2025 US-Built Sports Vehicle Of The Year™: Hyundai Ioniq XRT
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT is so much fun, it made us change the name of one of our awards.
The electric compact SUV is our 2025 US-Built Sports Vehicle Of The YearTM, following the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray that was named 2024 US-Built Sports Car Of The YearTM.
The $57,100 Ioniq 5 XRT is one of the updated 2025 Ioniq 5s that are built at a brand-new factory in Georgia and the model is a recent addition to the lineup. It’s been designed for dirt road driving with a 320 hp all-wheel-drive system, all-terrain tires, a special traction management system, a suspension tuned for bumpy roads and tough-looking bumper covers.
You can slide it around like a rally car all day in the woods without making a sound to disturb the wildlife. It’s a true sport utility vehicle, just not in the traditional sense. It’s also as well-mannered and comfortable as any Ioniq 5 on pavement, and better than the rest if the pavement isn’t very good. Its 259-mile range isn’t the longest in its class, but its 20-minute 10% to 80% charge time is one of the shortest and helps speed up adventure trips.
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Since we mentioned the Corvette, some of you are probably wondering how the Ioniq 5 XRT could’ve won this award in a year when the 233 mph Corvette ZR1 was launched. That’s easy. Chevrolet refused multiple requests for us to test it in time for consideration and we’re not about to bend the rules, even for a 1,064 hp American supercar that costs $175,195. In fact, sometimes can be more … fun.
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