And I ask that with respect, 'cause hey…I like Cheerios…and I like Hyundai.
There were maybe a couple dozen different kinds of cereal when General Mills brought Cheerios to the market back in the late '30's. Today there's probably a dozen different kinds of Cheerios alone…thousands of different kinds of breakfast cereal in all…taking up at least a whole aisle in your neighborhood grocery store. Flavors, ingredients and shapes for everyone, or so it seems.
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And as for Hyundai, they came to the USA in 1986 with one model…their little $4,995 Excel hatchback. And while they don't have quite as many models as there are different breakfast cereals today, they certainly seem to be on a mission to cover just about every automotive base that's out there.
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And that brings me to this week's IONIQ 5 AWD XRT. Hyundai brought its all-electric IONIQ 5 to the US as a '22 model…available in the usual 3-4 levels of trim.
Today they're up to 7 different IONIQ 5 models…ranging from their mid-$40's SE on up to their Lambo-threatening 641 HP "N".
This week's AWD all-terrain XRT tester kind of helps fill in a blank page or two in the IONIQ's play book. It's lifted a mild nine-tenths of an inch and fitted with all-terrain treads mounted on some rather serious looking 18" black alloys with a tuned suspension to handle its multi-terrain capability. Then Hyundai adds an all-black leatherette interior with black cladding and two big orange tow hooks right in front to finish off the look.
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While this setup wouldn't be my first choice for rock crawlin' or mud boggin', the XRT's "Snow / Mud / Sand" settings plus that light .09" lift and the all-terrain rubber should get you through the types of conditions that many of us routinely slog through.
You'll have a 259 mile range with the XRT, and 320 Hp to play with on the journey. And as for the journey, I found the XRT to be just as delightful to drive as the other IONIQ 5's that I've tested. Quiet, composed, comfortable, powerful… with a ride far more comfortable than it's nimble size would indicate…all wrapped in what I consider perfect packaging for an all-electric vehicle. Functional and "forward-fashioned" without screaming "weird".
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While IONIQ 5's start in the low to mid $40's, XRT's start ( and finish ) just a hair over $55K. I say "and finish" because interestingly, there appear to be no available additional packages…at least right now at model introduction, altho' that'll probably change over time.
Were I buying, I'd probably opt to save a grand and just go with a loaded RWD "Limited", but if you want all-electric / all ( normal ) terrain capability, the IONIQ 5 XRT just might check all your boxes.
