After 18 months and 24,300 miles with a 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD, we tallied every fault, service visit, and dollar spent. This is a data-led look at how the 800-volt EV holds up in daily use across seasons, cities, and highways.
Our test car is the dual-motor Ioniq 5 (320 hp, 446 lb-ft) with the 77.4-kWh battery and 20-inch wheels, stickered at $59,xxx with options. We drove it through two winters and one summer across the Northeast and Midwest, logging home charging on a 48-amp Level 2 and multiple DC fast-charge road trips. EPA range is 260 miles (AWD, 20-inch), and the car supports up to 235-kW DC charging via its 800-volt architecture. Baseline efficiency averaged 3.1 mi/kWh in temperate weather, dipping to 2.4 in subfreezing conditions and peaking at 3.6 in mild highway cruising.
Best DC fast-charge session (summer, preconditioned) went 10–80% in 21 minutes; in winter pre-update we saw 35–42 minutes without preconditioning. An OTA added battery preconditioning tied to navigation, bringing cold-weather 10–80% times down to 28–32 minutes. Reliability over the long haul was largely solid but not flawless. Early on (2,100 miles) we experienced a single 12-volt battery depletion after an overnight park in cold rain; a dealer software update and revised sleep settings resolved it, with no recurrence.
The charge-port door occasionally stuck after freezing rain; silicone treatment and careful de-icing prevented later issues. Minor cabin buzzes included an intermittent hatch rattle over sharp bumps, fixed with a bump-stop adjustment. One notable EV-system event occurred at 17,400 miles: repeated “EV System” warnings limited DC charging power. The dealer performed a TSB-driven update to the integrated charging control unit (ICCU), inspected fuses/connectors, and restored full function the same day under warranty.
Software stability was otherwise good; we logged one infotainment reboot and occasional map lag prior to an OTA. Battery health, measured via consistent 100–10% energy usage logs, suggests an estimated 3–4% range loss at our mileage—normal for this chemistry and use pattern. Ownership costs were predictable. Electricity averaged $0.15/kWh at home, yielding roughly $0.048/mile.
About 22% of miles were on DC fast chargers at $0.30–0.43/kWh, bringing our blended energy cost to $0.07/mile ($1,701 over 24,300 miles). Tires were the big ticket: the 255/45R20 EV-specific set lasted 22,400 miles and cost $1,180 installed; rotations every 6,000 miles ran $30–$50. Routine service (cabin filter at 15k, multipoint inspections, wipers) totaled $232; brake wear is negligible thanks to regeneration. Insurance for a clean record in a suburban market was $1,520 per year.
Overall, the Ioniq 5 proves a refined, rapid, and mostly low-drama long-distance EV. Expect excellent efficiency, quick charging when preconditioned, and minimal scheduled maintenance—countered by higher tire and insurance costs and occasional cold-weather quirks. Prospective owners should budget for early tire replacement on 20s, keep software current, and enable charge preconditioning for winter road trips. As a daily driver, it earns a confident recommendation, with warranty-backed EV hardware giving added peace of mind.
