Hyundai Ioniq 5 refresh details – OTA updates, bigger battery, and a rear wiper!
Hyundai has updated its Korean website with details about the expected refresh of its popular Ioniq 5 EV, with only minor changes from the original design but a lot of new features on the inside.
We’ve been expecting a refresh to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and an apparent facelift was spotted testing last year, complete with your standard ugly automaker camouflage covering up the doors and bumpers.
Now the veil has been lifted on the refresh and… it looks pretty similar. But the refresh comes with a lot of new features, in particular some fixes for a lot of the various shortcomings of an otherwise excellent car.
The details are all available on Hyundai’s website, but it’s in Korean only. The American website has not yet been updated with the new details, and everything we talk about here is on the Korean version, and may or may not make it to the US version. We can imagine a lot of these changes will be carried over, but there may be some differences in what’s available in each market.
Exterior changes include new colors, some changes around the front fascia including more “pixel” motif details and an exterior charge status indicator, and a slightly larger rear spoiler above the rear window. The changes to the bumpers mean the car is now 20mm (.8 inches) longer than the previous model.
The Korean version of the car is also getting some changes to the “digital side mirrors,” which are digital cameras in place of the side view mirrors, which are not available in the US.
There are additional exterior changes for the upgraded “N line” version, in particular different bumpers, body-color trim on the wheel arches and door panels, 20-inch wheels and N line badging.
User experience has been improved with access to Hyundai’s “Digital Key 2” which lets you use your phone or Apple Watch to lock and unlock the vehicle. Ioniq 5 also has walk-away door locks (though these might only function with the key fob, not the digital key?)
And of course the largest change on the exterior is the addition of a rear window wiper. This was a big oversight on the original vehicle, which lots of owners and potential buyers lamented the absence of. The refresh gets a wiper on the rear, so you won’t have to worry about your rear window getting grimy anymore.
But the real changes come inside the car, with the biggest change being the addition of about 7kWh of battery, bringing the car up to 84kWh of capacity (from 77.4kWh). The Ioniq 5 was previously rated at 458km (285mi) range in Korea, and the battery increase bumps that rating to 485km (301mi).
We don’t have EPA range numbers available yet or know if Hyundai will hold back some of this capacity, but we can imagine this change will increase EPA range from its current 270mi to somewhere in the mid-high 280s.
Despite the larger battery, Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 has had a slight improvement in charge performance and therefore will still charge from 10-80% in 18 minutes, maintaining what is basically the best fast charging performance available right now.
Other mechanical changes include improved sound and vibration dampening, which should make for a smoother ride and less motor and road noise.
On the interior, a number of new features have been added. The steering wheel has been redesigned with 4 “pixel” lights in the center which are used as charge indicators or indicators for the voice recognition system – and also has something called “hands on detection,” which we presume is some sort of driver alertness feature.
The sliding center console is slightly redesigned, with the addition of USB-C ports, relocation of the smartphone charging pad, and physical buttons for some frequently used car features like the seat heater/ventilator.
And for other interior functional changes, a button has been added in the trunk to fold the rear seats down, making it easier to load large things into the car from the rear. And the glove compartment has been redesigned – it used to be “drawer-like” and now it folds down like a typical glove compartment, a change which may come begrudgingly for some.
But perhaps the biggest interior change isn’t visible, it’s in software. The Ioniq 5 is getting access to Hyundai’s “Connected Car Navigation Cockpit” software along with… over-the-air updates!
This is a new feature for Ioniq 5, though it is already present on the Ioniq 6 sedan. The updates won’t just be for critical safety/recall related updates, but for software enhancements as well.
Finally, all of this has resulted in no change in price in Korea, with the same base price of 52,400,000 Korean Won (~$39,400). So we can hope that the US base price, currently $41,800, will stay the same or close to the same when this update comes through.
As for availability, that’s anyone’s guess. We’ll have to wait for an answer from Hyundai on that one.
Electrek’s Take
The Ioniq 5 has quickly become a favorite in the EV community. It’s a really solid vehicle with great specs, a good price (especially if you lease it for access to US tax credits, which Hyundai has been putting a lot of focus into), and generally happy customers.
Personally, I think it’s one of the best-looking cars on the road today. Despite being a small-car guy myself, it’s about the only SUV that I really like – mostly because it’s still compact, and also because the design language of the car is so solid and consistent. It looks just quirky enough to be different, without being too out there.
As a result, it’s also selling extremely well, even in the US despite being from a foreign automaker which results in tax credit disadvantages. In 2023 it was the best-selling foreign-assembled EV in the US (the VW ID.4 did sell better, and is from a foreign automaker, but it’s assembled in Tennessee).
But these changes were also needed. The lack of rear wiper in particular was a glaring oversight, and OTA updates are such an important feature that has taken far too long to percolate to the rest of the industry. An early-model Tesla Model 3 is better today than is was in 2017, which is not a thing you can say about most cars, and hopefully the Ioniq 5 has joined those ranks due to the addition of OTA update capability.
