Volkswagen Won't Like The Hyundai Ioniq 5's Charging Speed originally appeared on Autoblog.
Charging speeds vary wildly among EVs
An EV's charging speed can tip the scales one way or the other, especially if you enjoy family road trips. While I may be cool with waiting half an hour for an electric crossover to charge on a weekend adventure, my kids, both of whom are under five years old, might feel differently. The Volkswagen ID.4 is one of the “older” EVs on the market, but it still offers respectable range and performance at a competitive price. When it comes to charging speed, however, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a step ahead.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5’s charging speed dominates competitors
Priced from $42,600, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is more affordable than the Volkswagen ID.4 at the base level with one massive asterisk. The base model only offers 245 miles of range, a rather disappointing amount compared to other EVs. The base Volkswagen ID.4 Pro, on the other hand, starts at $45,095 and can go as far as 291 miles on a single charge, which is much more respectable. That’s a healthy difference in both range and price, but no matter the trim level, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has the advantage when it comes to hitting the charger.
When connected to a DC fast charger, the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 20 minutes. The ID.4 falls behind with a 28-minute 80% charge time. The difference comes down to electrical architecture. While the VW ID.4 is limited to 175 kW when connected to a DC fast charger, the Ioniq 5 can handle up to 350 kW, or twice as much as its German competitor.
Both the Ioniq 5 and ID.4 come with a single electric motor in their base forms, but Volkswagen’s EV beats out the base Ioniq 5 in performance. The electric motor powering the ID.4’s rear wheels produces 282 horsepower and 402 lb-ft of torque, propelling the German EV to 60 mph in a rather leisurely 5.9 seconds. Upgrading to all-wheel drive reduces range to 263 miles and increases performance to 335 horsepower, which results in a quicker 4.9-second 0-60 mph time.
The base Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range is fairly slow, with its electric motor offering just 168 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Stepping up to the SE trim increases the EV’s range to 318 miles, while performance jumps to 225 horsepower. Opting for AWD brings the Ioniq 5’s performance up to 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque with a 290-mile range.
Of course, if performance is the name of the game, then Hyundai has the VW ID.4 outclassed with the Ioniq 5 N. The performance-driven EV variant comes with standard AWD and burns rubber with a staggering 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Naturally, that kind of performance drops the available range pretty dramatically, in this case to just 221 miles. Notably, the Ioniq 5 N can charge to 80% in as little as 18 minutes when connected to a DC fast charger. Money is the major barrier here, though, with the Ioniq 5 N priced from $66,200.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a solid alternative
While the Volkswagen ID.4 doesn’t offer a version comparable to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the Ford Mustang Mach-E seems ready to throw down the gauntlet. Priced from $37,955, the Mustang Mach-E Select arrives on the scene with 264 horsepower and 387 lb-ft of torque with its standard battery. A base model equipped with RWD and a standard battery is capable of 260 miles of range, while AWD models offer 240 miles.
Upgrading to AWD and the extended-range battery increases performance to 370 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, complemented by a 300-mile range. That puts the Mustang Mach-E in competition with the Ioniq 5 in terms of performance, but charging speed is a different ball game. When connected to a DC fast charger, the Mustang Mach-E can charge from 10% to 80% in around 38 minutes. That’s 10 minutes slower than the Volkswagen ID.4 and nearly double that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
If you’ve got a need for speed, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Rally present a true challenge to the top-spec Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. The GT boasts 280 miles of range while producing 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. Opting for the top-spec Rally model increases performance to 700 lb-ft of torque and reduces range to 265 miles.
Final thoughts
EVs are still improving every year, but Hyundai’s charging speed seems to be the cream of the crop - for now, anyway. With a 20-minute charge time or less, the Ioniq 5 is a capable electric crossover fit for family road trips. While performance and range are lackluster at the base level, that quickly changes with a single step up the ladder. The Volkswagen ID.4 may be one of the older EVs at this point, but it still offers a competitive combination of range and performance across the range. It may not have the quickest charging time, but the VW ID.4 still does better than others, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E. With Hyundai leading the charge (no pun intended), we may see more automakers prioritizing charging times in future models.
Volkswagen Won't Like The Hyundai Ioniq 5's Charging Speed first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 2, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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