Hyundai’s New IONIQ V Looks Kind of Like a Cybertruck for Normal People

Hyundai recently announced a new EV that looks like a less dirty Cybertruck, and it’s a lot more practical than Tesla’s upcoming two-seat Cybercab.

The Korean automaker today unveiled the IONIQ V at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. The new EV, with the distinctive single-curve silhouette, is part of Hyundai’s effort to revive its EV business in China. It is the first model of Hyundai’s IONIQ EV lineup available in China, as well as the first dedicated IONIQ production vehicle built specifically for the Chinese market.

The car comes as Hyundai’s sales in China struggle amid intense local competition. In 2024, the company sold only 125,726 vehicles in the country. Meanwhile, BYD consolidated its dominance by becoming the world’s largest EV seller after delivering more than 2 million electric vehicles globally in the same year.

“China is an essential market for Hyundai Motor Company. It has the world’s most demanding EV consumers, the fastest development cycles, the deepest battery supply chain and an advanced innovation ecosystem. That’s why we are reducing our commitment to China by three times,” Jose Munoz, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said in a press release.

This car is the first step in Hyundai’s big EV comeback plan for China. The automaker and its local partner, BAIC Group, committed a combined 8 billion yuan (about $1.2 billion) to their Beijing Hyundai joint venture under an agreement reached in December 2024.

The IONIQ V is the first of 20 new models that Hyundai plans to introduce in China over the next five years. The company is also aiming to reach 500,000 annual vehicle sales in the market.

Hyundai says the long-range version of the IONIQ V will offer a driving range of more than 600 km (about 372 miles) under China’s CLTC testing standard. That’s not bad, but it still lags behind some high-end Chinese EVs. For example, BYD’s premium brand Denza recently unveiled the Z9 GT with an estimated range of more than 1,000 km (about 644 miles).

Inside, Hyundai is pushing a minimalist, screen-heavy design. The IONIQ V largely abandons physical controls in favor of a 27-inch ultra-thin 4K panoramic display. It also ditches the traditional instrument cluster and relies on a head-up display instead. This approach contrasts with some automakers that are starting to bring back physical buttons, but it’s still not as over-the-top as BMW’s recently announced 7 Series EV, which is loaded with screens, including one that extends across the bottom of the windshield.

Still, despite those few shortcomings, the IONIQ V’s unique exterior design will undoubtedly turn some heads. Unfortunately, you will only be able to get it in China right now.