Barrelling through the fine sands of Coachella Valley, we discover just how well Hyundai's new XRT variant of the Ioniq 5 handles the "extreme rough terrain". Is it just another "soft-roader" for Patagonia-clad schoolteachers,

This version of the Ioniq 5 gets just about everything right, from built-in access to Tesla DC fast chargers to simpler controls customers asked for.

Electrification has been the key to Hyundai’s 33% retail growth over the past five years, according to Ricky Lao, director of product planning Hyundai Motor America. In fact, sales were up 31% in 2024 compared to the year before.

While just a mid-cycle refresh, the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets some great upgrades and, most impressively, an XRT model, which we take off-road.

The last few years have been progressive steps forward for Hyundai in the electric vehicle (EV) department. This positive trend stems from the Korean automaker’s popular, efficient, and unique IONIQ

Power and Weight: 641 hp • 4858 lb • 7.6 lb/hp Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 Elect; 275/35ZR-21 103Y PNCS HN We ran the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N 's platform-mate, the 576-hp Kia EV6 GT, at Lightning Lap last year,