Compare the2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 2023 Audi e-tron

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Ioniq 5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The e-tron doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ioniq 5 Limited has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Ioniq 5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Ioniq 5 and the e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Ioniq 5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The e-tron’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq 5 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq 5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the e-tron.

There are almost 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ioniq 5’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ioniq 5’s reliability 11 points higher than the e-tron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 84 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric motors is faster than the Audi e-tron (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq 5 gets better mileage than the e-tron:

The Ioniq 5 can travel longer on a full charge than the e-tron on a full charge:

The Ioniq 5 stops much shorter than the e-tron:

The Ioniq 5 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The e-tron doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 5’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the e-tron (118.1 inches vs. 115.1 inches).

The Ioniq 5 Limited AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the e-tron Chronos Edition pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ioniq 5 Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the e-tron Chronos Edition (25.7 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ioniq 5’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the e-tron’s (39.3 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1350 to 1750 pounds less than the Audi e-tron.

The Ioniq 5 is 10.5 inches shorter than the e-tron, making the Ioniq 5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 amounts to more than styling. The Ioniq 5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .288 Cd. That is lower than the e-tron (.31 to .32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Ioniq 5 get better fuel mileage.

The Ioniq 5 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ioniq 5’s rear seats recline. The e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Ioniq 5 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the e-tron with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 56.4 cubic feet).

The Ioniq 5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Ioniq 5 Limited’s Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The e-tron doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Ioniq 5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The e-tron doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Ioniq 5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Audi e-tron isn't recommended.

The Ioniq 5 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The e-tron has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Hyundai Ioniq outsold the Audi e-tron by over two to one during 2022.