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XRT will increase Ioniq 5’s floor clearance and rides on all-terrain tires
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Twin-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain makes 320 hp
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Ioniq 5 XRT will get extra cladding, no skid plates
Driving on a silty, sandy, rocky path at Metate Ranch in Indio, Calif., I actually need to deal with this like a rally stage, however I’m frightened the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT can’t actually deal with it. Sure, with 7.0 inches of floor clearance it sits an inch larger than normal, and sure it rides on a sq. set of 235/60R18 Continental CrossContact all-terrain tires, and sure I’m switching between Sand and Mud modes. However this isn’t a full-on off-road beast.
As an example, it lacks any underbody skid plates, and a punctured battery within the title of off-road thrills isn’t one of the best thought.
The XRT joins the Ioniq 5 lineup as a part of a refreshed 2025 mannequin yr. It’s all a part of the business pattern towards extra off-pavement functionality marked by sub-brands that embody Wilderness, TrailSport, Rock Creek, and Tremor. Like different XRT fashions, it’s a half step, greatest constructed for modest off-roading, inclement climate, and grime trails.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
The adjustments versus different Ioniq 5s are modest however efficient. They begin with these tires, the taller floor clearance, and the addition of Mud, Sand, and Snow modes, however additionally they embody styling adjustments inside and outside. On the skin, that features normal entrance tow hooks, a extra protecting layer of cladding with a black “parametric pixel” camo sample, and redesigned entrance and rear fascias that lean closely into the black theme and enhance the method and departure angles. Inside, the adjustments are restricted to embossed XRT logos on the seats and the Terrain mode button on the steering wheel.
Hyundai equips the Ioniq 5 XRT with its dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain that’s good for 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. It additionally will get the 2025 mannequin’s larger-capacity battery pack that comes normal with dual-motor and long-range fashions. It will get its increase from 77.4 to 84 kwh from adjustments within the battery chemistry of the nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) pouch cells.
On these trails, the dual-motor powertrain presents loads of punch, and it’s simpler to entry within the Sand and Mud modes, particularly after I hit the traction management button for diminished intervention. I step deep into the throttle in brief spurts in sections with out washboard surfaces, deep ruts, or jagged rocks and discover that Mud mode lets the tires do their job greatest. By permitting probably the most wheel spin, Mud mode helps the CrossContacts dig in and swipe away the sand like a swimmer effectively pushing via the water. That lets the XRT construct pace faster than in Sand mode. Sand nonetheless has a delicate throttle pedal, but it surely’s not on excessive alert like Mud mode. For the heck of it, I additionally attempt a launch in Snow mode. Snow is normally programmed with a whole lot of traction management intervention to let a automotive begin slowly and discover traction on very slippery surfaces, and that’s the case right here as nicely. Snow makes the XRT crawl away from a cease; it’s uninteresting and boring right here, whereas Sand and Mud flip up the joy.
Hyundai didn’t permit us to drive the XRT on pavement, however the firm quotes a 5.1-second 0-60 mph time, which is 0.2 second faster than different dual-motor mannequin variations. That appears odd, as I’d anticipate it to be barely slower as a result of much less traction on pavement from the knobby tires.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
Ioniq 5 XRT: Simply shy of a rally machine
The primary part of Hyundai’s curated path is strewn with jagged rocks and dotted with a couple of small hill climbs and deeper ruts. It requires low speeds for the whoops and a eager eye for these harmful rocks. At low or excessive speeds the tires deal nicely with the sand and silt and supply constant traction to climb the small hills. With none excessive angles to cope with, I encounter no points with the 19.8-degree method angle or the 30.0-degree departure angle.
These aren’t significantly aggressive angles, however they’re improved from the usual 17.5- and 25.4-degree angles of the usual Ioniq 5. By comparability, the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands has a 30.4-degree method angle and a 33.1-degree departure angle. Nonetheless, the XRT’s most rally-like competitor, the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally, has lesser geometry, with a 16-degree method angle and a 27.2-degree departure angle, although a few of that’s seemingly as a result of normal skid plates and a decrease 5.8 inches of floor clearance.
