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Home› Automobile Receipts› Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Honda Civic

Hyundai Ioniq 5 VS Honda Civic

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Honda Civic
Verdict DROP IT BUY IT
The Reality Independent charge-curve testing backs up the 18-minute claim under good conditions on a properly working 150-350kW charger. But NHTSA's recall and complaint data tell a more serious parallel story: the 2023 Ioniq 5 has 386 complaints on file -- the highest of any vehicle checked in this comparison -- and 4 recalls, two of which are genuinely severe: a rear driveshaft that may have been improperly heat-treated and can break under load, and, separately, high-voltage battery cells with misaligned electrodes 'which can lead to a fire while parked or driving.' A breakdown of the complaint categories shows 271 filed under Electrical System, 72 under Power Train, and 67 under Fuel/Propulsion System (a single complaint can span multiple categories). IIHS's own published ratings show the 2023 Civic sedan and hatchback actually earned the plain 'Top Safety Pick' award, one tier below 'Top Safety Pick+' -- the 2022 model year Civic held the higher TSP+ rating, but IIHS's criteria change annually and the 2023 model didn't requalify at that tier. Separately, NHTSA's recall database lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Civic, all shared-platform issues rather than Civic-specific defects: a brake fluid leak in the stability-assist module (shared with the Acura RDX, Integra, and Accord), a steering rack that may have been incorrectly reassembled during a prior service repair, a broader steering defect affecting multiple Honda/Acura models, and a driver's seat cushion fastener issue. NHTSA's complaint database shows 0 complaints filed for the 2023 Civic.
SHORT ANSWER

Hyundai Ioniq 5: Hyundai's 18-minute fast-charging claim for the Ioniq 5 is independently verified accurate, but that headline spec sits alongside the highest NHTSA complaint count (386) of any vehicle in this comparison and a real battery-fire-risk recall.

Honda Civic: The 2023 Honda Civic actually earned IIHS's plain 'Top Safety Pick' award, not the higher 'Top Safety Pick+' tier some dealer sites advertise -- but its real recall and complaint record is clean: 4 shared-platform recalls and zero owner complaints on file.