Doesn't it look just like something the Jetsons would drive?From kicking up dirt on gravel backroads to commuting to work, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT keeps a smile on your face every step of the way.Even though EV adoption is slowly but surely becoming more normal, driving one still gives way to some interesting interactions. The week I had the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT, I had strangers stop me to tell me it's "cute," "slick," "sweet," "futuristic," and even a "monstrosity" (Seriously?). To be fair, the XRT package's red tow hooks, carbon fiber-esque pixilated plastic trim, and the graph paper-patterned light bar across the back are unique—there really isn't anything else like it. It truly looks like something out of a movie.But those used to the ocean of grey, silver, or red SUVs, I can't blame them for being taken aback by it. I felt like I had a life-sized Hot Wheels when this sporty little thing was in my driveway. It made me smile every day, and I loved zipping around town in it. I'm not used to having a small car, and this thing was such a breeze to park, even in our crowded downtown. As a parent, I also appreciated that the IONIQ 5 is a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick, making it an excellent choice for young drivers or those looking to break into the EV space without costing a small fortune.AdvertisementAdvertisementSpeaking of, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT starts at $46,275, with a range of 259 miles (thanks to a tuned AWD system), but the base model SE starts at $35,000. From the price, range, standard features, and interior features, I was truly impressed by the XRT.This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.Breaking Down the Options: Pricing, Trim, Horsepower, and RangeThe Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT blends off-road rigidity and EV innovation – Credit: Liv LeighThe Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the company's brightest star when it comes to EVs because there are several ways to make it your own. There are five trims in total, and you can choose between a few different battery sizes, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and something off-road-ready (XRT), or ultra-premium.Here's how that looks in list form:AdvertisementAdvertisementSE Standard Range: The budget-friendly entry point, starting at $35,000 and featuring a 63 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive with a maximum range of 245 miles. Horsepower is lower at 168, but it's great for commuters and city driving.SE: This $37,500 mid-level trim gives buyers a bit more flexibility. With rear-wheel drive and a larger battery, the maximum range is boosted to 318 miles, and with optional all-wheel drive, it changes to 290 miles. But the larger 84 kWh battery also means more horsepower: with RWD, you get 225 horsepower, while all-wheel drive brings the power up to 320 horsepower.SEL: Here is where luxury is introduced, starting at $39,800. The cloth seats are swapped for leatherette, a heated steering wheel, a hands-free liftgate, and Highway Driving Assist 2. In this trim, you can choose between RWD and AWD.Limited: Starting at $45,075, the Limited has the nicest interior and comes with the latest safety and convenience features. It's the first trim that can come with a HUD and Remote Smart Parking Assist. It also comes with a glass vision roof, ventilated seats, and a Bose sound system.XRT: For $46,275, you get an entirely different animal. It's AWD-only, so the horsepower stays at 320, but you get all-terrain tires that give it a slight boost in ride height, fun exterior styling with bright-red tow hooks, and a fun pixel aesthetic that extends to the interior.What gives the XRT its rally-ready personality comes down to a few purpose-built hardware and software upgrades designed for kicking up dust. It swaps standard road rubber for beefy, taller all-terrain tires, which brings the ride height up by almost an inch. It also adds specialized multi-terrain drive modes (Snow, Sand, Gravel, and Mud) to optimize power delivery on loose dirt, and features dual recovery hooks built right into the front bumper. The interior is reportedly easier to clean, too, for those days you let er' loose.With an NACS Port, Charging Just Got EasierYou won't need an adapter with the IONIQ 5 XRT – Credit: Liv LeighThanks to NACS charging, you can plug your Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT in at a Tesla Supercharger and go from 10% to 80% in about 20 minutes, and a Level 3 charger will do that in about 30 minutes. I downloaded the Tesla app and tried the ultra-fast Supercharger here in town, and it really is impressive. But there's also a Hyundai Pay option where you can set up an account and your payment info in your Bluelink app to pay for charging at multiple chargers right from your car's multimedia screen. Of course, charging at home on a 240V outlet isn't going to be as speedy, but you can go from 10%-100% overnight without an issue. The IONIQ 5 XRT comes with a whole collection of adapters so you can charge on multiple networks. This flexibility was one of my favorite things about the car – nothing else I've driven has given me options. I also liked that the high-capacity lithium-ion battery system comes with a 10-year/100,000 mile warranty because battery life is one of those big-question items when it comes to buying an EV.The Interior is Clever, Cozy, Spacious, And IntuitiveUsing the center console as a desk while waiting for a charge. How cool is that? – Credit: Erica MuellerThe interior is so spacious. I know that from the outside this looks like a small car, but Hyundai's design team did a fantastic job of making the inside feel much bigger than it actually is. The minimalistic design, paired with the open floor area, gives you and your passengers plenty of breathing room. I think not having a full center console that completely separates the driver and passenger makes a huge difference. It slides forward or backward by 7 inches if needed, too, and features a storage cubby for rear passengers.