Hyundai IONIQ 5 Holds Its Ground: 31,000+ Units Sold Through September 2026

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 may not be lighting up the sales charts the way it once did, but it remains one of the strongest electric nameplates in the US market. Through the first nine months of 2026, Hyundai moved 31,112 units of its angular electric crossover, according to figures reported by Electrek. That represents a 24% decline compared to the same period a year earlier, when the $7,500 federal EV tax credit was still in play, but it’s a far better showing than many of its rivals have managed since the incentive disappeared.

The third quarter was particularly tough for EVs across the board as buyers had rushed to claim the credit before it expired. Hyundai sold 2,928 IONIQ 5s in Q3, a steep 65% drop from the 8,400+ units from Q3 2025. Yet even with that contraction, the IONIQ 5 is comfortably outselling General Motors’ Chevy Equinox EV, which cratered 92% year over year in Q3 with just 1,902 units moved. Through September, Equinox EV sales totaled 18,154 — roughly 13,000 fewer than Hyundai’s offering.

Hyundai has been proactive in addressing the slowdown. After the tax credit lapsed, the automaker slashed prices on the 2026 IONIQ 5 by as much as $9,800 on certain trims, a move that has helped keep the model competitive. The 2027 lineup continues that value push, with the entry-level SE Standard Range starting at$35,250 and delivering 245 miles of range. Step up to the SE RWD extended-range variant for $37,750 and you get 318 miles of range — a$2,500 premium that many shoppers will find worthwhile. The lineup tops out with the Limited Dual Motor AWD at $49,125 and 269 miles of range.

The IONIQ 5 still has a comfortable lead over Toyota’s revamped bZ electric SUV, which has surged in popularity since its late-2025 update but has accumulated just under 25,000 sales through September. Both models start around the $35,000 mark, offer 300-plus miles of range on certain trims and feature NACS charging ports. The bZ leans more toward a conventional SUV experience, while the IONIQ 5 counters with quicker charging, sharper performance and a more technology-forward interior — a distinction that continues to resonate with buyers even in a tougher incentive-free landscape.