Tesla Model Y vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 Comparison – Which is Better?

The American EV giant has finally commenced its operations in India, with the Model Y being the first EV to go on sale

In this post, we compare the newly launched Tesla Model Y and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in terms of specs, prices and features. Note that there is a lot of buzz around Tesla finally entering India. The talks to reach an agreement between Elon Musk and the Indian government had been going on for a couple of years. Elon was publicly criticizing the exorbitant import duties on cars. Thereafter, the Indian government introduced a new EV policy to address this. Still, Tesla decided to go the CBU route to start selling cars here. For now, let us compare the two EVs in depth here.

Tesla Model Y vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Price

We shall commence with arguably the biggest talking point about the new Tesla EV, the price. Due to it being a full import, the Model Y is available at a starting price of Rs 59.89 lakh for the Rear-Wheel Drive trim and Rs 67.89 lakh, ex-showroom, for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant. That is significantly higher than what it costs in the U.S. due to the heavy taxes, which almost double the price of the car. Also, if you opt for the famed Tesla Auto Pilot (autonomous driving tech), there is a premium of Rs 6 lakh over the regular prices. On the contrary, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 retails for Rs 46.05 lakh, ex-showroom. Hence, the Korean EV has a distinct edge in this regard.

Tesla Model Y vs Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Specs

The Tesla Model Y comes with a 63 kWh and an 83 kWh battery pack for Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive trims, respectively. Note that these battery capacity figures are taken from the international models since the Tesla India website doesn’t mention these specs clearly. With the larger battery, the WLTP range is an impressive 622 km on a single charge, while this number is 500 km for the smaller battery. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h comes up in just 5.9 seconds in Rear-Wheel Drive guise and 5.6 seconds in Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive iteration. The power numbers are 283 hp and 312 hp, respectively, with a top speed of 201 km/h. Using a 250 kW Tesla Supercharger, the Long Range can recuperate 267 km worth of charge in just 15 minutes. The electric coupe SUV boasts a drag coefficient of 0.22.

On the other hand, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is based on the famed E-GMP architecture from the Hyundai Motor Group, which underpins many EVs from Hyundai, Kia and Genesis internationally. The Ioniq 5 comes with a 72.6 kWh battery pack, which is good for a range of 631 km on a single charge, as per ARAI. This configuration results in 217 hp and 350 Nm of peak power and torque, respectively. Impressively, the 350 kW DC fast charger can juice up the battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes. However, there aren’t all that many 350 kW DC chargers in the country at the moment.

Features Comparison

Both these EVs come with all the latest tech, connectivity, convenience and safety amenities. However, the Tesla Model Y comes with that typical minimalist interior layout with a giant touchscreen on the dashboard, which controls all in-car functions. There are no physical buttons anywhere. Some of the top highlights of the Tesla EV include:

• 15.4-inch Infotainment Display
• Concealed AC Vents on Dashboard
• 8-inch Touchscreen Display for the Rear Passengers
• Steering-mounted Controls
• 19-inch Aero-optimized Alloy Wheels
• Flush-fitting Door Handles
• Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
• Powered 2-way Folding and Heated Rear Seats
• 9-speaker Audio System
• Ambient Lighting
• Wireless Phone Charger
• 8 Exterior Cameras
• Panoramic Glass Roof
• Connected Car Tech
• Heated Steering Wheel and Windshield
• Dashcam

Similarly, the main attractions of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are:

• 12.3-inch Touchscreen Infotainment System
• SmartSense Level 2 ADAS with 21 Functions
• Virtual Engine Sound System
• Shift-by-Wire Tech
• Hands-free Powered Tailgate
• BlueLink Connected Car Tech with 60+ Features
• V2L (Vehicle to Load)
• Use of Recycled Materials for Upholstery
• Vision Roof
• Memory Seat Configuration for All Seats
• Heated ORVMs
• Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control
• Wireless Phone Charger
• Rear Window Sunshade
• H2C (Home to Car) with Alexa Support
• OTA (Over-the-Air) Update
• 8-speaker Bose Premium Sound System
• Ambient Sounds of Nature

It is clear that both these EVs are extremely compelling in their own right. Hence, it is understandable that the potential customers might get confused. Therefore, it really depends on personal preference. If you want to experience something totally unique and new, the Tesla Model Y makes a lot of sense. Note that you will need to spend significantly more on it. On the other hand, if you wish to save some bucks and want something relatively familiar (at least in terms of the brand), the Hyundai Ioniq 5 should be your pick. I would suggest our readers to experience the two in the flesh before making a decision.

Also Read: SHOCKING Difference in Price of Tesla Model Y in India and USA