So we hope most of these changes make their way to the US, and soon, because this is already a great car and these small fixes will just make it that much greater.
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Environment
EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member’s Festival
Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.
EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:
Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.
To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.
EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”
Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:
In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.
In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.
To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.
Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival
As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.
As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.
Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!
Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.
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Tesla is losing another top talent: its long-time head of software, David Lau, has reportedly told co-workers that he is exiting the automaker.
Tesla changed how the entire auto industry looks at software.
Before Tesla, it was an afterthought; user interfaces were rudimentary, and you had to go to a dealership to get a software update on your systems.
When Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, it all changed. Your car would get better through software updates like your phone, the large center display was responsive with a UI that actually made sense and was closer to an iPad experience than a car.
Tesla also integrated its software into its retail experience, service, and manufacturing.
David Lau deserves a lot of the credit for that.
He joined Tesla in 2012 as a senior manager of firmware engineering and quickly rose through the ranks. By 2014, he was promoted to director of firmware engineering and system integration, and in 2017, he became Vice President of software.
Lau listed the responsibilities of his team on his LinkedIn:
- Vehicle Software:
- Firmware for the powertrain, traction/stability control, HV electronics, battery management, and body control systems
- UI software and underlying Embedded Linux platforms
- Navigation and routing
- iOS and Android Mobile apps
- Distributed Systems:
- Server-side software and infrastructure that provides telemetry, diagnostics, over-the-air updates, and configuration/lifecycle management
- Data engineering and analytics platforms that power technical and business insights for an increasingly diverse set of customers across the company
- Diagnostic tools and fleet management, Manufacturing and Automation:
- Automation controls (PLC, robot)
- Server-side manufacturing execution systems that power all of Tesla’s production operations
- Product Security and Red Team for software, services, and systems across Tesla
Bloomberg reported today that Lau told his team he is leaving Tesla. The report didn’t include reasons for his stepping down.
Electrek’s Take
Twelve years at any company is a great run. At Tesla, it’s heroic. Congrats, David, on a great run. You undoubtedly had a significant impact on Tesla and software advancements in the broader auto industry.
He is another significant loss for Tesla, which has been losing a lot of top talent following a big wave of layoffs around this time last year.
I wonder who will take over. Michael Rizkalla, senior director of software engineering and vehicle firmware, is one of the most senior software engineers after Lau. He has been at Tesla for 7 years, and Tesla likes to promote within rather than hire outsiders.
There are also a lot of senior software execs working on AI at Tesla. Musk has been favoring them lately and he could fold Lau’s responsibilities under them.
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Kia’s electric SUVs are taking over. The EV3 is the best-selling retail EV in the UK this year, giving Kia its strongest sales start since it arrived 34 years ago. And it’s not just in the UK. Kia just had its best first quarter globally since it started selling cars in 1962.
Kia EV3 is the best-selling EV in the UK through March
In March, Kia sold a record nearly 20,000 vehicles in the UK, making it the fourth best-selling brand. It was also the second top-seller of electrified vehicles (EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs), accounting for over 55% of sales.
The EV3 remained the best-selling retail EV in the UK last month. Including the EV6, three-row EV9, and Niro EV, electric vehicles represented 21% of Kia’s UK sales in March.
Kia said the EV3 “started with a bang” in January, darting out as the UK’s most popular EV in retail sales. Through March, Kia’s electric SUV has held on to the crown. With the EV3 rolling out, Kia sold over 7,000 electric cars through March, nearly 50% more than in Q1 2024.
The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK in the first quarter and the fourth best-selling EV overall, including commercial vehicles.
Starting at £33,005 ($42,500), Kia said it’s the “brand’s most affordable EV yet.” It’s available with two battery packs, 58.3 kWh or 81.48 kWh, good for 430 km (270 miles) and 599 km (375 miles) of WLTP range, respectively.
With new EVs on the way, this could be just the start. Kia is launching several new EVs in the UK this year, including the EV4 sedan (and hatchback) and EV5 SUV. It also confirmed that the first PV5 electric vans will be delivered to customers by the end of the year.
Electrek’s Take
Globally, Kia sold a record 772,351 vehicles in the first quarter, its best since it started selling cars in 1962. With the new EV4, the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback, launching this year, Kia looks to build on its momentum in 2025.
Kia has also made it very clear that it wants to be a global leader in the electric van market with its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, starting with the PV5 later this year.
Earlier today, we learned Kia’s midsize electric SUV, the EV5, is the fourth best-selling EV in Australia through March, outselling every BYD vehicle (at least for now). The EV5 is rolling out to new markets this year, including Canada, the UK, South Korea, and Mexico. However, it will not arrive in the US.
For those in the US, there are still a few Kia EVs to look forward to. Kia is launching the EV4 globally, including in the US, later this year. Although no date has been set, Kia confirmed the EV3 is also coming. It’s expected to arrive in mid-2026.
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