The EV market swings like a pendulum. Two decades ago, the most popular electric vehicles were dorky, frumpy econocars leased to dorky, frumpy trust fund hippies – the main public need not apply. One decade ago, the most popular EVs were expensive, attractive status symbols that, again, were out of reach for all but the beautiful people.
But in the last few years, the clock seems to tick a bit less dramatically, as there are now several stylish and spacious electric vehicles that occupy the middle of the spectrum: practical EV range mixed with pricing that’s only a bit higher than average. Two such vehicles are the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 and 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, a pair of family-sized all-wheel-drive crossovers with about 250 miles of range, priced somewhere between $40,000 to $60,000 with a variety of options and trim levels to suit one’s budget.
As compact crossovers, both the ID.4 and Ioniq 5 fight at the heart of the automotive market, but they do so in very different ways. The happy, VW-appropriate styling and mostly conventional interior of the former will appeal to those looking for an easy transition to EVs, while the Hyundai’s retro-synthwave exterior and airy, minimalist cabin is an offbeat choice for folks who prefer to clap on 2 and 4, instead of 1 and 3. Director of Video Clint Simone recruited me to help decide which is best, and unusually for the two of us, we found ourselves in near-unanimous agreement. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
