2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was introduced in 2022, and it quickly became not just one of our favorite electric vehicles but also one of our favorite cars, period. And what's not to like? It's fun to drive, has good to great range, and comes in a variety of different trims to suit different budgets. Speaking to the latter, the high-output Ioniq 5 N is truly one of the best performance cars you can get for the price. Hyundai refreshed the interior and tweaked some features for 2025, so we're not expecting any major changes for the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5. That said, it's likely that the Tesla-style NACS charging port that came on most versions of the 2025 Ioniq will make its way to the 2026 Ioniq 5 N, which currently features the outgoing CCS port.

Edmunds spotlight: Variety is the spice

From the standard range Ioniq 5 SE to the performance-enhanced Ioniq 5 N — and even the Ioniq 5 XRT with its off-road aspirations — there seems to be a version of this five-passenger electric SUV for just about anybody. This is besides its other notable attributes, like an intuitive tech interface, lengthy list of standard features, and a long-range battery that comes on all but the base model. The Ioniq 5 is a true jack of all trades.

Competitors to consider

There's no shortage of competition for the Ioniq 5 of course, with the recently overhauled Tesla Model Y the most obvious. Other considerations include the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The Ioniq 5's corporate cousin, the Kia EV6, is another compelling alternative if you don't vibe with the Ioniq 5's retro-futuristic styling.

There's a lot to like about this little EV, and with the refresh in 2025, Hyundai showed a willingness not to mess with a good thing. Let's hope that keeps up.