Hyundai Motor's IONIQ 5 electric vehicle is parked at a hotel in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung

Hyundai Motor's IONIQ 5 is reminiscent of typical luxury German vehicles not from the exterior, but from the overall driving performance. That's how I felt throughout a three-day test drive of the flagship electric vehicle (EV) by Korea's top carmaker.

The company has made big strides in the global automotive industry over the past few decades. But many car lovers here have long craved a domestic vehicle that can offer driving experiences as solid and sturdy as German carmakers — such as BMW. Few vehicles with internal combustion engines from Hyundai Motor and Kia have achieved such remarkable progress and won the glory, but this appears not to be the case in the era of the EV.

The flagship EV by Hyundai Motor is a compact SUV, but when it comes to driving performance, it displayed more than enough power output for not just city, but highway drives. The vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in only 5.2 seconds, powered by its strong electric motor and balanced body structure.

One of the most noteworthy upsides of the vehicle is its driving stability, which enabled me to feel little fatigue even during rapid acceleration. The feature was similar to the experiences felt most commonly when driving German luxury vehicles.

The IONIQ 5 is being charged at a station in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung

The well-balanced performance also gave an impression of luxurious driving, as little noise or vibration was felt even during an hours-long drive from Seoul to other surrounding cities — such as Gimpo and Paju. Hyundai Motor's brand-new shock absorbers enabled this. The frequency-sensitive absorbers are used to minimize any unwanted vibrations from the road, allowing drivers to enjoy more smoother driving experiences.

Even if Hyundai Motor also has a high-performance version of IONIQ — the IONIQ 5 N, the powerful torque from the general model was sufficient for daily use.

The rapid charging was another key upside. It took only about 15 minutes for the IONIQ 5's battery to be quick-charged to 80 percent from 20 percent.

The interior of the IONIQ 5 electric vehicle / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung

Many price-conscious customers still consider purchasing the IONIQ 5, as it comes to around 40 million won ($29,000) after receiving a subsidy in Seoul. Few other carmakers offer such a reasonable price range for EVs as well-rounded as the IONIQ 5.

The IONIQ 5 attracts more favorable responses abroad for a number of such upsides. More than 36,700 IONIQ 5 vehicles were sold in the United States last year, which far surpassed the sales record of 16,600 on its home territory. It also accumulated more than 200,000 overseas sales.