Chasing Vampire Tacos in a Hyundai Ioniq 5

Enjoyable truth: The common American driver logs 33 miles a day, based on the newest authorities information. So it’s just a little ironic that the notion of vary nervousness persists for contemporary electrical autos (EVs), whose distance per cost now repeatedly tops 300 miles. As an example, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, our top-rated EV in its class and a multi-year Finest Purchase Award winner, has the flexibility to go almost 10 instances that every day common on a single cost.

To check the real-world flexibility of this EV, on a whim, a piece colleague and I made a decision to take a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 to lunch. However we weren’t precisely hitting the native drive-through. We mini road-tripped to a particular spot that might see us cowl over 60 miles – almost twice the gap the common motorist travels in a complete day.

Past satiating our starvation, the train would enable us to see if an EV just like the Ioniq 5 might fulfill the wants of converts new to the notion of driving a automobile that’s charged through a plug moderately than fueled from a pump.

Oh, and to chase some vampires.

Preying on a Vampire (Taco)

I’d examine vampire tacos in a meals journal, however by no means truly seen one on a menu. Just like the creatures for which they’re named, vampire tacos are elusive, even in Southern California, the place it appears each different restaurant is a taco store.

I lastly discovered a spot promoting vampiros in Lengthy Seaside, some 30 miles from the Kelley Blue Guide workplace in Irvine. We hopped right into a 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Restricted to chase them down.

Even at roughly 75% battery capability, the Ioniq confirmed loads of vary in its digital instrument cluster: Some 200 miles. One very useful function within the Ioniq 5 is that it shows not only a real-world tally of estimated miles you’ll be able to drive, however a literal vary of numbers to account for driving method and situations. For instance, it’d show between 180 and 200 miles to account for variables. Change drive modes, and it instantly adjusts the tally additional, displaying extra vary when in Eco mode than when in Sport, for instance.

We had no anxieties in any respect on this respect and have been additionally comforted within the information that EV chargers surrounded our lunch spot, ought to we’d like a lift. Spoiler alert: We wouldn’t.

Head-Turning Exterior, Excessive-Tech however Sensible Inside

Right here’s one other enjoyable truth: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has gained our Electrical Car Finest Purchase Award 4 years in a row. Merely put, we discover it continues to outshine its rivals, even whereas its aggressive set grows yearly. I’ve personally gone on the document to name it my favourite EV, and have advisable it to numerous mates, whether or not they’re in search of their first electrical automobile or their subsequent.

The Ioniq 5 bursts with stunning contrasts. Beginning with its can’t-miss exterior, this compact EV has a head-turning design that’s each futuristic but retro. 5 years after its introduction, this aesthetic nonetheless pops.

The Ioniq 5’s virtues are way over skin-deep. Its angular exterior interprets to an open, ethereal cabin with numerous nifty touches equivalent to a sliding middle console and a space-saving twistable steering wheel-mounted stalk that controls the transmission. Tech is trendy and aplenty, with twin 12.3-inch screens up entrance, normal wi-fi Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a full suite of energetic driver aids and security methods. Fortunately, for all its tech, most every little thing is straightforward to manage. There are quite a few bodily dials and knobs to complement the touchscreen. Which means turning on the heated seats and heated steering wheel occurs with the press of a button, moderately than digging three layers right into a touchscreen.

Brisk Acceleration, Freeway Driving Help

We’ve lengthy lauded the Ioniq 5’s driving manners, and that is still true with the newest mannequin. If you happen to’ve by no means pushed an EV earlier than, put together to be elated. Not like a car with a combustion engine, electrical autos have lightning-fast impulses. Hit the accelerator pedal, and it’s like turning on a lightweight swap.

Acceleration is fast and thrilling. Our dual-motor all-wheel-drive take a look at mannequin packs 320 horsepower. These in search of much more thrills can look to the Ioniq 5 N with as much as 641 horsepower, or the ruggedized Ioniq 5 XRT for off-pavement adventures.

With the wonderful Freeway Driving Help 2 system enabled and our anticipation to chunk into vampire tacos in full impact, we rapidly and simply made it to our vacation spot, a taqueria housed throughout the hangar-like LBX Change.

Satisfying Expertise

Nobody appears to understand how or why vampire tacos received their title, however consuming them is an admittedly messy, albeit satisfying expertise. They will finest be described as a tostada whose shell is coated in melted cheese and topped with numerous components. Mine had pinto beans, guacamole, chopped onion, and soy chorizo. It was bloody good.

Starvation pangs happy, it was time to drive one other 30-plus miles again to the workplace. The Ioniq 5 whisked us there with the quiet, fast effectivity we’ve come to like on this car.

As soon as again, we might have plugged the Ioniq 5 in to cost at our Degree 2 port. However the fact is, there was no must. The show nonetheless confirmed over 150 miles of vary. In different phrases, there was sufficient juice left for not simply days of the every day commute, however miles sufficient to chase down extra culinary oddities. Now, about these gold leaf-topped desserts…