Hyundai unveils pricing for new electric Ioniq 5 range in NZ

South Korean carmaker Hyundai has released pricing for the all-electric Ioniq 5 mid-sized SUV in New Zealand – giving at least some indication of what to expect when the new EV is released in Australia.

The all-electric SUV has gone on sale in the land of the long white cloud just days after the New Zealand government announced its Clean Car rebate, which will see drivers get a maximum $NZ8,625 discount on new electric vehicles priced under $NZ80,000 including on-road costs and GST.

In the case of the Ioniq 5, this rebate will only apply to the 58kWh, rear-wheel drive variant, which Hyundai has smartly although unsurprisingly introduced at $NZ79,990.

This entry-level variant will offer 370km driving range according to the European WLTP cycle, and will have the ability to accelerate from a standing start to 100km/hr in a modest 8.5 seconds.

All in all, there will be six Ioniq 5 options for New Zealand drivers with two battery and two drivetrain options.

“The Ioniq 5 is a really exciting addition to our existing EV line-up. We’re proud to be able to give Kiwis more choice when it comes to going electric,” said Hyundai New Zealand GM Andy Sinclair in a statement.

For those after a bit more range between charges, the 72.6kWh “extended range” version is available for $NZ89,990 and is also rear-wheel drive with acceleration slightly quicker at 7.4 seconds to reach 100km/hr.

The Ioniq 5 is Hyundai’s first electric vehicle to be built on a pure electric drivetrain, as opposed to the Kona which has a fossil fuel equivalent..

Significantly, it is also the carmaker’s first all-electric vehicle to feature “vehicle-to-load” which means it can handily power electrical devices such as a drill, or even your camping fit-out, or – with output at 4.6kW – even your home during an outage.

Like the Kona EV, the Ioniq 5 is available in premium Elite and Limited trims, the most expensive of which is priced at a hefty $112,990.

For that price though, drivers will get extra features like a solar sunroof to help power the vehicle’s heating and air-con systems as well as full 800-volt ultra-fast charging capabilities.

It’s not the first time New Zealand has pipped Australia at the post with regards to vehicle introductions, but thankfully we can be confident that the pricing should be indicative of an Australian release.

Hyundai’s refreshed Kona EV, which in Australia is priced from about $A65,000 including on-road costs, is identical in pricing to the Ioniq 5 in New Zealand.

Unfortunately for Australians though there is not the same federal government support for EV adoption to help bring prices down, although at least for NSW drivers this has been flagged as a future possibility, the Victoria government has a $3,000 rebate (and a road tax), and the ACT offers stamp duty exemptions and interest free loans.