The perfect blend of technology, practicality, and comfort
I really like this car, and it checks all of the boxes. No other vehicle in this class gives you this combination of features, comfort, luxury, and practicality.
After several days of online research, my short list included the ioniq 5, the Tesla Model Y, and the Tesla Model 3. Key considerations were purchase price, storage capacity, electric range, safety/driving features, comfort for daily drive, commuting, and long trips, and these vehicles had the best blend of those features. After seeing the typical sedan trunk space of the Model 3, I quickly shortened my list to just the two ... the ioniq 5 and the Model Y. Coming from a Subaru Outback, I needed more storage space.
Then came multiple test drives. The Tesla Y is a nice car, and as my wife said, "They make it so easy to buy" between low interest rates, online ordering, no sales pressure, and scheduled test drive. And the self-driving is impressive, at least on the route the saleswoman took me on. But there were several things about the Tesla I just couldn't get past: 1) The self-driving option costs $99/month, so your car payment instantly goes up if you use that feature. 2) There is no Apple CarPlay, which I use daily for maps, podcasts, audio books, and seeing important calls and texts coming in while I'm driving. If you want any type of connectivity or access to live maps, you have to pay another $10/month. 3) The "everything on one screen" interface of the Tesla seems like an accident waiting to happen. Sure, if you're in self-driving mode, maybe taking 20 seconds of staring at the screen to adjust the cabin temperature is fine. But I'd rather have a few buttons so I can keep my eyes on the road. 4) Maybe it's the lack of a tactile interface, or the materials used in the cabin, or a combination of the two, but the interior of the Tesla felt sparse and cheap and hollow. Once I heard the phrase "iPad on wheels" to describe the Tesla, I couldn't stop thinking how accurate that felt to me. I actually enjoy the act of driving, so their efforts to completely remove me from the process felt cold. But I realize this is exactly the feature some people enjoy, which is fine.
Then I drove the ioniq 5 and realized that this car makes me smile when I'm in it. I love how it looks, how it feels, and how it functions. Where the Tesla felt very utilitarian, the Hyundai feels inviting and fun and comfortable. The Tesla wants to get you from point A to point B in an electric fog with as little interaction as possible, but the Hyundai invites you to be alive and enjoy the ride. The cabin is way more comfortable, the ride and the drive feel luxurious and smooth, and all the information you need is right at your fingertips. The heads-up display is super helpful, the buttons on the steering wheel take care of most things you need while driving, and then there are the deeper menus on the screen when you need them. But in general, you can keep your eyes on the road, unlike the Tesla. And where the Tesla feels almost like you're driving a really fast golf cart, the Hyundai feels like a luxury car. No comparison.
Recommended
Verified Owner
