Compare the2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 2023 Audi e-tron Sportback

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 Sportback 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 Sportback 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 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Ioniq 5 and the e-tron Sportback 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 Sportback’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 Sportback. 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 Sportback 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 Sportback.

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 Sportback.

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.

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

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

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 Sportback doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 5’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the e-tron Sportback (118.1 inches vs. 115 inches).

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

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1750 pounds less than the Audi e-tron Sportback.

The Ioniq 5 is 10.5 inches shorter than the e-tron Sportback, 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 Sportback (.28 to .31) 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, .8 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the e-tron Sportback.

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

The Ioniq 5 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the e-tron Sportback with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 54.5 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 Sportback’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 Sportback 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 Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Ioniq 5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ioniq 5 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The e-tron Sportback 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.