2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was a vehicle that exuded rugged charm, albeit with some design quirks. The Defender 90 appeared somewhat stubby, while the 130 seemed to carry excessive visual mass over its rear wheels. The 110 four-door model struck a balance, offering a sweet spot in design. Despite these peculiarities, all models maintained an appealingly rugged aesthetic, with Land Rover providing a plethora of customization options. The base prices ranged from $58,525 for a 90 without options to $120,525 for a 130 V8, including the destination charge. The Defender OCTA, available only as a 110, was priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, came with a price tag of $106,092, including destination, and featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology. The interior boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with an industrial theme that emphasized quality materials over luxury.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta but standing out uniquely on modern roads. The mid-cycle refresh brought subtle changes to the lower front fascia, maintaining the iconic “Parametric Pixel” headlights and taillights, round wheel arches, and high rear spoiler. The new XRT trim was easily recognizable with red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding featuring a “digital camouflage” pattern. Exclusive colors like Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl were introduced, along with new wheel designs. The interior remained minimalistic and modern, with minor changes enhancing functionality. The XRT trim added a rugged touch with its dark interior and all-weather floor mats. Overall, the Ioniq 5 continued to impress with its unique styling and thoughtful design updates.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's performance was marked by its turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, one of four powertrain options. This engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system, delivered 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport and manual shift modes connected to a standard all-wheel-drive system, featuring a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X, with this drivetrain, accelerated to 60 mph in a claimed 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road capabilities. Despite its prowess off-road, the Defender 130 was primarily driven on pavement during testing, where it handled suburban environments with ease. However, its 5,685-pound curb weight and 20-inch wheels made it less agile on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy was lower than expected, with an observed 16.2 mpg compared to the 19 mpg on the window sticker.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT, while not designed for rock crawling, offered a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, cycling through Snow, Mud, and Sand options. These modes adjusted throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The XRT handled loose sand surfaces admirably, allowing for controlled slippage. The Ioniq 5's AWD models featured dual motors, producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The RWD models offered 168 to 225 horsepower, depending on the battery choice. The Ioniq 5's range varied, with the AWD XRT offering 259 miles on a single charge. The electric vehicle's instant torque provided a fun driving experience, despite its weight exceeding 4,000 pounds.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered spacious seating across three rows, though getting in and out required effort due to its height. The front seats were 12-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, providing excellent comfort. Visibility was outstanding, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The panoramic sunroof and large windows created an open and airy feel. Storage space was plentiful in the front, but less accommodating for passengers' belongings in the rear. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated, with adjustable armrests. The third-row seat was roomy and comfortable, even for adults. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, with a high load floor. Cargo space was limited behind the third row but expanded significantly with seats folded.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper. The interior featured a movable center console with fore-and-aft cupholders and a wireless charging pad. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilation and driver’s seat memory available on the Limited trim. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, offering generous legroom and headroom. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with rear seats up, expanding to 58.5 cubic feet with them folded. The Ioniq 5's transition to the North American Charging System allowed access to Tesla's Supercharger network, enhancing charging convenience.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, configurable digital driver display, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's response to inputs and voice commands had improved, offering a more intuitive user experience. The Meridian premium sound system impressed, and additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and surround-view camera system. The Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system, enhancing the Defender's practicality.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its dual 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and digital instrumentation, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the Bose Premium Audio system was available on higher trims. The Ioniq 5 offered standard navigation, dynamic voice recognition, and multiple USB-C ports. The Limited trim included a head-up display, and the wireless charging pad was available from the SEL trim level.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came equipped with several driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its high safety standards, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA. New safety features included an enhanced driver attention system and parking-distance warnings. Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 were available, with the latter offering lane-changing capability and machine learning for improved performance.