Hyundai Ioniq 5 receives German Car of the Year award in ‘New Energy’ category

MANILA: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 bagged the 2022 German Car of the Year (GCOTY) award in the “New Energy” category. As a class winner, Hyundai’s full-electric midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV) will automatically go to the GCOTY final round, where it will compete against the winners of the “Compact,” “Premium,” “Luxury,” and “Performance” categories. The overall winner will be declared on November 25.

A jury of 20 international motoring journalists tested the most significant new vehicle releases on the year in terms of product features, relevance, and future feasibility to determine the GCOTY award recipients.

In a statement, Hyundai Motor Group Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke said, “Ioniq 5 is the start of the new Hyundai era, as it rediscovers our roots by reinterpreting the DNA of the first Hyundai — the Pony — to project our brand into the future. It is the first car designed from inside out, made possible by the innovative flat floor offered by our new dedicated Electric Global Modular Platform. Ioniq 5’s ‘New Energy’ award proves that Hyundai is producing models that care for customers through all the phases of their electric journey.”

The overall package of the Ioniq 5 not only impressed the GCOTY jury, where it beat competitors like the BMW iX and the Mercedes-Benz EQS, but it also captivated the consumers.

“Ioniq 5 advancing to the final round of the German Car of the Year after securing a win in the ‘New Energy’ category proves that our fully electric midsize CUV is a leader in the European car market. Ioniq 5 is an essential part of our electrification strategy. This further success underlines our company’s strength in zero-emission mobility,” Hyundai Motor Europe Vice President for Marketing and Product Andread-Christoph Hofmann stated.

The Ioniq 5 is the first model from the brand’s new Ioniq electric vehicle brand. It is built on Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which was designed exclusively for battery electric vehicles. E-GMP allows the Ioniq 5 to have unique proportions on an expanded wheelbase.

Customers can select between two battery sizes — 58kWh and 72.6kWh — as well as all-wheel or rear-wheel drive. The vehicle can generate a maximum system output of 225kW and achieve a maximum driving range of 481 km on a single charge.

The Ioniq 5’s 800V technology is unique in its class. It allows both battery options to charge from 10% to 80% capacity in 18 minutes at ultra-fast charging stations. It also comes with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that allows Ioniq 5 owners to charge any electrical equipment, such as laptops and e-scooters.

Prior to its GCOTY award, the Ioniq 5 was also hailed as the “Car of the Year” by Auto Express last July. The UK-based publication stated that the vehicle “delivers on styling, quality, [and> driver appeal.” They also awarded the Ioniq 5 with prizes in the “Mid-size Company Car,” “Premium Electric Car,” and “Design Award” categories.

The Ioniq 5 also won the “Best Company Car” and “Best Family Electric Car” titles at the 2022 Carbuyer Best Car Awards. It was also named as the “Best Designed Car of the Year” and the “Motoring Innovation of the Year” at the 2021 News UK Motor Awards.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Group

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