How much space is there?

The Ioniq 5’s cabin feels huge inside. We say ‘feels’ huge, because part of that is down to the fact that it has a tall roof (some 100mm higher than the Kia EV6 that the Ioniq 5 shares a chassis with) and large windows, which add an airy feel.

Of course, the other part is that it just is very roomy. Up front, there’s lounging space for two people — literally, because when you’re stopped, say at a charging point, there’s a button that reclines the seats into a ‘lounge’ setting, like a Laz-Y-Boy (they’re part of an optional Tech Pack for Ultimate-spec models).

There’s a vast storage area between the seats, including a deep, open compartment that’s ideal for storing a handbag or similar, which also houses the cupholders and a wireless phone charger. There are plenty of USB and 12-volt sockets too, and the whole thing slides back and forth (once again in Ultimate-spec models, at least), so you can fiddle with the layout to your taste.

In the back, legroom and headroom are truly impressive — thanks in part to the flat floor layout common to many electric cars — and the seats themselves are very comfortable. There’s just about enough width in the middle seat for a grown-up to get comfortable (although, as ever, it helps if they’re on the skinny side).

The new Namsan Edition comes with a panoramic glass roof that bathes both rows in a lovely diffuse light. This’ll help if you like your interiors bright and airy.

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Boot space and storage

The Ioniq 5 has a very good boot in terms of volume — 527 litres is not to be sniffed at — but it’s a touch shallow. Rivals such as the Skoda Enyaq (585 litres) have not only more space, but a deeper, squarer boot. That said, the Hyundai has a long boot — there’s space between the inside of the tailgate (which is electrically powered on all but the base model) and the back of the seats for large items, which is helpful.

If you do need to drop the back seats, they only split 60:40, which is slightly limiting in terms of ultimate practicality, but the space on offer does expand to a very useful 1,587 litres. When folded, the seat backs sit almost (but not quite) totally flat. For charging cable storage, there’s a small under-floor space in the boot, and another — very small — storage space under the bonnet.

One thing to note — the retracting luggage cover looks and feels a bit cheap. Not a major issue, but if you’ve paid top-dollar for a two-motor Ultimate model, it might grate a little.

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Is it easy to park?

The most affordable Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Connect model comes with rear parking sensors, as well as a rear parking camera with dynamic line guidance (which means it has little lines on the screen to show you where you’re pointing).

That’s a pretty good system as standard, and it certainly makes the Ioniq 5 — which is a bulky car, with quite a shallow rear window that restricts rearward visibility) much easier to slot into spaces. Higher spec models come with front sensors as well, and as an option for Ultimate-spec models, you can have a 3D surround-view camera setup, which can be swivelled around a clever 3D digital model of the car to show you your full surroundings.

While it is a physically big car, the Ioniq 5’s light steering, high-set seating position and generally square shape make it pretty easy to manoeuvre in town. Higher-spec models come with Smart Park Assist, letting you drive the car forwards or back at very low speeds from the keyfob – handy to creep it out of a particularly tight parking bay.

The Namsan Edition (named after the mountain near the city of Seoul in Kia’s home country of South Korea) comes with Digital Side Mirrors, which replace glass door mirrors with cameras. They’re quite bulky and may take some time getting used to – but usefully improve the aerodynamics for a slightly longer range.

Safety

• Gets five stars from EuroNCAP
• Slightly low individual scores, though
• Hyundai’s first ‘Level 2’ assisted car

The Ioniq 5 has won a full five-star score from the independent crash test experts at Euro NCAP, but when you dig into that result a little, the individual scores are a fraction less impressive.

For instance, the Ioniq 5 scores 88% for adult occupant protection, and 86% for child occupants. Those are both decent scores, but some rivals get ratings into the high-90s. Equally, the 63% score for vulnerable road users is a touch lower than that of some other models, and is largely down to the lack of a pop-up bonnet (which can protect the head of a pedestrian or cyclist in a frontal impact) and that rear-facing autonomous emergency braking to prevent you reversing into an object is an option, rather than standard.

All models come with front, centre and side airbags for the front-seat passengers, but rear-seat passengers only get a head airbag, and neither chest nor pelvis protection from further airbags. There are Isofix child-seat anchors for the two rear outer seats, but not for the front passenger seat.

Watch the Hyundai Ioniq 5 crash test video