The shift to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) was meant to deliver a revolution in automotive design, among many mooted benefits, since designers would no longer be encumbered by traditional hard points such as the placement of internal combustion engines, cooling and exhaust systems.

To date, there haven’t been many BEVs that are truly revolutionary looking.

Tesla ticks the box with its line-up, but most other brands have played it safe.

That’s also true of Hyundai, whose Ioniq and Kona BEVs are based on vehicles also sold with combustion engines, so their design doesn’t move the meter much.

But the arrival in 2021 of the Korean car maker’s Ioniq 5, its first BEV built on a dedicated Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), marked a shift in approach, and brings with it a refreshing “take” on automotive form.

Hyundai describes the Ioniq 5 as an SUV, but it could just as easily be a people mover or a large hatchback, given its somewhat ambiguous styling.

Regardless of how you choose to classify it, one thing we can say is the Ioniq 5 turns heads and captures people’s imaginations.

With its grille-less front end, narrow LED headlights, low wide stance and flush-fit door handles, it looks to have driven straight out of the pages of a manga comic.

As intriguing as the exterior styling is, it’s inside where the Ioniq 5 makes its biggest statement, with a light and airy interior, featuring a minimalist dash with eye-catching twin 12.3-inch high-resolution screens stretching halfway across the dash.

The sense of interior space is more than just perceived, too, since the Ioniq 5 sits on a generous 3000mm wheelbase, 100mm longer than the brand’s full-size Palisade seven-seat SUV.

The dimensions ensure rear-seat passengers can stretch out and enjoy the benefits of electric sliding and reclining seats, privacy glass, side window blinds and multiple USB charge points.

Available only via a factory-direct sales process in either single-motor rear-drive, or dual-motor all-wheel drive as tested here, pricing for the simple two-model range starts at $71,900 and tops out at $75,900 (MRLP).

Both models utilise the same 72.6kWh lithium-ion battery, but the twin motor has a slightly lower 430km range, versus the single’s 451km. It compensates with higher outputs of 225kW/605Nm and a much quicker 0-100km/h acceleration of 5.2 seconds.

On the road there’s the characteristic strong, silent surge of EV acceleration, matched by nicely balanced handling and impressively comfortable ride quality.

The driving experience is as quiet as you’ll find in a German luxury limousine, with the effortless power and nicely resolved ride contributing to a distinctly luxurious feel.

With 400V and 800V charging compatibility, the Ioniq 5 can be charged using up to 350kW DC fast charging, taking just 17 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent. Alternatatively, a 7.4 kW wallbox home charger connected to single-phase power will take about 12 hours.

The Ioniq 5 was one of the freshest and most interesting BEVs to emerge in 2021, and its combination of space, performance and range, as well as reasonable (by category standards) pricing should see it win plenty of fans.

Key stats

• MLP: $75,900 (MRLP).
• MOTOR: Dual front and rear-mounted electric, 72.6kWh lithium-ion polymer battery.
• POWER/TORQUE: 225kW/ 605Nm.
• RANGE: 430km (WLTP).
• ANCAP SAFETY RATING: Five stars (2016).
• ENERGY CONSUMPTION: 19.0 kWh/100km.
• WARRANTY: Five years unlimited km on vehicle, eight years or 160,000km on battery.
• FOR: Eye-catching design, quality finishes, roomy interior, excellent safety, strong performance, good range, quiet refinement, zero tailpipe emissions.
• AGAINST: Price, limited availability, lacks body control over undulations, direct sales model may not suit everyone, no spare tyre, angle of tailgate compromises boot space, lacks native voice recognition system.