2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT review: Dancing with the desert dust in Hyundai's new electric off-roader

Yahoo

19-02-2025

Nowadays, "overlanding" is all the buzz in the car community. What began with kitted-up Toyota 4Runners and Land Rover Defenders spawned a whole slew of watered-down "soft-roaders" that distill the outdoorsy attitude of harder-core off-roaders into more daily-friendly packages, such as the Subaru Outback Wilderness and the Ford Bronco Sport. The claimed intent behind the rise of these adventure-focused models is for them to be used as practical and efficient crossovers during the week and as capable remote camping carriers on weekends.
Fully-electric off-roaders are nothing new, either. Consider the Rivian R1S, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class EV, and the upcoming Scout Traveler from Volkswagen. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT, however, takes on a more modest approach to electric off-roading, retaining the comfortable daily driver elements of the standard Ioniq 5 but adding a slew of upgrades to make off-road trips much easier–and plenty of fun.Admittedly, the thought of taking a fully electric vehicle on a remote, off-road accessible camping trip is slightly nerve-wracking. I mean, what happens if you don't have the necessary range to get back out of the bush? It's not as if you can bring a few spare jerry cans with you, just to be safe.
To offset these concerns, the Ioniq 5 XRT offers a respectable 259-mile all-electric range, meaning that you'll still need to be conscious about how far off the grid you travel, but it allows for plenty of exploration. I tend to think of the Ioniq 5 XRT as a more modest, real-world-focused alternative to the Ford Mustang Mach E Rally, which seems to be a bit excessive for what it will actually be used for.
What I mean by this is that the Mustang Mach E Rally is very clearly focused on off-road performance rather than adventurous capability. Although it benefits from about the same level of all-electric range, at 265 miles, the Mach E Rally touts figures of 480 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque – much more captivating numbers than the Ioniq 5 XRT's 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, at least on paper.
My issue with the Mach E Rally, however, is that if you're traversing lazily groomed off-road trails, 700 lb-ft of torque is almost entirely unnecessary. Sure, if you're thrashing it around a dirt race course, it's a different story entirely, but how often are buyers really going to be doing this?The Mach E Rally makes its performance intentions even more clear with its inclusion of Brembo brake calipers and a "Rallycross-tuned MagneRide Damping System." The Ioniq 5 XRT, however, gets more realistic, purpose-designed enhancements. The Mach E is slightly more expensive, too, with a starting MSRP of $58,995, compared to the Ioniq 5 XRT's $55,400 MSRP, although the Mach E does offer substantially more power for the money.
View the 75 images of this gallery on the original article
The Ioniq 5 XRT's upgrades over the standard model include a 23mm lift in suspension height, chunkier Continental all-terrain tires, exterior protective cladding with a pixelated, urban camo-esque texture that's happy to get bashed to bits by rocks and twigs, and an enhanced rear departure angle thanks to an upwards-angled rear bumper. Aesthetically, the XRT also benefits from steelie-look aluminum wheels and an embossed rear-end XRT logo.
Putting the Ioniq 5 XRT through its paces on an off-road challenge course in Coachella Valley, California, I was thoroughly surprised by the vehicle's ability to take a serious beating. Not only could the crossover handle it well, but its smooth suspension also soaks up every bump and slam, and its supreme build quality shone through without a single creak or squeak permeating my eardrums.
All of that meant that I was as comfortable as can be while driving over properly harsh terrain at much higher speeds than I would ever operate one at if my own name was on the registration.
When the terrain shifted from bumpy and rocky to a smoother, sandy course, I picked up speed with ease thanks to its plentiful 446 lb-ft of torque, set up the XRT-specific terrain mode to "sand", and pretended I was Walter Röhrl piloting an Audi Quattro Group B rally car. Incredibly, the Ioniq 5 XRT was light on its feet and playful, allowing for the occasional tail-swing, but became sticky as glue before things ever got out of hand, without cutting power entirely.Switch to snow mode, and its tires get even stickier. Its wheels refuse to spin at all, even if you try really hard, and its throttle response becomes far more gradual and calculated rather than sudden and abrupt, which prevents it from becoming stuck.
In fact, as hard as every driver tried to get the Ioniq 5 XRT stuck, not one of us found any success in our attempts. Though not quite as monstrously capable off-road as an electric G-Wagon, referring to the Ioniq 5 XRT as a "soft-roader" doesn't quite do its capability enough justice.
Overall, the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT presents an exciting opportunity to add a thrilling adrenaline rush to your next off-road adventure. If you're willing to take on the challenge of bringing a fully electric vehicle on an overland expedition but still require a vehicle that can tackle even the most strenuous daily duties, the Ioniq 5 XRT is a stellar option. Such capability and enjoyability, paired with Hyundai's build quality and the sublime platform that is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in general, is not to be ignored.
Are you a fan of the Ioniq 5 XRT's unique and flamboyant style, or do you prefer the Mustang Mach E Rally's 700 lb-ft of torque? Would you confidently explore tough, remote terrain in the all-electric Ioniq 5 N, or would you insist on a petrol-powered, purpose-built off-roader? Let us know how you feel in the comments–we love to hear from you!
Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!