The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has nabbed itself yet another award, as one of several electric vehicles named by the car sales site Autotrader in its annual “Best New Cars” list.
Out of the twelve cars named for 2022, four of them were electric. Joining the Hyundai Ioniq 5 – which has already collected a UK company car award, a Popular Science award, the German car of the year award, Green SUV of the Year award and a Auto Express New Car award under its award-winning belt – are the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning electric ute (or, pickup), the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS electric sedan and the 2022 Rivian R1T electric ute.
Behind the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s winning title is the fact that it is ground-up designed as an electric vehicle, said Autotrader’s Brian Moody in a statement.
“Now, cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are purpose-built EVs designed to be electric from the very beginning,” he said.
“This matters because when you eliminate the need for a large gas tank and delete a huge chunk of metal from between the two front wheels, the designer is freer to make dramatically different choices in terms of the car’s overall look, interior space and technology.”
While the editors apparently didn’t rate the Ioniq 5 for the inclusion of vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology, this was definitely a ranking factor for the Ford F-150 Lightning.
In particular, Autotrader rated the F-150 Lightning’s V2L technology for the fact it adds functionality for tradespeople and consumers alike.
“Combining the popularity of the F-150 pickup with the capability of an all-electric vehicle creates a real winner,” stated Autotrader.
“With Ford’s Intelligent Backup Power, over-the-air software updates, and 11 power outlets available, this version of the F-150 is the perfect tool for both consumers and contractors. Bonus points for the large “Frunk.”
The judges also congratulated Rivian for “opening the door” to electric SUVs and pickups (in its opinion, “their size and weight (and often the demands placed on trucks) make them poor candidates for all-electric power”).
“But now, Rivian has opened that door,” it said. “Like Tesla, Rivian isn’t a long-standing legacy automaker, yet it has created a very compelling electric vehicle that looks good and performs well. The Rivian R1T isn’t a concept or plan or a “someday” electric truck – it is here now making its way into consumers’ hands, and it is very good.”
The last EV to make it to the list is the high-performance 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS, which the judges think is well-placed to compete against EV pioneer Tesla’s Model S. “If you’re looking for an electric car that boasts the luxury, reputation and innovation of Mercedes-Benz, the EQS is for you,” the judges wrote.
“Depending on the version you choose, you can expect a range of 340 – 350 miles (547-563km). Our editors think the range and interior of the EQS are enough to win over many Tesla shoppers, beyond the fact that the EQS also is good-looking.”
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.