Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has officially announced that the fully-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 is now open for booking here in Malaysia. Pricing information has not been announced just yet, but you can reserve a place in the waiting list with a booking fee of RM1,000.
The all-new Ioniq 5 will be the second fully-electric Hyundai model launched here in Malaysia by HSDM, following the Kona Electric that was unveiled in November last year. But unlike the Kona, the Ioniq 5 is a brand-new, exclusively electric model built completely from the ground up under the new Ioniq sub-brand.
“The Kona Electric introduced last year was a resounding success with the first batch of vehicles sold out. We expect demand for the Ioniq 5 to surpass the demand for the Kona Electric. Given how well received Hyundai-brand electric vehicles are here, we have lined up more electric models for our discerning customers,” said Sime Darby Motors Malaysia Managing Director of Retail and Distribution, Jeffrey Gan.
Launched globally in February 2021, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is built on the marque’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (e-GMP) skateboard EV architecture. Here in Malaysia, the SUV electric SUV will be offered in two battery sizes, 58 kWh or 72.6 kWh, and either a single motor (RWD) or dual-motor (AWD) configuration.
Based on the global model, we expect the Hyundai Ioniq 5 range in Malaysia to be topped by a 72.6 kWh dual-motor variant, offering 225 kWh (305 hp) and 605 Nm of torque and a century sprint time of around 5.2 seconds. Range meanwhile is rated at around 430 km, based on the WLTP test cycle.
The 58 kWh battery pack size meanwhile should be paired to a single-motor configuration, offering 125 kW (170 hp) and 350 Nm. We’re unsure if the 72.6 kWh pack will also be offered as an RWD variant here in Malaysia, but the configuration is also offered globally. For the latter, range is rated at 480 km.
The Ioniq 5 supports charging speeds of up to 350 kW, thanks to its 800V electrical architecture. At that speed, refilling the Ioniq 5 from 10-80% takes just 18 minutes, while a 100 km range can be added with just a short five minutes top up.
When you’re charging at home, the on-board AC charger supports up to 10.5 kW max, which translates to a charging time of roughly six hours. Although, when it’s fully charged, you can actually use your car’s batteries to power up other things thanks to its built-in Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function.
As for looks, the futuristic Hyundai Ioniq 5 looks almost entirely unchanged from the Hyundai 45 concept that was shown off at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2019, aside from a few regulatory requirements like the wing mirrors and actual functioning headlights.
The marque’s new “Parametric Dynamics” design language can be clearly seen in the Ioniq 5’s sharp lines and creases, including the ‘Z’-shaped character lines at the side first seen on the all-new Hyundai Elantra.
And while the car may appear tiny and adorable, it’s actually a full-sized SUV, measuring 4,635 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,605 mm tall – that’s even bigger than a Honda CR-V! Heck, the wheelbase of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is also longer than that of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Those wheels? They’re actually 20-inches in diameters.
Other exterior highlights include the unique rectangular-shaped daytime-running lights, a V-shaped front bumper, and a “parametric pixel” taillight cluster, just like the ones on the Hyundai Staria.
Booking of the Ioniq 5 can be done online via Hyundai’s online shopping platform, Cl!ck to Buy (linked here), or at any of Hyundai’s authorized showrooms nationwide. Want to check out the car first before its launch? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 will also be displayed in a teaser box at 1 Utama Shopping Centre’s Centre Court from the 2nd to 6th of March 2022.