Subsequent up on the path is an enormous loop that has one 2-3-foot drop that may’t be taken at excessive pace. In any other case, this part is basically devoid of rocks and has undulating sandy terrain with some deeper ruts dug out by earlier drivers.
That is my probability to slip round like I’m on a rally stage.
I begin out in Sand mode and shortly discover that this automotive is a blast in the best situations.
The XRT’s 320 horsepower is plentiful, but it surely’s the best way it’s delivered that makes it so enjoyable. All three Terrain modes apportion the facility in a 50:50 break up for greatest traction, which will get this EV transferring and retains its momentum via the ruts that I’m making deeper and deeper. Steer the Ioniq 5 XRT right into a nook, goose the throttle, and Sand mode permits the rear finish to slip out. Let off and the tail tucks again in, then steer the other way, goose it once more and it swings the opposite means. Let off, rinse and repeat. I discover myself grinning from ear to ear as I slide/drift from one nook to the subsequent. Prefer it was for launches, Mud mode with ESC stepped down is even higher, with much less stability intervention for an much more pure expertise. Incredible.
These deepening ruts scrape the metal underbody, however I’m not smashing it in opposition to rocks or high-centering the automotive. It pulls itself out of the deeper ruts and simply retains transferring. I’d like some bash plates down there just like the Mach-E Rally has in case I’d encounter a rock, however that’s not an issue at this time. It could possibly be an issue for an excessively formidable purchaser, although, so I do suggest Hyundai add them, or a minimum of make them out there for anybody who would need to hoon their Ioniq 5 XRT via the desert.
My little rally route has no jumps or huge dips that might absolutely prolong or compress the suspension, and that’s clever as a result of the Ioniq 5 XRT has no particular Fox shocks or external-bypass dampers to deal with these sorts of sudden shocks to the suspension, in addition to no secondary damping to forestall bottoming out on the bump stops, particularly with 4,707 kilos to regulate. The Mach-E Rally makes use of its magnetic dampers for each of these functions.
The remainder of the driving dynamics are like different Ioniq 5s: overly gentle steering with out a lot really feel, a journey that doesn’t beat you up (even over off-road ruts and bumps), and predictable brakes. The XRT might use among the Ioniq 5 N’s tuning so as to add extra highway (or sand) really feel.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
Ioniq 5 XRT: Minor on-road compromises
With no road drive, I can’t say for certain how the Ioniq 5 XRT’s dynamics examine to plain fashions. Nonetheless, I anticipate the identical conduct we’ve seen with different soft-roaders: a softer journey as a result of taller tire sidewalls that additionally results in much less traction for cornering on dry pavement and fewer quick turn-in response. Add the extra inch of journey top and occupants can anticipate extra physique lean in corners and a bit extra head toss over bumps and thru turns. Some would say that quantities to a compromise.
The opposite slight compromise might be much less vary; however EPA rankings counsel the penalty received’t be so important. Whereas the dual-motor AWD Restricted mannequin has 269 miles of vary, the XRT’s tires give it 259 miles of vary.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT
The XRT prices $56,875 together with $1,475 for vacation spot, $2,700 lower than the comparable Restricted and $2,400 greater than an AWD SEL. It’s geared up just like the SEL however provides a Bose audio system, a surround-view digicam system, a blind-spot digicam, a sliding heart console, distant computerized parking, aspect parking sensors, and rear computerized braking.
With the addition of the XRT mannequin, Hyundai now has two variations of its pleasant EV hatchback which can be aimed toward enjoyable. The Ioniq 5 N gives the observe thrills, a lot in order that we named it Motor Authority Finest Automobile To Purchase 2025, and now the XRT ramps up the enjoyable off-road. It will want skid plates, extra superior dampers, and maybe a Baja mode to step as much as rally automotive territory, but it surely’s a enjoyable off-roader for the best way most consumers will need to use it. Simply watch out to curate your rally route.
Hyundai paid for journey and lodging for Motor Authority to kick up sand and produce you this firsthand report.
