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Not all electric vehicles are created equal. Different automakers are prioritizing different features, but Hyundai is emerging as one of the most innovative. It obviously benchmarked the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y when designing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 EVs. Not only did it beat the most important benchmarks the Teslas set, but a used Hyundai is worth less on the used market. Both models may resell for as little as $25k.

First and foremost, advertised ranges actually put the Teslas ahead. Tesla advertises a RWD Model 3 range of 363 miles on a single charge while Hyundai advertises an Ioniq 6 range of 342 miles. Tesla also claims its Model Y RWD can go 330 miles on a single charge while the Ioniq 5 RWD claims 303. The AWD Tesla Model Y claims 311 miles while the Ioniq 5 AWD claims 260 miles.

Gray Hyundai Ioniq 5 crossover EV parked in front of a wooded hillside.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 | teddy leung via iStockPhoto

But here’s the scoop, Elon Musk’s been forced to publicly apologize for padding Tesla’s range numbers to improve marketing. Even the range indicators in the dashboard show optimistic estimates. What’s more, experienced EV drivers are finding range is not the most important metric.

The main differentiator Hyundai had from the jump was an 800-volt electrical system. Meanwhile, Tesla is still limited by a 400-volt system. This means a Hyundai can charge twice as fast. This makes a huge difference when ducking into a high speed charger during a roadtrip pit stop.

Bright red Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV sedan parked in front of a futuristic building.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 | teddyleung via iStockPhoto

The metric that most EV drivers look for, and which Hyundai has been engineering for, is number of minutes of driving time per minute of charging time. And in this metric, the Hyundais are some of the best EVs available.

This is one of the many reasons the Hyundai Ioniq 5 won MotorBiscuit’s Best EV award. After a longterm review, my colleague Allison Barfield concluded, “The increasingly popular Hyundai Ioniq 5 needs to be on your radar, especially if you’re in the market for an electric SUV.”

See just how affordable these used EVs are: If you’re looking for a crossover EV, check out used Hyundai Ioniq 5s near you. And if you are searching for an efficient sedan, see used Hyundai Ioniq 6s.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.