Best Electric SUV—Volkswagen ID.4 vs. Hyundai IONIQ 5

As the number of available EVs continues to grow, buyers everywhere are asking the same question: “How do I pick the best electric vehicle for my needs?”  

Well, it depends. Some EVs prioritize the maximum amount of range, while others opt for thrilling performance, and others still are built with maximum affordability in mind.  

And then, we have those rare models that seem do a little bit of everything, like the 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 and Hyundai IONIQ 5. Both have received plenty of hype from critics, so we’ve decided to put them head-to-head to see which one has the edge. 

Price

Both SUVs are considered among the most affordable electric vehicles that are currently available. Here’s the breakdown of their MSRPs, as of the time of this writing.  

2024 VW ID.4:  

• Standard: $39,735

• Pro: $44,875 

• S: $44,855 $46,990

• AWD Pro: $48,755

• Pro S: $49,995

• AWD Pro S: $53,875

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5:  

• SE Standard Range: $41,800

• SE: $45,850  

• S: $44,855 

• SEL: $47,400  

• Limited: $53,500  

• D100 Platinum Edition: $59,400  

The ID.4 starts out a couple grand lower, and the special edition IONIQ 5 D100 is the most expensive by a pretty wide margin. However, there’s one more thing to consider: potential tax credits.  

According to the official U.S. government website, the ID.4 may qualify for the full $7,500 EV tax credit, while the IONIQ 5 may not, which puts Hyundai at a serious disadvantage.  

If you want to learn more about whether you can take advantage of tax credits on a new electric car, contact your local VW dealership.  

Range

For the 2024 model year, improvements to the ID.4’s range put it just about even with that of the IONIQ 5.  

	2024 ID.4	2024 IONIQ 5
Standard range	206 miles	220 miles
Long range (AWD)	263 miles	260 miles
Long range (RWD)	291 miles	303 miles

While the ID.4 is rated for a few less miles, the difference will likely not be noticeable in real-world conditions. 

Power

Because of the near-instant torque delivered by an electric motor, many EV drivers expect a much more thrilling and responsive ride than they’d get out of a gas-powered car.  

Since both EV SUVs have 3 different powertrain options, the performance changes significantly between modes.  

	2024 ID.4	2024 IONIQ 5
Standard range	201 horsepower	168 horsepower
Long range (AWD)	335 horsepower	320 horsepower
Long range (RWD)	282 horsepower	225 horsepower

No matter which one you opt for, the ID.4 packs much more power and delivers better performance.  

Interior Space and Comfort

The ID.4 and IONIQ 5 are both considered compact electric SUVs, but their passenger and cargo dimensions show a distinct contrast between the two.  

	2024 ID.4	2024 IONIQ 5
Head room (front/rear)	41.1 in./38.4 in.	39.8 in./38.7 in.
Shoulder room (front/rear)	57.5 in./55.9 in.	57.7 in./57.7 in.
Hip room (front/rear)	54.4 in./46.7 in.	53.9 in./53.6 in.
Leg room (front/rear)	41.1 in./37.6 in.	41.7 in./39.4 in.
Cargo area (behind 2nd row)	30.3 cu. ft.	27.2 cu. ft.
Cargo area (behind 1st row)	64.2 cu. ft.	59.3 cu. ft.

While the IONIQ 5 has a bit more second-row room in general, the ID.4 has more space up front, and it also has significantly more cargo capacity.

Tech

As you’d expect from a current-gen EV, both come standard with a heaping helping of infotainment gizmos—the ID.4 has a 12-inch center touch screen, while the IONIQ 5 has a slightly larger 12.3-incher.  

Both come with features like Bluetooth device connection, multiple USB ports, Wi-Fi capability, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, although only the ID.4 comes standard with wireless Apple and Android integration. The ID.4 is also the only one to come with standard wireless device charging.  

The ID.4 and IONIQ 5 also have an impressive collection of standard driver assistance features through IQ.DRIVE and SmartSense, respectively. Both SUVs also earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS this year, putting them amidst the safest electric vehicles available.  

Test Drive the Volkswagen ID.4 Near Overland Park, KS

If you’re interested in learning more about the best electric SUV in town, stop by Molle Volkswagen of Kansas City, where we offer tons of excellent monthly super specials on new vehicles.  

Give us a call at (816) 941-9500 or stop by our dealership near Leawood, KS today.  

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