Hyundai IONIQ 5 – What Can It Tow?

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Back in 2016, Hyundai released a mid-sized hatchback branded as the Ioniq available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric drivetrains. However, the first ‘ground-up’ EV from Hyundai is this, the IONIQ 5, and unlike its predecessor, the IONIQ 5 can actually tow. The IONIQ 5 is based on a new dedicated electric vehicle platform called the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) which other full-electric Hyundai vehicles will be based on. Hyundai’s sibling brand KIA is also using this platform with the EV6 which has similar specifications. But how does the IONIQ 5 stack up as an electric tow car?

Hyundai IONIQ 5
Personally, I think Hyundai has nailed the styling of the IONIQ 5, I think it really looks like a modern/futuristic vehicle design with sharp lines and I love the pixel/LED headlights: Image – Hyundai.com

Key Hyundai IONIQ 5 Specs

  • Official Towing Capacity – 2,300 lbs (all versions)
  • Availability – Now
  • Price – Starting from $46,835 (RWD) > $58,835 (Limited AWD)
  • EPA Range – 220 miles (Standard Range/RWD) > 303 miles (Long Range/RWD)
  • Estimated Towing Range (50%) – 110 miles (Standard Range/RWD) > 151 miles (Long Range/RWD)
  • Maximum DC Charge Rate – 221 kW

Hyundai IONIQ 5 HP & Torque

  • Standard Range/RWD – RWD with 168 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque
  • Long Range/RWD – RWD with 215 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque
  • Long Range/AWD – AWD with 302 HP and 446 lb-ft of torque

Electric Tow Car/Truck Database

  • Search/compare all new BEV & PHEV electric tow cars/trucks
  • Review real-world towing test results

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Towing Capabilities

If you read my articles on the VW I.D4, Nissan Ariya and Polestar 2 for example you will know different towing figures are stated for European and US market vehicles.

Unfortunately, the IONIQ 5 continues this trend, with to quote the Hyundai Press ReleaseAll configurations have a top speed of 115 MPH and can tow a trailer with a capacity of up to 2,000 pounds.

Then Hyundai downgraded the towing capacity of all IONIQ 5 models even further, down to just 1,650 lbs, but now its up to 2,300 lbs on all versions, bizarre.

The world reveal of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 in Feb 2021

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) & Solar Roof

The IONIQ 5 features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, in other words, you can actually take power from the cars battery to power other things.

With a maximum output of 3.6 kW (16 Amps), that’s the same amount of power a typical RV service post provides.

Therefore, what the IONIQ 5 could offer which no other EV tow car currently does (along with its sibling the KIA EV6) is off-grid RV/camping potential.

Now, obviously, if you want to be able to power an RV from the IONIQ 5 and not end up stranded then arriving at your destination with a good amount of charge in the battery would be crucial.

As I discuss in my electric tow car guide, a range reduction of 50%+ when towing with an EV is to be expected.

Therefore, in an off-grid camping scenario, when towing with the IONIQ 5, you would want to get in a good fast/rapid charge session as close to your final destination as possible.

The Hyundai’s ‘Ultimate Camping’ promotional video shows the two V2L connections on the IONIQ 5, one inside the vehicle but the external charge plug with the adapter can also be used for V2L even when the car is turned off/locked.

The IONIQ 5 will also be available with a solar roof, which can add charge back into the battery.

No one should ever expect a significant number of additional driving miles from these roof-mounted solar panels, especially when towing.

However, the roof-mounted solar panels on sunny days will add some charge to the battery.

Hence, when I first read about the IONIQ 5 V2L capabilities and I thought about off-grid camping, I also thought that additional power from that roof-mounted solar panels could provide a practical contribution to the RVs energy consumption.

How significant the contribution would be would obviously depend on how sunny the days were and how much power the RV was pulling (electric heating/cooling would pull a lot of power).

However, in some scenarios, at least the power coming from the solar roof could mean the remaining range in the car could be minimally impacted from powering the RV.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Reviews

The TFL (The Fast Lane) got hold of one of the first US specification Hyndia IONIQ 5 to be available and concluded on many attributes such as range and DC rapid charging speed its comparative to the likes of the Tesla Model 3 or Model Y.

The first look around a US-spec IONIQ 5 by TFL

My Thoughts On The IONIQ 5…

Right, so, as I stated above, I love the styling of the IONIQ 5.

When I was a kid, one of my favourite-looking cars was the Alfa Romeo SV, and the front end/headlight design of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 definitely looks very similar and instantly got a thumbs up from me for that.

In terms of towing capabilities, at 2,300 lbs the IONIQ lags behind several of its rivals such as the VW ID.4 (2,700 lbs) and the Telsa Model Y (3,500 lbs).

However, if you only tow light trailers that may be just fine with you and the IONIQ 5 can charge much faster than the VW ID.4 for instance.


Electric Tow Car/Truck Database

  • Search/compare all new BEV & PHEV electric tow cars/trucks
  • Review real-world towing test results

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