Off-road versions of mundane SUVs and CUVs are all the rage. The past few months when I checked out the Chevy Equinox ACTIV and Ford Explorer Tremor, I thought they were both well-executed plays on the standard vehicle. Now Hyundai has jumped into the ring with the IONIQ XRT. Wait, the IONIC? The nicely appointed, mild-mannered electric vehicle can be made into a rugged off-road lumberjack? Well, just like all its cousins from other manufacturers, it can’t take on the intense Moab trails. But it certainly can get you deeper into the woods than you would expect from a mild-mannered electric car, and I am here for it! About the only sacrifice you are making is vehicle range because of the aggressive off-road tires. But otherwise, the IONIQ XRT can tackle terrain while looking cool! Ricky Lao, Director of Product Planning, notes, “The IONIQ 5 XRT is designed to appeal to customers who want to play in the dirt and have all-electric adventures. The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) factory-built IONIQ 5 XRT offers enhanced off-road capability and a more rugged appearance for this Hyundai EV.”
Looking Tough
I wouldn’t have imagined the off-road guise would suit the IONIQ. Not only does it suit it well, but it looks great. The digital camo treatment of the body cladding looks amazing in the bright sunlight, and the red tow hooks up front not only look the part but can defend the front end if anyone tries to smack the IONIC’s bumper parallel parking on tight city streets. The XRT also boasts a more aggressive front and rear design with unique bumpers, stylish side skirts, and a set of dedicated 18-inch aluminum wheels. These features emphasize the model’s heightened capability in the rough stuff, advancements made possible by the XRT’s higher ground clearance and suspension tuning. The suspension lift comes in at 23mm, and the Terrain Drive Modes are available right on the steering wheel. Moreover, it features a 2,700-pound towing capability, which is decent for a smaller SUV. The XRT’s interior cabin creates an immersive driving environment thanks to features including H-Tex seating surfaces with XRT-unique patterning, XRT badging and logos, and a special black headliner. The lack of a conventional transmission makes the cabin open and spacious. I hauled five large guys out into the sticks and we all remained comfortable, even those in the backseat. The XRT badging on the doors looks particularly nice. On the easy-to-use tech front, I loved the clearly defined selector switch for the USB-C outlet for the driver. You can pick whether you want it to just charge or have it connect to the infotainment screen via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. There is a wireless charging pad right on the console next to the cupholders, so your phone has a great spot for the ride.
Power Options
If you choose an IONIQ, there are three electric powertrain options available, built around Hyundai’s E-GMP Electric Global Modular Platform architecture. They all benefit from an 800V electrical architecture, which means fast charging times at the DC charging stations that are able to deliver the current. The entry-level model pairs a 63.0-kWh battery with a rear-mounted motor producing 168 horsepower. Long-range models use an 84.0-kWh battery and a more powerful rear motor producing 225 horsepower. Buyers seeking maximum performance can opt for the dual-motor HTRAC AWD system that combines front and rear electric motors for a total output of 320 horsepower and 446 lb.-ft. of torque. This is what the XRT gets. To help reduce range anxiety and keep the XRT cruising, Hyundai has changed the charging cable to the familiar Tesla NACS-style connector. So, you can fill up at Tesla Supercharger stations quickly and easily.
Safety Check
Usually, EVs come with robust safety suites because the newer layout does not rely on building on legacy ICE vehicle constraints. The IONIQ is no exception. The XRT is loaded with Hyundai SmartSense technologies including Highway Driving Assist 2, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2 with Junction Crossing and Lane Change Detection, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Surround View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist 2, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, Forward Attention Warning, Driver Monitoring System, Advanced Rear Occupant Alert, Smart Cruise Control 2, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. I had time on the highway with the excellent Hyundai Smart Cruise Control that did a great job keeping the lanes. As it is not a mapped system like GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s BlueCruise, it does request you always keep a hand on the steering wheel. You can remove your hands for a moment, but ultimately you are the captain of the car and have more navigation responsibilities. However, there is no monthly fee.
Bose Audio
An electric vehicle exposes all the road noise a car can create with nothing else to drown out the sound. Luckily, Hyundai did a great job selecting the off-road capable Continental tires and I could not detect any unusual loud tire noise. This makes the Bose Audio System extra important. It includes eight speakers: two front door speakers, two tweeters, a center channel, two rear speakers and a subwoofer. It is an improvement over the six-speaker system in the base IONIQ, but midbass and bass are still lacking. But it is a simple system to get more out of with an aftermarket processor and amplification. A dedicated subwoofer would be a very cool upgrade, and there are plenty of places to stash it in the interior without taking up too much space.
All in all, the 2026 Hyundai IONIC XRT was surprisingly good and cool for an electric vehicle. An electric car that can commute, tow and hit the trail on the weekend. There is a penalty in range compared to a comparable IONIQ Limited of approximately 5-8% less, let’s call it a 25-30 mile deficit. But if you can reliably get 250 miles between top-offs, it is comparable to my wife’s Jeep Cherokee. If you can charge by your house it is a no-brainer. Coming in at well under $50K for the package is impressive. Maybe XRT stands for Xtreme Recreational Touring!
