TAKING A SHOT

TOYOTA CHALLENGES OUR FAVORITE ELECTRIC SUV-AND DOES BETTER THAN WE EXPECTED

- AARON GOLD

We go into every comparison test with an open mind, but in this matchup between Hyundai's Ioniq 5 and Toyota's newer bZ4X, the Hyundai was the heavy favorite. After all, it already won a comparison test against its corporate cousin, Kia's slick EV6, and it's our top pick among electric SUVs. Turns out we were both right and wrong: Right about which EV would win but wrong about the reasons why. What we found were two exceptionally useful electric cars with their own distinct strengths.

The Ioniq 5 is a talented and stylish EV and the first vehicle from Hyundai's all-electric Ioniq subbrand. Although the bZ4X is Toyota's first modern-day battery electric vehicle, Toyota introduced an electric RAV4 back in 1997 and has been selling the Mirai FCEV (an electric car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a battery) since 2016. Given that experience, we thought it was fair to match the bZ4X against the best in the field.

For this comparison, we went with top-of the-line all-wheel-drive models. Our Ioniq 5 HTRAC Limited came with accessories that raised its price to $56,440. The bZ4X's top trim level is also called Limited, and our test AWD EV came with a cold-weather package, premium stereo, spoiler, and extra-cost paint that raised the sticker price to $52,050.

Although both vehicles are pitched as compact sport utilities, they blur the line between SUV and hatchback. Both are just an inch or two shorter in length than Toyota's ubiquitous RAV4, and they're about the same width. But the bZ4X's roofline is some 2 inches closer to the ground than the RAV4's, and the Hyundai checks in 2 inches lower still. Considering both carry their batteries under their bellies, which raises their floor height, you can understand why they feel more like cars than SUVs from behind the wheel.