During my two years with the IONIQ 5, I’ve encountered various situations where it was necessary to address certain limitations of the vehicle or simply enhance its comfort. Not all my attempts were successful, but here are my favorites, divided into two categories: the essentials and the little extras for added comfort.
The Essentials
Windshield Wiper
The car’s original wipers were of rather questionable quality. I quickly replaced them with Bosch Icons. After two full years and over 70,000 km, they’re still working just as well.
Car Battery Booster
You've probably heard plenty of stories about dead 12V batteries. When it happens, it’s incredibly frustrating. To avoid waiting for roadside assistance, I always keep a portable charger in the car. If this situation arises, having this device and getting back on the road in a few minutes is a real relief.
*My story: During a road trip, I was sleeping in the car with the doors locked. In the morning, I tried to get out, but the doors wouldn’t open because the 12V battery was dead. I had to crawl my way out through the driver’s door. Luckily, it opens manually! The charger allowed me to restart the car, and everything was back to normal.
Adaptateur V2L
Tout propriétaire de Ioniq 5 devrait avoir un adaptateur V2L. Personnellement, je l’ai utilisé un nombre incalculable de fois. Que ce soit pour alimenter des appareils électriques importants à la maison pendant des pannes de courant, pour installer un stand à café pour les parents lors d’un événement sportif pour enfants, ou pour assurer une source d’électricité lors de mes voyages, c’est vraiment un indispensable.
Useful
Replacing the trunk light with an LED
The light used in the rear trunk is surprisingly out of place compared to the high-tech feel of the IONIQ 5. You have a futuristic car… with a bulb that feels like it’s from another era! I’ve tested several LED bulbs to replace it, but many started flickering after just a few months. So far, only the latest model I tested works perfectly. It’s probably one of the simplest upgrades to make, but it really changes the experience.
12V Adapter
With my iPhone mount, I need two USB ports: one to connect the mount itself, which charges the phone when I place it, and another to connect a permanent cable when I want to physically plug in the phone to activate Apple CarPlay. To have a second USB port near the mount, I use an adapter in the 12V socket. This way, the wiring is almost invisible.
Android computer
To have wireless Apple CarPlay, I use the Carlinkit TBox Plus. It’s an Android mini-computer that, once plugged into the car’s USB Data port, creates a wireless connection between the iPhone (or an Android phone) and the vehicle. This device does much more than just enable wireless Apple CarPlay: it turns the car’s screen into a true touchscreen tablet. You can download any app available on the Google Play Store. Whether it’s for playing games or watching movies on Netflix, everything works perfectly. With the option to insert a SIM card and its built-in GPS chip, you can even use it as a standalone navigation system, separate from the phone. Plus, with its storage space, you can download movies to watch without an internet connection. In short, I haven’t found a setup yet that doesn’t work with this gadget. A great addition!
TeslaTap Mini
This Tesla to J-1772 adapter allows the IONIQ 5 to charge at Tesla Destination Charger stations. Note, I'm not talking about Superchargers, but rather the level 2 Tesla charging stations. The TeslaTap Mini is flawless: it works every time, without fail. You just plug it into the Tesla charger, wait a few seconds, then connect everything to the car.
This adapter has saved me more than once on long trips. When venturing into areas where charging stations are scarce, I consider it an essential accessory. Its price may seem high, but when it's the only option, it’s crucial that it works, and this model has never let me down.
Roof Rack
To install accessories on the roof of the car, roof bars are a must. Personally, I use a Thule system that's perfectly suited for the IONIQ 5. When I need to attach something to the roof, whether it’s a storage box, a bike rack, a camping awning, or even a Starlink system, I install the roof bars. It takes me about twelve minutes, and less than five minutes to remove them. The system is really simple to use.
Note: For those interested in purchasing the roof bars, the solution includes three products. See the list of items at the end of this article.
Tow Hitch
The IONIQ 5 is excellent for towing. I had a 2 x 2-inch tow hitch installed by SRG Trois-Rivières, which also installed the Hyundai cable to activate the trailer's brake lights. This cable also allows the onboard computer to recognize the trailer and adjust the range estimate accordingly. The installation was quick, and the product meets my expectations perfectly. I use it occasionally to tow a small trailer and regularly to transport bikes.
Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner
This device, once plugged into the car's OBD2 port, connects to my phone and provides access to an almost endless amount of information about the car. Whether it's to check the overall battery health, the temperature of the charging port, or any potential error codes, the scanner allows real-time access to this information.
Another use is to transmit all the car's internal data in real time to the ABRP (A Better Route Planner) app. This "hardware/software" combination almost turns the IONIQ 5 into a Tesla in terms of route planning and managing charging stops along the way. The result is impressive.
License Plate Mount
I received a beautiful car, but with a plastic license plate frame, branded with the dealer’s name… what a nightmare! I found a simple, elegant, durable, and quiet solution to install my license plate. This frame, made of sturdy yet flexible plastic, installs in just two minutes. Minimalist, it holds the plate securely while completely eliminating vibrations and metallic noises that would otherwise be heard when closing the hatch forcefully.
Some of the items referenced in this article can be found by following the links below.
Purchased Equipment:
– Windshield wiper https://amzn.to/3Yyq7l0
– NOCO Booster https://amzn.to/3YCWsHf
– V2L Lectron adapter https://ev-lectron.com/products/lectron-v2l-adapter-compatible-with-hyundai-ioniq-5-vehicle-to-load-adapter-power-your-devices-with-your-ioniq-5-black-1-pack?_pos=3&_fid=83f73ec48&_ss=c
– LED light for the trunk https://amzn.to/4eO9Yih
– 12V USB adapter Anker https://amzn.to/3YXFxjZ
– Carlinkit Tbox Plus https://amzn.to/4fzmMJ6
– OBD2 Veepeak https://amzn.to/4faEfIl
– TeslaTap Mini https://amzn.to/48hPzzM
– Tow hitch https://www.srgattacheremorque.com/produit/attache-remorque-srg-de-classe-1-2×2-20085/#sans-installation-1
– Tow hitch cap https://amzn.to/4fDMtIM
– License plate mount https://amzn.to/48CrELB
Rack Thule pour la IONIQ 5 est constitué de 3 items
– Thule WingBar Evo 135cm https://amzn.to/3YIMkgf
– Thule Evo support https://amzn.to/3YfGrah
– Thule Kit for IONIQ 5 https://amzn.to/4dO5uqF
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