Hyundai’s Electric SUV Finds Some Footing, With IONIQ 5 Sales Topping 33,000 in 2026

Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 is finding its footing in a difficult year for electric cars, with sales of the electric SUV topping 33,000 in 2026. The number stands out because the wider US EV market has cooled sharply since federal tax credits expired, with EV share of retail sales settling near 6% and several brands reporting steep year-over-year declines.

The IONIQ 5’s appeal is easy to explain. It offers fast charging, distinctive retro-futuristic styling, a roomy interior, and pricing that undercuts many rivals — and Hyundai has kept incentives flowing while other brands pulled back. It is also built on the same E-GMP platform as the Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60, giving Hyundai scale advantages its competitors lack.

The 33,000 figure is a milestone, not a victory lap. Hyundai still needs the IONIQ 5 — and its upcoming siblings — to carry the brand through a market where hybrids are currently outselling EVs by a wide margin. But in a year when many electric models are going backwards, a 33,000-unit pace is evidence that the right EV at the right price still sells.