is in the areas of premium cars, which probably only 5%~10% of the population can afford. EV as a proposition now is not affordable yet to the masses. Some people even take years before they can afford to buy a Honda Civic (RM144k for RS). Our hopes now lies in Proton/Geely to bring us an actually affordable EV.
You forget that this 200k+ is already without excise duties and taxes. With a level playing field it’s impossible for Proton/Geely to play the value proposition angle as they always have to steal sales from other OEMs — this is the way it should be.
I hope car insurance comes with electrical fire damage during charging.
there is a price to pay for going green.
What about turning radius of 12meters, down here we have so many U turns.
Nice car. Already saw one on the road. My next car is gonna be an EV. Just wondering tho… This car won’t be serviceable in regular workshops.
About the workshops, that’s something to consider after the warranty period has ended i suppose.
Nice!
i would love to have Hyundai ev, but do their dealerships also offer charging for their ev? If BMW can do that I hope Hyundai can do the same also, otherwise it is not practical.