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Hyundai IONIQ 5 Finally Nets A Rear Wiper With Its Recent Facelift

Hyundai has also added an N Line trim to bridge the gap between the normal IONIQ 5 and its full-fat N variant. 

Exactly three years since it first shocked the world with its concept car styling, Hyundai has decided to give its IONIQ 5 a mild nip and tuck for 2024. 

Now the changes that have been made to this South Korean e-crossover are mainly to be quality of life improvements. The most significant of which being the addition of a rear wiper, which first made its appearance on the full fat N trim launched recently. 

Moving along inside meanwhile, this updated IONIQ 5 nets a new row of physical buttons to control the heated and ventilated front seats, the heated steering wheel and the parking assist function on its Universal Island sliding centre console. The wireless charging pad on it too has also been more accessible to the front occupants, which now sits left of its newly vertically-arranged central cupholders. 

Other changed made within the IONIQ 5 includes a redesign of its the climate and infotainment controls for easier operation, while its steering wheel gained “interactive pixel lights”. The facelift also brings with it Hyundai’s next-gen connected car Navigation Cockpit infotainment system that is compatible wireless over-the-air software updates, with the cabin also now to feature a remote folding function of the rear seats and a built-in dashcam. 

As for the changes have been made under the skin, extra sound insulation on the rear motor, reworked shock absorbers and the doubling of reinforcements at the back as well as underbody should see a respective reduction in overall noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) of this updated IONIQ 5. Reinforcements on the doors and B-pillars and new the second-row side airbags on the other hand should also increase the overall safety of this South Korean e-crossover. 

Though perhaps more pertinently for prospective EV buyers is for the regular models to have since gained the bigger 84-kWh battery pack from the IONIQ 5 N. There has unfortunately been no official range figures disclosed by Hyundai thus far, but it is nevertheless likely to be a moderate jump in its WLTP-rated maximum range of 507 km yielded by its preceding 77.4 kWh pack. 

And while on the topic of the hot N variant of the IONIQ 5, this new facelift also introduces a sporty looking N Line variant to bridge the gap between the full-fat hot e-crossover and its regular counterparts. This particular all-show-without-extra-go flavour nets a slightly racier-looking body kit, which brings with it different bumpers (with light coloured flaps reminiscent of the full fat N car), body coloured side skirts, and 20-inch wheels in a fresh design. 

The N Line trim further nets a few sporty accoutrements within too, with it featuring a different steering wheel, sports seats metal pedals, a black headliner, new dashboard accents, red stitching, and more N Line badges to complement the numerous already on its exterior. Hyundai has also hinted at some chassis upgrades for this racy-looking variant, but has not confirmed specifics.

Getting back to the normal trims, a mildly updated front grille and reshaped bumpers has since graced this still futuristic-looking EV, with the latter incidentally adding 20 mm to the IONIQ 5’s overall length. Its rear spoiler has been widened by 50 mm too as part of this facelift, with there also being a set of newly designed aerodisk-esque alloy wheel designs to choose from.

The updated IONIQ 5 is set to go on sale this month in its home market of South Korea, before arriving in global markets later in 2024. No word yet on when exactly Malaysia will get it, but what Hyundai needs over here is probably a price cut for its EVs instead of a facelift to see it be competitive against the flurry of more affordable newcomers that have since landed locally. 

Joshua Chin

Automotive journalist. Professional work on dsf.my and automacha.com. Personal writing found at driveeveryday.me. Instagram: @driveeveryday

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