Meet The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT: Electric Crossover Goes Off-Road (Weird, Right?)
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT is Hyundai’s strange new take on an electric crossover. It adds recovery hooks, pixel camo fender flares and a mild lift to an already quirky hatchback. Think an off-road Jeep look in an EV body. It’s here, it’s odd—and surprisingly complete.
Key Takeaways
- The XRT trim adds all-wheel drive, a 1-inch lift and all-terrain tires.
- Pixel camo fender flares, blacked-out trim and red recovery hooks drive home the off-road vibe.
- Inside, you get rubber mats, terrain modes and a steering-wheel button for sand, mud or snow.
- 2025 updates across the lineup include bigger batteries, Tesla (NACS) charging and a new center console.
- Driving feels smooth but not wildly off-road; range dips to about 260 miles on the XRT.
Off-Road Upgrades On The XRT
The XRT is basically the Ioniq 5 with dirt-road style, but don’t expect rock-crawling power. Here’s what you get:
- All-Wheel Drive: Standard on every XRT.
- 1-Inch Lift: Better ground clearance, without a rough ride.
- All-Terrain Tires: Not super aggressive, but a step up from street rubber.
- Camo Fender Flares: Pixelated brown-and-black pattern around the wheel arches.
- Blacked-Out Trim: Plastic front/rear fascias and side moldings go dark.
- Red Recovery Hooks: Bright hooks front and rear, straight out of a Jeep playbook.
- XRT Badges & Center Caps: Just so you know what you’re driving.
2025 Ioniq 5 Refresh
Even if you don’t get the XRT, all Ioniq 5s get a small facelift this year:
- Bigger Battery Packs: The top-range model now hits up to 318 miles (up from 303).
- Tesla (NACS) Charging Port: Easier access to Tesla Superchargers and home chargers.
- Engine Choices Stay: 170 hp, 225 hp, 320 hp and the 640-hp Ioniq 5 N all stick around.
- New Rear Wiper: Finally added to the hatchback.
Interior And Tech Tweaks
Hyundai quietly cleaned up its center stack and added some neat tricks:
- Revamped Console: A fixed wireless-charging pad and dedicated buttons for heated seats, heated wheel, parking sensors and camera view.
- Pixel State-Of-Charge: Four LEDs on the steering wheel that light up to show your battery level.
- Terrain Mode Button: Choose Sand, Mud or Snow right from the wheel.
- Blind-Spot Cameras: Turn on your signal and the cluster displays live video of the side you’re checking.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto: Finally.
Signature Quirks
The Ioniq 5 has personality. The XRT just leans harder into it:
- Hyundai Logo Key: Buttons to lock, unlock and open the hatch are hidden in the negative space of the “H.”
- Pop-Out Door Handles: They sit flush until you walk up, then they spring out.
- Slide-Forward Console: Pull a lever to shift it closer to rear passengers.
- Driver-Only Climate Mode: Chill just the front vents to save range.
- Pixel Everything: Headlights, taillights, camo and shift-lever graphics all mimic giant pixels.
On The Road Impressions
Driving the XRT feels almost normal. The tires aren’t loud and the ride stays smooth. Acceleration is brisk—320 hp and 445 lb-ft—but it doesn’t quite sprint like a track-tuned EV. Range drops from about 270 miles on the Limited to 260 miles here. If you actually hit trails, the lift and terrain modes help, but this is still a mild off-roader.
Final Thoughts
Hyundai nailed the concept of an oddball off-road EV. The Ioniq 5 XRT looks special, packs its share of gadgets and isn’t a pain to drive on pavement. But real off-road fans will want more gear and more grunt. At around $57,000 it’s pricey, and most buyers might prefer a standard Ioniq 5 Limited. Still, as a quirky one-off, the XRT definitely turns heads—and that alone might sell a few.