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe IONIQ 5 has 5 power ports in and out of the vehicle, allowing you to plug in anything from a smart device to a laptop or espresso machine. (Hello, glamping!) The center console is also wide and flat, making it a perfect desk for on-the-go projects. I was able to set my laptop on it and work while charging the car's battery at our local Supercharger. Win!Cargo space was another big surprise. This little hatchback (though Hyundai calls it an SUV) has a decent cargo area behind the second row, but when you put that second row down, it's massive. The comfort we experienced in the IONIQ 5 XRT was nothing short of surprising. With such a minimalistic style, I thought the seats might be a little on the stiff side, but they were cozy. The materials felt high-end and there was plenty of cushion for our backsides. While the IONIQ 5 is a subcompact SUV, it has a really long wheelbase (even longer than the 3-row Palisade), which gives it a super smooth ride. The Technology Felt SeamlessThe interior layout of the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT – Credit: Erica MuellerThe fully digital dash that wraps around to include two 12.3" touchscreens—one for the driver info display, and the other for the multimedia center was another eye-catching detail. It feels clean and modern. Every menu was easy to find, settings were easy to change, and there were lots of helpful visualizations and graphics. I liked that everything from sound to climate controls was easy to find and customize, too. There's also an app you can download called Blue Link+, which allows you to set up digital keys for the car.You can then choose to share these keys with family/friends via Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pass, and choose when they will work. I know my brother has something like this for his Tesla, and it's come in real handy a time or two when I needed to move or borrow his car, but didn't have the keys. These digital keys can also store things like your personalized settings for radio and navigation. Slick, Hyundai. Slick.What My Family and I LovedThe rear end of the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT – Credit: Erica MuellerThere was a lot to love about this fun, engaging, and zippy little (but not too little) car. In fact, the list of things I don't like about it is a very short one. But, to summarize, here's what my family and I loved the most about it:AdvertisementAdvertisementDeceptive exterior. The outside made it look so much smaller than it is on the inside.Cargo space was excellent, with 26.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 59.4 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded. There's also 0.85 cubic feet of space in the frunk, perfect for charging cables to save on rear cargo space.Seamless technology, with lots of integrations to make charging, customization, and payments so much easier.Fun driving style, with plenty of pepReasonable range, even with AWDCush and cozy ride, even with off-road-tuned suspension, thanks to a longer wheelbaseWhat You Need to KnowThe Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT handled itself beautifully – Credit: Liv LeighThe Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT feels like a clown car in the way that it always had my family and I giggling and smiling, but of course, it wasn't perfect. If your cursor is hovering over the "Find a Model In Your Area" button, here's what you should know first:It's more expensive than the Limited trim—in case you missed that detail in the trim and options breakdown—which might be off-putting for shoppers. Especially since it technically comes with less on the technological and features front.All-terrain tires aren't as quiet as the all-season tires that come on other trims, so be prepared for a bit more noise in the cabinSince the all-terrain tires have more resistance than all-season tires, the range is lower than that of other AWD models. Standard AWD models have a max range of 290 miles, while the XRT's range tops out at 259 miles.The Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT is a fun little car with big personality. It surprised me in so many ways, and I ended up liking it a whole lot more than I thought possible. People say that EVs have no soul, but the XRT proves the exact opposite. If you're on the hunt for an EV SUV that feels like a rally car, but boasts the practicality of an everyday SUV, the IONIQ 5 XRT might be for you.
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