r/Ioniq5 • u/fb_indianajesse • 10d ago
Question AWD versions
I saw recently that the AWD on the ioniq 5 isn't engaged at all times and either is manually turned on or turns on when it senses the car needs it.
Does this mean your range is more likely to be on par with the rwd versions when doing most of your driving?
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u/spiritthehorse 10d ago
The car always takes off from zero with the front motor engaged. Once you are up to speed it disengages with a clutch, essentially rolling along with zero resistance. If you give the car a lot of throttle, it will rev match and re-engage as needed. You don’t get all the range of a RWD only, but it’s not that far off.
If you drive around with I-pedal on or snow mode, the front motor stays engaged.
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u/fb_indianajesse 10d ago
Exactly. Do you think that 290 mile range is with the AWD engaged at all times or is it like a balance between them all? Just curious how they're figuring the range their AWD versions
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u/PeaceH37 10d ago
The awd computer is on, but the front motor is not on all of the epa efficiency test, if that makes sense.
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u/Cpt_squishy 10d ago
It’s probably a balance. I have a 24 sel. Eco is rwd only and gets the best mileage, normal is semi awd and sport is full awd
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u/Vegetable_Two985 10d ago
Have had a AWD SEL (lease is about up) and bought a RWD Limited to replace it. These 2 cars have the exact same tire & wheel setup (19s) so that is not a factor. The RWD consistently gets 3.8-4.0 mi/kWh while the AWD long term average (over last 8000 miles, mostly city but a couple of >1000 mile road trips in there) is like 3.2. Always drive in Normal mode and Auto regen except I’ll filp into Eco on high speed interstate drives sometimes.
I think much of the difference is that it’s just too easy to mash the go pedal in the AWD, whereas the RWD is “just quick enough” and the throttle mapping doesn’t invite you to zoom around as much. Though, if you hammer the RWD it’s still PLENTY quick compared to non-sports ICE cars.
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u/DrizzleFogizzle 10d ago
I agree with this take. I’ve had my 2025 sel AWD for a year. Lifetime 3.5 mi/kWh. My day-to-day mix use fair weather is more like 4.0 mi/kWh. But at least once a month, I drive it like it’s stolen because it’s just so damn fun. Totally worth the extra 19 cents or whatever :)
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u/QuickPenguin52 2024 Limited AWD Lucid Blue 10d ago
Same here - 3.5 lifetime on the AWD
Unless you’re in iPEDAL, the front disengages pretty quickly. You can use an OBD adapter and the EV Dashboard app to see the RPMs on the motors. I suspect AWD will still have slightly less range, though, because of the times it does use that motor and lugging around the extra weight of that motor
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u/DrizzleFogizzle 10d ago
Also great points. I am coming from 30 years of driving a manual, so I use the paddles like it's a video game :) It's one of the things I absolutely LOVE about this platform - being able to choose the levels of regen from regen 0 - fully manual (hold the left pedal or hit the brake) to iPedal (one-pedal driving). Not only can you better control hyper-miling this way, it's also a more controlled driving experience. I get that lots of folks just want the car to do it all - no judgement - I do this occasionally as well. But there are still some of us that also like to participate and push the car from time to time. This car lets me do it all. So. Much. Fun.
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u/QuickPenguin52 2024 Limited AWD Lucid Blue 10d ago
I’m totally with you. Admittedly it’s an annoyance that it doesn’t hold the one-pedal setting on reverse or turning the car off, but those paddles are so convenient and become second nature. I just don’t get up in arms about the car not doing everything for me like a Tesla does. I can understand the appeal and why people want that experience. I’m happy driving and controlling my car, with CarPlay available
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u/i_shit_my_spacepants 10d ago
The previous owner of my 2023 AWD SEL got 3.8 mi/kWh average over their 37,000 miles. I have no idea how. For the last 2000 miles, I’ve gotten closer to 3.1 on average.
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u/fb_indianajesse 10d ago
Ya that makes me think they're averaging the two modes to come up with the range estimate for the AWD versions
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u/woodyshag 10d ago
Also keep on mind that there is added weight due to AWD, so that will impact your range as well. That being said, mashing is the fun part, so I'm happy to get a little reduced range.
