Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Renault Scenic E-Tech

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 runs an 800-volt architecture that peaks at 240kW on a DC fast charger and completes a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in about 18 minutes. The Renault Scenic E-Tech uses a 400-volt system, so it peaks at 130kW on the EV60 and 150kW on the EV87, and a 15 to 80 per cent charge takes roughly 32 to 37 minutes. The two quote different charge windows, so the minutes are not a strict like-for-like, but the architecture gap is real and it matters most on a long trip, where the Hyundai spends noticeably less time plugged in. Both charge at around 10 to 11kW on home AC, enough to refill overnight.

The Scenic EV87 goes furthest, at a claimed 625km. In Techno Long Range or Esprit Alpine form the Renault takes that WLTP figure from its 87kWh battery, the longest of any small electric SUV here. The entry Scenic Techno EV60, though, claims only 430km from its smaller 60kWh pack. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 runs the same big battery across every grade, so it claims 570km in base rear-drive form, 530km for the Elite, and 495km for the dual-motor N Line Premium. So the Ioniq 5 comfortably out-ranges the base Scenic EV60, but the Scenic EV87 out-ranges every Ioniq 5. Real-world range on both lands below the claims, as it does for all EVs.

The Scenic E-Tech is the cheaper car to buy however you measure it, but the headline figures are not like-for-like. As of October 2026 the Renault opens at $55,990 before on-road costs, while the Hyundai's $70,990 is a drive-away offer, running to 31 December 2026, that already includes on-road costs. On a matched before-on-roads basis the Ioniq 5's recommended list price is $68,200, so the Renault undercuts it by around $12,000; on a matched drive-away basis the gap is similar once the Scenic's on-road costs are added. Either way the Scenic is the value choice at the entry point, but check the drive-away figure for your postcode before you bank the full saving.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 carries a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty against the Renault Scenic E-Tech's five years and 100,000km, the clearest ownership difference and one that favours the Hyundai, especially for high-kilometre drivers. Both cover the battery for eight years and 160,000km, and both offer capped-price servicing on a 30,000km interval. Energy use is close: the Ioniq 5 RWD claims 160.4Wh/km and the Scenic 163Wh/km, so running costs on home electricity are similar. The Renault does include five years of roadside assistance to the Hyundai's two. On the whole the Ioniq 5 leads on warranty peace of mind, while day-to-day energy and servicing costs are broadly level.

The Renault Scenic E-Tech holds the larger boot despite being the shorter car, at 545 litres with the seats up and 1,670 litres folded, against the Hyundai Ioniq 5's 520 and 1,580 litres. The Ioniq 5 answers with outright size: it is 4,655mm long on a 3,000mm wheelbase, against the Scenic's 4,470mm and 2,785mm, so rear-seat and overall cabin space favour the Hyundai, and its rear-drive grades add a 57-litre front boot the Renault lacks. Both run flat floors and five seats, and AU reviews single out the Scenic's clever rear-seat storage. For maximum boot the Scenic leads; for stretch-out cabin room the Ioniq 5 does.

Both cars carry a maximum five-star ANCAP rating, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 from 2021 testing and the Renault Scenic E-Tech from 2022, and both ratings are current. The sub-scores split the decision. The Scenic is stronger for child occupant protection at 92 per cent against the Ioniq 5's 87, and for vulnerable road users at 77 per cent against 63. The Ioniq 5 edges the safety-assist score at 89 per cent against 85, and matches the Scenic on adult occupant protection at 88. Both come with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera as standard. AU reviews rate the Renault's driver-assist calibration as the less intrusive of the two.

For a first electric car, the Ioniq 5 is the safer long-term bet: its 800-volt charging takes the stress out of road trips, and the seven-year warranty reassures on unfamiliar technology. It is also the bigger car inside. The Scenic E-Tech counters with the larger boot, the stronger child-occupant safety score here, clever rear-seat storage and a lower entry price. If your family does regular longer drives and you want charging headroom, lean Hyundai. If cargo space and buying price lead your list, the Scenic Techno Long Range covers the practical bases for less. Both are genuinely family-friendly five-seaters, so the call comes down to charging speed against boot and budget.

The Ioniq 5 is the stronger road-trip tool. Its 800-volt architecture and 240kW peak mean a 10 to 80 per cent charge in about 18 minutes, so stops stay short even on a long day. The Scenic E-Tech's 400-volt system peaks at 150kW on the EV87 and needs 32 to 37 minutes for a 15 to 80 per cent top-up. The Scenic's trump card is the EV87's 625km claimed range, which means fewer stops in theory, but in practice the Ioniq 5's much faster charging usually claws back more time than the extra range saves. For frequent long-distance driving the Hyundai is the more relaxed companion, provided you can live with its higher price.

On pure buying value the Renault Scenic E-Tech leads. The Techno Long Range EV87 at $59,990 before on-road costs pairs the full 625km range with a 545-litre boot and the same safety and cabin tech as the flagship, undercutting the Ioniq 5 on any basis. The Hyundai's value argument is different: it asks more up front but returns a longer warranty, much faster charging and a bigger cabin, which can be worth the premium for the right buyer. If the lowest sensible price with long range is the goal, the Scenic Techno Long Range is the pick. If charging speed and warranty cover earn their keep for you, the Ioniq 5 justifies its premium.