Geely E5 EM-i vs Hyundai IONIQ 5

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Discontinued model
Geely E5 EM-i in South Africa

Geely E5 EM-i

Apex Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 679,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 73 kW 🔧 125 Nm
VS
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Discontinued model
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Geely E5 EM-i vs Hyundai IONIQ 5: the short answer

IONIQ 5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over E5 EM-i.

Recorded price context E5 EM-i: current from ZAR 599,999 · IONIQ 5: last listed from ZAR 859,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification E5 EM-i IONIQ 5
Maximum Power E5 EM-i73 kW IONIQ 5225 kW
Maximum Torque E5 EM-i125 Nm IONIQ 5605 Nm
Engine Size E5 EM-i1499 cc IONIQ 5Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy E5 EM-iNot Officially Disclosed IONIQ 5Not Applicable
Ground Clearance E5 EM-iNot Officially Disclosed IONIQ 5160 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Hyundai IONIQ 5 72kWh AWD Executive

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

E5 EM-i

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

E5 EM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

IONIQ 5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec E5 EM-i IONIQ 5
Model Introduced Year 2025 2022
Generation Current South African model / exact generation number not separately published First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers
Facelift History No applicable South African facelift history established Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch
Facelift Launched Since Not Applicable 2022
Facelift Version Ending Not Applicable Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status active Not confirmed
Segment Passenger vehicle Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg - 2190 kg
Spec E5 EM-i IONIQ 5
Length 4740 mm 4635 mm
Width 1905 mm 1890 mm
Height 1685 mm 1605 mm
Wheelbase 2755 mm 3000 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) Not Officially Disclosed 160 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l 72.6 l
Boot/Cargo Space 528 l 527 l
Kerb Weight 1770 kg 2190 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Seating Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 5 seats
Number of Rows Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Doors Not Officially Disclosed 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed

In depth: how these cars differ

This E5 EM-i and IONIQ 5 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: E5 EM-i 39 vs IONIQ 5 100.

Efficiency index: E5 EM-i 79 vs IONIQ 5 90.

Safety-equipment index: E5 EM-i 91 vs IONIQ 5 98.

Practicality index: E5 EM-i 74 vs IONIQ 5 70.

Ownership-cover index: E5 EM-i not separately scored vs IONIQ 5 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 16 points

IONIQ 5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over E5 EM-i.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 16 points
Data 75% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

IONIQ 5

75% source coverage 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 98
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 16 points
70
#2

E5 EM-i

51% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 79
Safety 91
Practicality 74
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance IONIQ 5 +61 Efficiency IONIQ 5 +11 Safety IONIQ 5 +7 Practicality E5 EM-i +4

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

E5 EM-i

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 79/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 74/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai IONIQ 5 leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 70 pts for E5 EM-i

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, IONIQ 5 leads. However, E5 EM-i may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South African models and comparable body styles.

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VS
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E5 EM-i vs IONIQ 5 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.