Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Ioniq 5

If the Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 5 were from different brands, they would be fierce rivals. As it is, they are simply basking in each other’s glory. These EVs are dominating their segments and impressing the critics at every turn.

The friendly rivalry continues with their fuel efficiency and driving range numbers. It concludes with their ownership costs. Here’s what you should know if you are shopping for an electric vehicle.

1. Ioniq 5 Never Stops Winning

   The Hyundai Ioniq 5 was named World Car of the Year in 2022. It hasn’t stopped winning since.

   Cars.com Best Electric Vehicle of 2024 went to the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Meanwhile, the Ioniq 5 earned the Car and Driver Editors’ Choice Award for its electric SUV class.

   The Car Connection declared the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to be the Best Electric Car to Buy. This is the EV’s second win in as many years.

   US News and World Report rates the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 as #1 in the EV SUV class. This helped it drive home the Best EV for the Money Award.

   The Ioniq 5 has scored a Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy for its class. Even more impressive, it earned the 2024 Best Buy Award for EVs from Kelley Blue Book. It's also a 2024 Top Safety Pick, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

   Conclusion: As you can see, the two Ioniq electric vehicles are winning awards and accolades at about the same rate. That’s really remarkable since sometimes they are up against each other. This contest definitely comes out as a tie.

2. Ioniq 6 Scores Major Awards and Rankings

   In 2023, when it was first introduced, the Ioniq 6 started the year by winning World Car of the Year, giving Hyundai 2 wins in 2 years. It ended as The Drive’s Best EV of 2023. In between, it earned the Car and Driver EV of the Year.

   At the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, Motorweek announced that the 2024 Ioniq 6 was one of the Best EVs of the Year. In another win for the Ioniq sedan, the Midwest Automotive Media named it their Favorite Plug-in Vehicle.

   Another award that celebrates electric vehicles also went to the new Hyundai Ioniq 6. It was named a 2024 EV Pulse Editors’ Choice. The judges noted the combination of its lightning quick recharge times, its long electric range, and its value before they even considered its more affordable price.

   Car and Driver has given the Hyundai Ioniq 6 its Editors’ Choice Awards in the electric car class. The website Fatherly named the Ioniq 6 one of its Top 10 Family Cars of the Year. The IIHS named it a 2024 Top Safety Pick Plus. 

   Recently the Ioniq 6 was named 2023 CleanTechnica Car of the Year. Judges were asked to determine which EV would have the largest net positive impact on the world. To win the award, the Ioniq 6 had to beat the Toyota BZ4X and Nissan Ariya.

   Furthermore, it had to beat out the higher priced Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. It’s significant that the Ioniq 6 drove away with 81 percent of the vote.

3. Green Credentials Under the Microscope

   To be a truly green machine, the vehicle must have a long driving range. Plus the EV must be energy efficient, which is rated at miles-per-gallon-equivalent (mpg-e) by the EPA. From any point of view, both of the Hyundai Ioniq electric vehicles meet both these benchmarks easily.

   When it comes to fuel efficiency, the 2024 Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD can claim 114 mpg-e combined. That’s 132 mpg-e city and 98 mpg-e highway. The Ioniq 6 Long Range RWD goes even further. It can claim 140 mpg-e combined, and that breaks down to 153 mpg-e city and 127 mpg-e highway.

   There are many electric vehicles that cannot compete with these numbers. It’s a big reason these two siblings keep sweeping the awards circuit.

   Furthermore, the Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD model can go for up to 303 miles on a single charge. The Ioniq 6 Long Range RWD trim level is really amazing with an electric range of 361 miles.

   Conclusion: If you want the absolute best of the best, you’ll lean toward the Ioniq 6 Long Range RWD edition. However, you can’t go wrong with the Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD. Your friends can put these two under a microscope, and the green credentials will be impeccable.

4. Ownership Costs Comparison

   Keeping costs down, these Hyundai EVs are some of the most affordable available today. The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 price starts at $37,500 MSRP. Many shoppers will aim for the long range RWD model. That Ioniq 6 price is $42,250 MSRP.

   As a bigger vehicle, the Ioniq 5 price is higher at $41,500 MSRP. The long range RWD model Ioniq 5 price is $45,850 MSRP. However, if you compare this model to others in its size and class, the Ioniq 5 is saving money at purchase, too.

   According to the fuel economy calculator, the Ioniq 5 SUV will save about $5,000 in fuel expenses over 5 years. The 2024 Ioniq 6 will save about $5,500. That’s very promising whichever model you choose.

   When it comes to warranties, Hyundai continues to offer the best in the industry. So both Ioniq models will have meaningful coverage for up to ten years or 100,000 miles.

   Conclusion: If you need the absolutely lowest operating costs, the Ioniq 6 will be your starting point. However,the Ioniq 5 has an excellent price and very good ownership costs for its class. That’s how it earned all those Best Buy awards. Find your favorite in our Ioniq inventory.

5. Ioniq 6 vs 5 Size

   Of course, the size of these vehicles will be a big deciding factor for many shoppers. The Ioniq 6 prioritizes passenger comfort by providing 103 cubic feet of space in the cabin and 11.2 cubic feet in the trunk. It also has a half-cube frunk, a storage area under the hood.

   Legroom is 42.3 inches on the front row and 39.2 inches on the second row. If you don’t need that much space on the second row, the legroom can be 45.4 inches up front and 34.7 inches in the back.

   In comparison, the Ioniq 5 is a true utility vehicle. It doesn’t have to sacrifice passenger space to have a generous cargo hold. It measures 27.5 cubes with the seats in place. It expands to 59.3 cubes if you fold the second row. Plus the frunk, measuring 0.85 cubes, is slightly bigger.

   The Ioniq 5 passenger cabin measures 106.5 cubic feet. It also has adult-worthy legroom at 41.7 inches up front and 39.4 inches on the second row.

   Conclusion: The 2024 Ioniq 5 is definitely the bigger vehicle. However, the way that space is prioritized in the Ioniq 6, your passengers don’t have to feel the squeeze. The flat floor in both Ioniq models increases the amount of wiggle room for passengers.

Conclusion

With so much to recommend either Hyundai EV, it’s definitely worth spending time looking at the two side by side. You are invited to schedule a test drive at our Phoenix Ioniq EV dealership, Earnhardt Hyundai.