Transport & Trucking Australia May 2023

Page 33

ROARING TO LIFE.

instrument cluster, which uses a 12.3 inch digital screen with a range of different themes based on the variety of drive modes. There is an augmented reality heads up display which also displays directional arrows when using the integrated navigation system and also includes lane departure warnings. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the centre of the car boasts very contemporary and appealing graphics with easy to use and understand menus as well as a number of buttons that give shortcuts for various functions. There is also the ability to program a ‘star’ button to go to a specific menu, which is rather handy and would make it all easier to live with. Hyundai has given the Ionic 5 proximity unlocking, which means as long as you have the digital key with the car will unlock as you approach with no need to click a button or press the door handle as on other new cars. As we mentioned the Techniq test car has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system boasting 239kW of power and a stunning 605Nm of torque that gives the car an impressive 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds. With AWD and that amount of power, acceleration can feel like you are piloting a TIE Fighter in an episode of Star Wars, it is really amazing. Under the floor is a 77.4kWh lithiumion polymer battery pack that has a range of around 454km, which is about the

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standard for most electric machines like this in the market today, give or take a handful of kilometres.. The Ionic 5 uses a 800V electrical system, and that means that it can be recharged using a 350kW ultra-fast DC charger. Enabling you can take it from 10 per cent to 80 per cent charge in about 18 minutes. If you are forced to use the 50kW charger it will take a shade over 70 minutes. We used the Ionic 5 over two weeks around the Christmas break travelling the 160 km to and from Sydney to Newcastle and in urban driving around both cities. The car easily tackled the highway running and in fact the quiet and serene ambience of the cabin while sitting on 110km/h is just wonderful and a joy to behold. Around town the spirited acceleration and turbine like take off means it is a great machine for sprinting between traffic lights and staying ahead of the traffic overall. Being an electric car the retardation available when you button off the throttle slows the car incredibly efficiently and with Hyundai’s i-Pedal mode, which delivers a one-pedal driving facility, that means you can just about bring the car to a stop without touching the brakes. The function recalls your specific regenerative braking settings and if it’s on the maximum setting you only need to pull the column mounted paddle once when you start the car and when you back off the car quickly decelerates.

Handling wise the Ionic has a good balanced feel and sits well and flat on the road with very little body roll and with nice, direct and good feel through the steering. Damping and overall ride feel is not always the best on the Ionic 5 but in most instances and when cruising up a motorway it is fine and gives a comfortable and relaxed feel. As a driver that enjoys being in charge of the car, the inclusion of lane keep in the form of Hyundai’s Lane Following Assist, would not normally please us, as we find this intrusive and annoying in its intervention, when drivers really need to be more attentive in how they control their vehicles. However it does work reasonably well and certainly keeps the car well centred in the lane. One day when Hyundai gets adequate supply the Ioniq 5 will surely skyrocket up the sales charts. It is an excellent electric car that is very easy to live with and enjoy. Until then we will have to hover over the webpage waiting to grab a slot in the supply chain. Hopefully the new Federal Governments Electric Vehicle Strategy will make the powers that be in overseas controlled car makers free up supply, let’s keep our fingers crossed. For those who sign on the dotted line for an Ioniq 5 they will get a vehicle that’s distinctively styled inside and out, quick to charge and utterly comfortable.

MAN’s TGX 26.510 is trucking redefined. Featuring the generous GM cab and powered by MAN’s technologically-advanced 510hp 13L Euro 6 engine with over 390hp of engine braking, the TGX will go the distance. Come and see us in the main hall to learn how our new MAN truck generation boasts excellent driver fit, great efficiency and economy features, optimised uptime, and makes for a strong business partner.


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