2024 was superb; 2026 is not.
Sadly, i lost my lovely 2024 Ioniq 5 SEL in an accident with only 4200 miles on the odometer. I replaced it with the identical 2026 model, which has been quite a disappointment, comparatively.. First, the good: newly added are wireless CarPlay, a rear wiper (small, but better than nothing), much improved GUI, slightly better range, vents for rear seats in B-pillars. Not so good: fabric seats of the 2024 (which i loved) replaced by non-breathable fake leather; seats themselves are smaller/narrower/less comfortable (I'm a 5'10"/160 lb guy and they just fit my hips and upper torso); entire interior is MUCH cheaper, with wall-to-wall plastics replacing the beautiful brushed metal switches, door handles and trims, and hard plastic replacing the formerly-upholstered door cards.The previous interior felt, and was, special; this feels pretty basic. I know corners were cut to bring the price down, but this is unfortunate. Then, there's the build quality: interior squeaks and rattles began before i hit 500 miles; the whole car just doesn't feel as solid as before; even the panel fit is a bit off in some places. The keyless entry is quite funky and erratic; sometimes snappy, just as often i stand there waiting for several seconds for handles to open or for touch to close. Did not have any of these issues with my 2024 (no issues at all, in fact). It is tempting to attribute this overall decline to the change from manufacturing the Ioniq 5 in South Korea to Georgia, as well as cost-cutting, to lower the MSRP. I understand, tariffs, parts, domestic versus overseas manufacture, etc. All that said, what hasn't changed is that i still love driving it and i still LOVE looking at it, and so far it has been completely reliable. Those who did not experience the earlier (imho superior) model will no doubt find it to be a sharp, rewarding and enjoyable vehicle.
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