We Took the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT Rally Racing in Georgia Sand
Silty sand, deep ruts, and a stopwatch. That is how I spent part of a trip with Hyundai just outside Savannah, Georgia, where the automaker turned me loose in the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT on a timed rally course. The same trip took me inside the Metaplant, where every IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 is produced and gets a hands-on quality check before it heads to a dealer. Holli and I have driven the XRT before, but only on a mellow dirt road. This time, I had carte blanche to see what the most adventurous IONIQ 5 can really do.
Three Laps on a Silty Georgia Rally Course
Before chasing a lap time, I pressed the Terrain Mode button on the bottom of the steering wheel. The XRT offers Snow, Mud, and Sand settings on top of the usual Eco, Normal, and Sport drive modes, and Sand was the obvious pick. It allows a little more wheel slip so you keep your momentum, because anyone who has driven on a beach knows that coming to a full stop in deep sand is how you get bogged down.
My first lap was a sighting lap to learn the course, and it showed. The sand was loose, the ruts were deep, and the XRT stepped sideways more than once. After the water truck made its pass, I picked up the pace. Here is how my three timed laps shook out:
- Lap one: 61.336 seconds
- Lap two: 55.032 seconds
- Lap three: 55.322 seconds
That second lap shaved a little more than six seconds off my first, and my final run landed within three tenths of it. I knew exactly where I lost time: the deep, silty corners where I pushed too hard, bogged down, and drove outside my limits. I cleaned up that corner on the last lap, then promptly gave the time back later on the course. If I could stitch my best sections together, I would have a lap to be proud of. No world records were set, but I had an absolute blast.
What Makes the XRT Different From Other IONIQ 5 Trims
The XRT is the more rugged take on an EV that was never designed as an off-roader from the start. According to the 2026 IONIQ 5 specifications from Hyundai, here is what sets it apart:
- A 23mm (nearly 1-inch) suspension lift with unique tuning
- Minimum ground clearance of 7.0 inches, compared with 6.1 inches on other trims
- A 19.8-degree approach angle and 30.0-degree departure angle, up from 17.5 and 25.4 degrees
- XRT-exclusive front and rear fascias with extra cladding
- Exclusive 18-inch wheels wrapped in 235/60R18 all-terrain tires
- Terrain Mode Select with Snow, Mud, and Sand settings
- Dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) making 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque
That extra clearance is the real win. On a rally course, or more realistically on the dirt road to a campsite, you spend less time worrying about scraping and more time just driving. Still, a large battery pack lives under the floor, so the lift is not a license to get reckless. Protect the underside and pick your lines carefully.
Visibility is the other thing to plan around. I could not see the end of the hood, so the quick-access camera button and Surround View Monitor became my extra set of eyes. In my experience, Hyundai limits those camera views above low speeds, so they help most when you are creeping through an obstacle. It is a good reminder of why the Ford Bronco has trail sights on its front corners. A boxy design is functional, not just a look.
Instant Torque Makes Off-Roading Feel Binary
The most interesting lesson from the course was how the accelerator felt almost binary. In a turbocharged gas engine, power swells as boost builds. Here, the instant torque of the electric motors hits that silty sand all at once, and lifting off feels like there is nothing there at all. It is either on or off.
Weight is the other factor. EVs are heavy, and on my sighting lap that mass carried more momentum into a corner than I wanted. That was more driver error than car error, but it is worth keeping in mind before you try anything wild in a heavy EV.
Once you wrap your head around that behavior, the payoff is clear. A professional driver (more so than my professional amateurism) could get a lot out of having torque the instant you ask for it. Between the AWD system and the all-terrain tires, traction was never really the problem. That changed only when the sand got so deep that my weight and momentum carried me right through it.
Inside the Metaplant Quality Check
The off-road fun was only half the trip. Hyundai also gave us our first look at the quality control process every IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 goes through before it leaves Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and we even took a car around the plant test track ourselves.
Riding shotgun was Tammy, one of the quality control team members who signs off on these vehicles. Her checklist is thorough:
- Check the cargo area for anything loose and confirm the liftgate buttons work
- Push on the seats to make sure they are secure
- Run every window and every mirror function: up, down, left, and right
- Confirm the steering wheel is secure
- Test the wipers, making sure the front wiper never hits the A-pillar, then check the rear
- Set up the lane assist, which should vibrate the wheel, nudge the car back into its lane, and sound an alert
- Tune through FM, AM, and SiriusXM (only one AM station comes in at the track)
- Verify the cameras, parking sensors, and hill hold
Then comes the track, a manufactured course of twists, turns, and bumps built to expose noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). I would kill for a test road like this back home. In Tyler, our family uses the old brick streets downtown to check ride quality, but this is the purpose-built version.
Tammy prefers driving the IONIQ 9 through the course, thanks to its higher seating position and the smoother ride that comes with more weight and a longer wheelbase.
