The Ioniq 5 is a statement. With a spectacular design, complex e-technology with 800 volt and eight (!) years guarantee Hyundai equipped it. Something like that brings sympathy. And lots of points. In the first comparison, he immediately won against the VW ID.4 GTX. But now a whole new opponent is coming with the Mercedes EQB. Does the Hyundai also pack the Benz?
Selected products in tabular overview
Hyundai Ioniq 5 225 kW all-wheel drive
RRP from EUR 49,900, savings of up to EUR 10,472
Mercedes EQB 350 4Matic
RRP from EUR 57,989, average savings EUR 8,500
The EQB in the shrunken G-Class style does not have to hide from the imposing Koreans, but it looks more delicate. And actually offers less space than the Hyundai. Which doesn’t mean it’s tight, on the contrary. It is quite spacious at the front and rear, with a sliding rear bench (428 euros) and two additional folding seats for 1416 euros at the very back available.
Smaller: The Mercedes not only looks more delicate than the Hyundai, it is also. But that doesn’t become a real space problem.
We know the facility from the A and B class, which includes the two colorful 10.25-inch displays and the clever MBUX system. The trunk swallows 495 to 1710 liters, the payload is 464 kilograms, but a trailer hitch is not available. Advantage for the Ioniq, which can take 1.6 tons on the hook, but its payload is a bit more modest at 439 kilograms.
Hyundai relies on spaciousness
The extravagant design continues in the interior of the Hyundai, with a two-spoke steering wheel, two large 12.25-inch screens, and a somewhat strange gear selector transmission on the steering column and flat bottom. As I said, there is even more space than in the Benz, everything emphasizes spaciousness here. The sliding rear seat is standard, the trunk swallows 527 to 1587 liters, plus there is a small 24 liter compartment at the front.
Inside and out: The Hyundai Ioniq is extravagant in design, which also applies to the interior. There’s a lot of space there.
The drive consists of an electric motor at the front with 95 hp and one at the back with 217 hpthe system performance is 305 hp, the torque at 605 Nm, the battery is 72.6 kWh. The Ioniq accelerates quickly, emphatically and quietly, and easily manages 185 km/h. The test Benz was already limited to 159 km/h. In both cases, however, we advise against longer full-throttle stages, as the range then shrinks in fast motion.
Supple: In terms of performance, the Hyundai is ahead. Just driving with the gas pedal works really well here.
The power in the Ioniq 5 can be finely dosed, the accelerator pedal reacts sensitively. The recuperation can be adjusted in three stages using the shift paddles on the steering wheel. The i-Pedal mode, in which the Ioniq can only be driven with the accelerator pedal, is particularly recommended – to a standstill. Very pleasant, for example in the city.
Engine design in front
performance in front
Rear engine design
rear performance
Torque front/rear/total
overall peak performance
V max
transmission
drive
Brakes front/rear
test car tires
tire type
wheel size
Range (WLTP combined)*
Consumption (WLTP combined)*
battery type
battery capacity net
charging power
charging port
pass-by noise
trailer load used/unused
drawbar load
trunk volume
Length Width Height
wheelbase
basic price
Test car price (is evaluated)
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
527-1587L (+24L front)
4635/1890-2116**/1605mm
4684/1834-2020**/1667mm
The 2.1-ton Hyundai has remarkably good traction, the steering speaks directly, if somewhat callously, so it drives more lively and agile than the 2.1-ton Benz. And he brakes much better, was warm from 100 km/h after a very good 34.4 meters. The Benz needed over two meters more.
When it comes to suspension comfort, the EQB builds on classic Mercedes traditions – it springs almost like an old-school Benz.
The EQB shows old Mercedes virtues
Unlike the Ioniq, which is based on a new, purely electric platform, the EQB is a converted GLB – i.e. with the same technology as, for example, the A and B classes. He drives a little differently than the Ioniq, feels more like front-wheel drive, is less agile, not as lively, but more leisurely. It springs almost like a Benz of the old school, swaying slightly and gently swaying, especially when it comes to long bumps. In comparison, the Hyundai speaks a little stiffer and more brittle. And the Mercedes has nicer steering, more precise and more communicative.
acceleration
0-50km/h
0-100km/h
0-130km/h
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0-180km/h
intermediate sprint
60-100km/h
80-120km/h
curb weight/load
Weight distribution v./h.
Turning circle left/right
seat height
braking distance
from 100 km/h cold
from 100 km/h warm
interior noise
at 50 km/h
at 100 km/h
at 130 km/h
at 160 km/h
consumption
saving consumption
test consumption
Average of the 155 km test lap (deviation from the WLTP specification)
sports consumption
CO2 (test consumption)
Range (test consumption)
The drive system in the EQB consists of an electric motor at the front with 190 hpback with 102 hpsystem performance 292 hp, torque 520 Nm, the battery is 66.5 kWh. It doesn’t accelerate quite as quickly as the Ioniq, which takes a few tenths off it in terms of performance. The difference is clearer than the readings might say.
Significant difference: the Hyundai Ioniq and Mercedes EQB do not even come close to reaching the range specifications according to WLTP.
Range promises are not kept
The recuperation also works well on the Benz and can be adjusted in three stages; the one with is recommended here GPS-Data, traffic sign recognition and safety assistant (radar) working and very attentive automatic function. However: The EQB does not brake to a standstill, but slowly rolls on. getting used to. And the range? Well, the promised information and the measured values ​​are once again far apart. According to WLTP, the Benz should cover 410 kilometers, the Ioniq 430. In the test, the Ioniq then covered 260 kilometers, the Benz 230.
Price: It gets expensive at the checkout
The Hyundai also has an advantage when it comes to charging: It can be charged with a maximum of 220 kW direct current, the Benz with 100 kW. The Mercedes therefore needs 32 minutes to quickly charge from 10 to 80 percent battery charge level, Hyundai only 18. Mercedes calculates the EQB 350 4Matic in test equipment with 64,749 euros, Hyundai the Ioniq 5 with 63,300 euros. Proud prices, which also include an eight-year warranty for the Hyundai. Let’s call that an announcement.