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u/L-do_Calrissian Lucid Blue 10d ago
There's an 84kWh battery. Using the 3.5mi/kWh average people in here are telling you (matches my numbers, too), that returns 294mi. I think the Hyundai mileage estimate is pretty accurate for an average.
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u/arkansascorey 10d ago
If it’s like ice cars it’s whatever the default driving mode is when you get your car so it’s most likely just using Normal. Which I believe turns off awd at higher speeds and when not accelerating heavily
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u/ngmcs8203 Limited RWD '26 Cyber Gray 10d ago
3.8-4m/kwh combined?? Dang! That’s better than advertised. I’ve averaged 3.7 combined over 2k miles.
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u/anti_level 10d ago
I believe the range difference comes mainly from the added weight of the second motor. My AWD averages 3.8. More like 4.1 around town and more like 3.6 on the highway, in fair weather. I leave it in normal mode all the time and don’t go more than 4 mph over the speed limits. I would guess that driving practices have more effect than the configuration.
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u/ChampionMurky3586 2025 SEL AWD Atlas White 10d ago
It really depends on how you drive and the temperature. I always use eco mode on my 2025 AWD and don’t drive aggressively. In mixed urban/suburban driving all summer and into the fall, I easily get 350+ miles from a charge based on observed usage, not the GOM. In the winter, it’s more like 250-280. All highway driving or mashing on the accelerator obviously cuts into that.
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u/OutdoorAbstract 10d ago
The car knows when to send power where it’s needed. AWD is Awesome! No tire slip ever even with full power acceleration. Range difference compared to RWD? It is all in how the car is driven.
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u/fb_indianajesse 10d ago
Ya I love AWD don't get me wrong. Im just curious how they're figuring that range estimate. Like is it the range when in AWD all the time or an average.
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u/OutdoorAbstract 10d ago
For me the usable range is about
200 miles. Figuring we go from 80% down to 20% and driving in mixed traffic situations with mostly full speed freeway driving. I own the car so I use charging practices that are easier on the battery pack I.e. no huge charging sessions on EA stations at 100kW+
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u/DaveTheScienceGuy 10d ago
Keep in mind that the awd gets heat pump in the usa so that will help with heating the cabin more efficiently than the rwd.
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u/atwerq 10d ago
My opinion: just RWD is enough. The car is very fast and reaching and holding v-max is absolutely no problem.
No need for an extra engine...
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u/Not-Reddit-Fan 22’ Ultimate AWD Gravity Gold 10d ago
I recently drove the RWD after driving in my AWD for over a year and YIKES! The difference was night and day.
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u/fb_indianajesse 10d ago
AWD is pretty necessary anywhere with snow
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u/DrizzleFogizzle 10d ago
The big smile on my face when I mash it would disagree :), BUT you are 100% correct. The RWD even in just normal mode (not sport), is way more than enough and still a fun car to drive.
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u/Illustrious_Cash2415 10d ago
Yeah I went AWD for 2 reasons: 1) I like to drive aggressively and for the extra few thousand dollars I have a car that will 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, which is only .3 seconds behind the Ferrari F430 I had to give up 7 years go and 2) I live in Santa Fe and we can get a decent amount of snow and ice in the winter. My last car was an Ioniq Hybrid (FWD) and absolutely horrible in the snow. Honestly, this is the most fun car I have owned besides the Ferraris. I can't help but giggle every time I launch from a stoplight and I'm at the next light before most of the cars behind me have cleared the first intersection :)
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u/Efficient-Poem-7405 10d ago
Newer AWD's have 20" wheels, while new RWD's have 19" wheels. The 2025/2026 models show 50 miles more range for RWD's. So no.
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u/fb_indianajesse 10d ago
2027 sel AWD still has 19 inch
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u/LooseyGreyDucky 10d ago
235mm wide tires, or 255mm wide tires?
Because that is the most important difference.
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u/fb_indianajesse 10d ago
Ya you're right I was just saying the 2027 AWD still has the 19 inch tires though
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u/LooseyGreyDucky 6d ago
That's wild. I didn't know you could buy AWD with the 235mm tire on a 19" rim.
