Hyundai IONIQ 5 becomes first electric car crowned Auto Express Used Car of the Year
- IONIQ 5 named overall Used Car of the Year 2026, the first electric car ever to take the title
- TUCSON crowned Best Used Mid-Size SUV, building on four consecutive Mid-Size SUV wins in the Auto Express New Car Awards
- Judges praise the IONIQ 5’s design, space, technology and value, with used examples now available from a little over £13,000
Press material
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 has made history at the 2026 Auto Express Used Car Awards, becoming the first electric car ever to be named overall Used Car of the Year.
The IONIQ 5 also claimed the Best Used Electric Car title, while the Hyundai TUCSON was named Best Used Mid-Size SUV, making Hyundai the most successful manufacturer at this year’s awards.
Auto Express is one of the UK’s leading car news and reviews titles, both in print and online. Its Used Car Awards identify the best second-hand buys across 13 categories, from city cars to large SUVs, with the judges weighing up how each model was rated when new, real-world feedback from owners through the Auto Express Driver Power survey, and how used values have held up. Five category winners are then shortlisted and ranked to decide the overall Used Car of the Year.
Launched a little over five years ago, the IONIQ 5 has already been named overall Car of the Year by Auto Express when new, in 2021. Its success in the Used Car Awards confirms its appeal endures, with the judges highlighting its distinctive, concept car-inspired design, as well as its spacious and technology-rich cabin.
Every version of the IONIQ 5 comfortably exceeds 200 miles of range, with later models capable of more than 300 miles on a single charge. Thanks to its 800V architecture, the IONIQ 5 can also charge from 10 to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes on a suitable rapid charger.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a brilliant all-rounder that shows just how good a used electric car can be. It combines head-turning looks with a spacious, practical interior, plenty of technology and a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. With prices starting at little over £13,000, it makes a compelling case for going electric – and is a thoroughly deserving Used Car of the Year.
The TUCSON’s win continues a remarkable record with Auto Express, having been named Best Mid-Size SUV in the publication’s New Car Awards four years in a row, from 2021 to 2024.
The judges praised its refinement, comfortable ride and strong performance, as well as a cabin that easily accommodates five adults and a generous boot. Buyers can choose from a range of petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with four-wheel drive also available.
The award adds to the TUCSON’s growing list of used car honours, following Best Used Family SUV at the 2025 What Car? Used Car Awards and Best Used Car Over £18,000 at the 2025 Scottish Car of the Year Awards. It also comes as Hyundai prepares to introduce the all-new TUCSON, revealed at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month.
To see the IONIQ 5 become the first electric car ever named Auto Express Used Car of the Year is a proud moment for everyone at Hyundai. When it launched five years ago, it showed drivers what an electric car could be – and today it is proving just as compelling for second-hand buyers, many of whom are going electric for the first time. Alongside the TUCSON’s win and the recognition for our wider range, these awards show that the quality, reliability and value built into every Hyundai lasts well beyond its first owner, backed by our five-year unlimited mileage warranty and the Hyundai Promise approved used programme.
For more information on Hyundai’s award-winning range, including approved used vehicles, visit www.hyundai.co.uk.
