Chasing Vampire Tacos in a Hyundai Ioniq 5

Enjoyable truth: The common American driver logs 33 miles a day, in accordance with the most recent authorities information. So it’s slightly ironic that the notion of vary nervousness persists for contemporary electrical autos (EVs), whose distance per cost now commonly tops 300 miles. For 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 practically 10 instances that day by 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 may see us cowl over 60 miles – practically twice the space the typical motorist travels in a whole day.

Past satiating our starvation, the train would enable us to see if an EV just like the Ioniq 5 may fulfill the wants of converts new to the notion of driving a automobile that’s charged by way of a plug reasonably 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 E-book 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 circumstances. For instance, it would show between 180 and 200 miles to account for variables. Change drive modes, and it instantly adjusts the tally additional, exhibiting extra vary when in Eco mode than when in Sport, for instance.

We had no anxieties in any respect on this respect and had been additionally comforted within the data that EV chargers surrounded our lunch spot, ought to we want 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 received 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 report to name it my favourite EV, and have really helpful it to numerous buddies, whether or not they’re looking for their first electrical automobile or their subsequent.

The Ioniq 5 bursts with lovely 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 excess of skin-deep. Its angular exterior interprets to an open, ethereal cabin with numerous nifty touches comparable to a sliding heart console and a space-saving twistable steering wheel-mounted stalk that controls the transmission. Tech is fashionable 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 techniques. 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. Meaning turning on the heated seats and heated steering wheel occurs with the press of a button, reasonably 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 continues to be true with the most recent mannequin. In case you’ve by no means pushed an EV earlier than, put together to be elated. Not like a automobile with a combustion engine, electrical autos have lightning-fast impulses. Hit the accelerator pedal, and it’s like turning on a lightweight change.

Acceleration is speedy and thrilling. Our dual-motor all-wheel-drive take a look at mannequin packs 320 horsepower. These looking for 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 superb Freeway Driving Help 2 system enabled and our anticipation to chunk into vampire tacos in full impact, we shortly and simply made it to our vacation spot, a taqueria housed inside the hangar-like LBX Change.

Satisfying Expertise

Nobody appears to know the way or why vampire tacos acquired their identify, however consuming them is an admittedly messy, albeit pleasurable expertise. They’ll 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 automobile.

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