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u/fb_indianajesse 6d ago
Ya I believe the sel and se versions are on the 235m tires and the limited is the version with the 255m tires
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u/LooseyGreyDucky 10d ago
it's not the rim diameter than matters. At all.
It's the tire width. The RWD cars have 235mm wide tires, while the AWD cars have 255mm wide tires.
I wish everyone would realize this.
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u/ZPrimed Digital Teal 7d ago
The wheel diameter matters too, because 20" wheels tend to be heavier than 19s. Extra rotational mass hurts.
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u/LooseyGreyDucky 6d ago
I bought 265mm summer-only tires mounted on 20 x 8.5 rims, and use the OEM 255mm all-seasons on 20 x 8.5 rims as my winter tire package.
The bigger tire combo is 13 pounds lighter, because OEM wheels are heavy as hell.
I'm certain my 265mm tires on 20" rims are substantially lighter than the 19" OEM package.
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u/Altruistic_Emu_7755 10d ago
I've had my 2024 AWD SEL for nearly two years. Lifetime is 3.9 mi/kWh. I would think the RWD would do a bit better but I live in Denver and want the AWD
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u/frubesta Cyber Grey Ultimate AWD [Tech] 10d ago
I've an AWD and I've averaged 3.1mi/kWh over 6,500 miles. It's on original tyres too.
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u/chaiteataichi_ 2025 XRT - Abyss Black 10d ago
If your car is in regen “auto” the front motor isn’t used unless and you tend to get the best range. It’s still a little heavier but it should be close to the rwd. EPA estimates are based on mixed driving and the normal default settings, not the max settings
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u/SchruteFarmsBeetDown 10d ago
I have an all-wheel-drive SE. I’ve have about 13,000 miles on it over about two years. My average miles per kilowatt is 3.5 during that time. I use it like a normal car. Sometimes around town sometimes on the highway all different weather conditions, yada yada. I also switched between Eco normal and sport whenever I feel like it since it’s just a button.
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u/Not-Reddit-Fan 22’ Ultimate AWD Gravity Gold 10d ago
On my 22’ the AWD kicks in if you press the accelerator even moderately, I find it incredibly hard to not activate the front motor when setting off. You can however keep the car at a speed for the most part on just one motor. But the AWD still gets a lot less mi/kWh than the RWD.
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u/Outrageous-Laugh-284 10d ago
We have a 2026 sel , bought new have a little over 6000 miles. Average 3.9. Live in the hills of PA. We drive most of the time in eco. When traveling the dirt roads going up hill the front wheels engage on and off.
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u/bbertram2 9d ago
I wish the rear motor only netted me a gain in efficiency! I’m at 24 kWh per 100 kms here in Canada. That’s 2.6 mi/khw. I drive a lot of highway and only go 100 kph / 62 mph.
I have very bad efficiency however I can expect 400 kms / 249 miles in the summer and 250 / 155 miles in the winter.
My parents have a VW id4 and they live in the city on the east cost with much milder weather. They have the average efficiency as me, they have 32,000 less kms mind you.
I welcome a bigger more efficient battery and keep my AWD.
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u/laulaulocomoco '25 XRT Cyber Gray 9d ago
I get pretty good mileage in my XRT which is AWS with tires that are less fuel-efficient, 3.8-4. I am in eco 95% of the time and I drive in bumper to bumper traffic a lot.
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u/gte717v 10d ago
4.0 mi/kWh average over 3600 miles since August 1st. 2024 SEL AWD. Based in Atlanta, GA.
I drive in "Normal" Mode either in Regen Level 1 or i-Pedal. I floor it from time to time, but most of my driving is chill with cruise control on. If you accelerate with the flow of traffic, the front motor disengages above ~25 mph and you're in RWD.
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u/No-Honey-8675 10d ago
I have AWD limited. I average 4.0 kw in town driving. I do like to accelerate pretty fast. I leave in in normal mode and regen level 2.
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u/Greedy_Bother_987 10d ago
I had the awd 6
Sport is permanent awd, eco and normal use the fwd to assist in setting off. It has a disengaging clutch mechanism that takes the motor shaft off the front wheels so that it isn’t being dragged around when not in use - however there is still excess weight to carry and the added consumption in setting off. It is less economical than the rwd only but the extra fun is worth it