Hyundai IONIQ 5 (2021-2024) vs Tesla Model S (2016-2019)

The Tesla Model S costs £38,855 more than the Hyundai IONIQ 5. For that premium it adds 218 litres more boot space, 158 kW more power and a 3.0s quicker 0-62mph time. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 comes out ahead overall.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is £38,855 cheaper to buy. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is cheaper to charge, roughly £168 a year versus £208 for the Tesla Model S, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 comes out roughly £39,055 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.

EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 199 miles for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 198 miles for the Tesla Model S - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 18 minutes in the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 40 in the Tesla Model S, so the Hyundai IONIQ 5 loses less time at each stop.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 74 mm narrower than the Tesla Model S. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 510 mm of total clearance for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and about 436 mm of total clearance for the Tesla Model S.

Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 89% battery health for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 85% for the Tesla Model S. That gives the Hyundai IONIQ 5 a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.