Hyundai Is Betting Big on the Greater Savannah Area
The Metaplant sits in Ellabell, Georgia, about 20 miles outside historic Savannah. An IONIQ 5 was the first vehicle off the line on Oct. 3, 2024, and the plant celebrated its grand opening on March 26, 2025, according to Hyundai Motor Group. A few numbers stand out:
- $12.6 billion invested in Georgia across the Metaplant and battery joint ventures with LG Energy Solution and SK On, the largest single investment in state history
- Initial capacity of 300,000 vehicles a year, with plans to grow to 500,000
- A goal of 8,500 jobs at the plant by 2031
- Assembly shop automation nearly double that of Hyundai Motor Group’s existing plants, plus a Boston Dynamics Spot robot handling exterior quality inspection in the weld shop
Both the IONIQ 5 and the three-row IONIQ 9 come out of this facility. For more on where your next family vehicle is built, check out our American-made cars coverage.
The Latest IONIQ 5 Updates and Charging
Outside of the XRT, not a lot has changed with the IONIQ 5 over the years, and that is a good thing. The latest updates bring new wheel designs, a rear wiper (finally), a NACS charging port on the rear passenger-side quarter, and a larger, slightly more efficient 84.0-kWh battery on most trims.
The XRT carries an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range, a bit less than the 290 miles of the SE AWD or the 269 miles of the Limited AWD, per Hyundai USA. Here is how charging breaks down:
- DC fast charging from 10% to 80% in as little as 20 minutes on a 350-kW charger
- A NACS port for access to more than 25,000 Tesla Superchargers, plus an included CCS adapter for networks like Electrify America
- Level 2 home charging from 10% to 100% in about 7 hours and 20 minutes
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability to power camping gear, tools, and electronics
Hyundai owners also have extra perks on the road, like the Hyundai IONNA charging discount. If you are adding Level 2 charging at home, our channel sponsor Lectron makes a great option. Get your Lectron EV charger here.
Disclosure: GT: Garage Talk may earn a commission on purchases made through the Lectron link above.
Final Thoughts on the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT
If you could not tell by the look on my face in the video, I had a blast on this track. The fact that an EV never designed as an off-roader could do what the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT did out there is a testament to what Hyundai has going. Most owners will never run a rally stage, but they will see gravel roads, campsites, and beach access, and that extra clearance gives you the confidence to go.
At $46,275 before destination, the XRT slots just below the Limited AWD. For families who want an EV with a little more adventure in its DNA, it is an easy one to like.
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2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT Specs
Powertrain
- Dual Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motors (74 kW + 165 kW)
- 320 Horsepower
- 446 lb-ft of Torque
- 84.0-kWh Lithium-Ion Battery (697V)
Drivetrain
- HTRAC All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
- Single-Speed Reduction Gear
- Drive Modes: Eco, Normal, Sport
- Terrain Modes: Snow, Mud, Sand
Range and Charging
- EPA-Estimated Range: 259 Miles
- 800V Architecture With Up to 350-kW DC Fast Charging
- DC Fast Charge 10% to 80%: As Little as 20 Minutes
- Level 2 Charge 10% to 100%: About 7 Hours, 20 Minutes
- 10.9-kW Onboard Charger
- NACS Charge Port With Included CCS Adapter
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)
Suspension and Chassis
- MacPherson Strut Front Suspension
- Five-Link Rear Suspension
- 23mm Suspension Lift With Unique Tuning
- Minimum Ground Clearance: 7.0 Inches
- Approach Angle: 19.8 Degrees
- Departure Angle: 30.0 Degrees
Wheels and Tires
- 18×7.5-Inch XRT-Exclusive Alloy Wheels
- 235/60R18 All-Terrain Tires
- Tire Mobility Kit
Towing
- Up to 2,700 Pounds With Trailer Brakes (XRT With Tow Hitch)
Dimensions and Cargo
- Wheelbase: 118.1 Inches
- Length: 183.3 Inches
- Width: 74.4 Inches
- Height: 64.0 Inches
- Cargo Behind Rear Seats: 26.3 Cubic Feet
- Cargo With Rear Seats Folded: 58.5 Cubic Feet
- Front Trunk: 0.85 Cubic Feet
Interior and Technology
- H-Tex Seating Surfaces With XRT Debossing
- Heated 8-Way Power Front Seats
- Sliding, Reclining 60/40 Rear Bench
- 12.3-Inch Touchscreen With Navigation
- 12.3-Inch Digital Instrument Cluster
- Bose Premium Audio With 8 Speakers
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 15W Wireless Phone Charger
- Hyundai Digital Key 2
Driver Assistance and Safety
- Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2)
- Surround View Monitor
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Remote Smart Parking Assist 2
- Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (Reverse, Forward, Side)
- Advanced Rear Occupant Alert
Warranty
- 5-Year/60,000-Mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty
- 10-Year/100,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty
- 10-Year/100,000-Mile EV Battery Warranty
- 5-Year/Unlimited-Mile Roadside Assistance
Pricing
| Trim | Starting MSRP |
|---|---|
| SE Standard Range RWD | $35,000 |
| SE RWD | $37,500 |
| SEL RWD | $39,800 |
| SE AWD | $41,000 |
| SEL AWD | $43,300 |
| Limited RWD | $45,075 |
| XRT AWD | $46,275 |
| XRT AWD With Tow Hitch | $46,725 |
| Limited AWD | $48,975 |
