LONDON: The all-new Hyundai Ioniq 5 has just been named overall UK Car of the Year 2022.
And Malaysians will soon get a chance to test-drive the Tesla rival as it will be launched tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.
The Ioniq 5 was crowned best car overall by a panel of 29 expert judges from a diverse array of titles covering the British automotive industry, including The Sunday Times, The Daily Express, The Telegraph, The Independent, Top Gear, Auto Express, CAR, Evo and Business Car.
“The Hyundai Ioniq 5 feels like the future of motoring, only it’s here today. The design, performance and practicality make it a fantastic proposition for those looking for an EV – and also a very worthy winner of the title ‘UK Car of the Year 2022’,” said UK Car of the Year Awards editor and managing director John Challen.
The Ioniq 5 has also won a string of awards such as IDEA Award Winner 2021 from the US and German Car of the Year 2022 from Germany.
The sleekly styled Ioniq 5 pays homage to the marque’s design heritage while focusing on delivering the future of electric mobility to customers today.
Thanks to Hyundai’s industry-disrupting new Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the Ioniq 5 provides faster charging times, increased driving range and enhanced handling.
Since its introduction in 2020, the Ioniq 5 has won many admirers, thanks to its attractive design, range of up to 480km and the ability to rapid recharge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes.
The modular, flat-floor E-GMP has also enabled Hyundai’s designers to revolutionise the car interior. By one account, the 3-metre wheelbase is 78mm longer than that in a full size Range Rover, which translates to a spacious interior.
Hyundai said the Ioniq 5 promises a completely new in-car experience and living space, offering sustainable materials, fully flexible seating, and numerous custom options.
Back to the Malaysian context. The Ioniq 5 is now
open for booking
at all authorised Hyundai showrooms with a booking fee of RM1,000.
Locally, the EV will be available with two battery pack options of either 58kWh or 72.6kWh, and electric motor layouts of a rear motor only or both front and rear motors for an all-wheel drive car. The EV has a top speed of 185kph.
The Ioniq 5 is made at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant in South Korea. Hyundai is also making the EV in Indonesia, starting this month. While the plant would initially produce only for Indonesia, its long-term plan is to export to regional markets as well, which means Malaysia could be getting the Ioniq 5 from Indonesia in future.
Keyword: Award-winning Hyundai Ioniq 5 set for Malaysian launch on March 9