Electric crossovers are all the range. As EVs have become increasingly popular, a large portion of carmakers seem to have focused on crossover-sized cars. Sure, they’ll often market these as SUVs, but they’re actually smaller than what most people think of when they think of an SUV — and as such, they’re better thought of as crossovers instead. Two of the most popular of these crossovers are the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 — but recently, Tesla unveiled a revamped version of the Model Y that it calls the Model Y Juniper.
Given the Tesla redesign, is one of these EVs better than the other? To be sure, neither of the two cars are bad options — but one of them does have a slight edge. We put the two cars head –to-head to find out which one is actually best.
Design
The first thing you’ll notice about these two cars is their design. They’re both relatively unique compared to cars from other manufacturers, though perhaps not as much when compared to cars from the same manufacturer.
Much of the hype around the new Tesla Model Y comes from changes in its design. To be clear, it still looks much like other Tesla vehicles (except the Cybertruck), but it trades out the distinct headlights for a three-part light bar along the front, along with another light bar on the rear as a taillight.
The Ioniq 5 looks unique too though. Hyundai has been making use of its new pixel aesthetic, which exudes a 1980s design sensibility — in all the best ways. It still looks modern too, thanks to the sleek, angular lines along the side and the long stretches of lights on the back.
Ultimately, design comes down to personal preference. Both cars look sleek and modern, and this one’s a tie.
Winner: Tie
Interior and tech
The design sensibilities from the exterior of the car are apparent on the inside too. Both have highly functional interiors, but they look and feel quite different.
Like the exterior, the interior of the Tesla Model Y is quite minimalistic. Step inside and you’ll see few controls and buttons — the vast majority of functions are accessed through the display at the front of the car, including things like climate controls. Some people may not like this approach — after all, physical buttons and knobs are easy to use without having to look at them when you’re driving. For the Model Y Juniper, Tesla has added additional LED accent lighting along with a secondary display for the second-row passengers. Currently, we only know of two-row versions of the Model Y Juniper, though given the fact that previous versions of the Model Y had an option for three rows, we would expect an option for a three-row Model Y Juniper at some point.
For those who want a little more in the way of physical controls, there’s the Ioniq 5. Now, to be clear, you’ll still access many of the Ioniq 5’s features through the display at the front. But at least the climate controls are available through capacitive buttons underneath the screen. That screen supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, unlike the Tesla, which relies solely on its own infotainment system.
Other aspects of the cars’ interiors are slightly different too. The Model Y has a little more cargo space than the Ioniq 5, with 30.2 cubic feet, compared to the 27.2 cubic feet for the Hyundai. That’s not to mention the additional space that you’ll get from the large frunk in the Model Y. The seat materials are also a little different — a vegan leather in the Tesla, compared to a fabric cover in the Hyundai.
This one’s also subjective. If you like minimalism, you’ll prefer the Tesla — and while Tesla’s built-in infotainment software is better, the Ioniq 5 supports Android Auto and CarPlay, which will appeal to those who want deeper integration with their phones.
Winner: Tie
Performance
The Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 both benefit from that immediate power that you get from modern electric cars — but they don’t perform exactly the same.
Performance is also where things like a little unclear when it comes to the Tesla Model Y Juniper. That’s because of the fact that the Model Y Juniper is only available in a special launch edition all-wheel-drive variant in the U.S. The rear-wheel drive model is available in China though — so while the 0-60 mph times are actually o-62 mph (in China, acceleration is 0-100 kilometers per hour), we can get somewhat of an idea of the performance of the vehicle.
In China, the Model Y Juniper RWD can reach 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, while the AWD variant in the U.S. hits 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, which is pretty quick. There’s no word yet on a Performance variant of the Model Y Juniper.
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is pretty quick too though. Unfortunately, it doesn’t advertise 0-60 times for all of the different trims, but Car And Driver does note that the all-wheel drive Ioniq 5 reaches 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. And, on top of the standard Ioniq 5 models, the vehicle is available in a performance version called the Ioniq 5 N, which Hyundai says can reach 60 mph in only 3.3 seconds.
Both the Model Y Juniper and the Ioniq 5 will be available in RWD and AWD variants, but while we certainly expect a performance variant of the Model Y Juniper, we don’t yet know quite how well it will perform against the Ioniq 5 N. The previous-generation Model Y hit 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds, so an even faster one will likely be pretty close to the Ioniq 5 N — but for now, this category goes to Hyundai.
Winner: Hyundai Ioniq 5
Range and charging
Range and charging specifications are a little different between these two cars too. That said, it’s also another somewhat confusing category for the Model Y Juniper. That’s because of the fact China’s CLTC is a little more relaxed when it comes to rating vehicle ranges than the EPA here in the U.S. — so while we know that the CLTC rates the Model Y Juniper RWD as offering 593 km (368 miles) of range, it likely won’t quite hit that here in the U.S. The Launch Edition New Model Y being sold in the U.S. offers 320 miles of range.
The Ioniq 5 can’t match those numbers, though certain models get very close. The base model of the Ioniq 5, called the Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range, offers 245 miles, however, the other models have a range of either 290 miles or 318 miles, depending on whether you get the all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive model.
The Ioniq 5 may not have as long of a range as the Tesla, but it does charge quicker. The Ioniq 5 offers a charging speed of 350kW, which can get it charged up to 80% in only 18 minutes. That’s very impressive. The Tesla Model Y doesn’t charge slowly though — it offers a charging speed of 250kW, so you’ll still be able to get 50% of charge in 15 minutes, which isn’t bad. New for 2025, the Ioniq 5 comes with the Tesla NACS charging port, allowing Ioniq 5 owners to charge at Superchargers. Keep in mind, Superchargers won’t offer those 350kW charging speeds just yet, though they might in the future.
The base model of the Ioniq 5 has a much lower range than the Model Y, but it also charges faster than the Tesla. This category is a tie.
Winner: Tie
Pricing and availability
Last but not least is pricing and availability. The 2025 Ioniq 5 is available right now, however while there is a version of the Model Y Juniper available in the U.S., it’s a special edition version that will cost you. If you want a Model Y Juniper, you’ll have to pay a relatively expensive $59,990.
The Ioniq 5, on the other hand, starts at $42,500 for the Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range. For now, this category goes to Hyundai, though that may change as more variants of the Model Y Juniper become available.
Winner: Hyundai Ioniq 5
Overall winner: Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an excellent car, with a supercool design and great features, and for now, it gets the win. That said, the Model Y Juniper is still early in its rollout — and once standard versions of the Model Y Juniper become available, it’ll likely win some of the categories above. If you do want a Tesla Model Y right now, it’s worth considering the previous-generation version. If not, however, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an excellent vehicle.
