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Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 5: Which Used EV Under $25k is the Smartest Buy?

Elevate Motor Co
Elevate Motor Co
••7 min read

Is a $25,000 EV Better Than a New Gas Car?

What if we told you that for under $25,000, you could own an electric car that charges to 80% in the time it takes to get through the Starbucks drive-thru? Or another that goes 0-60 mph faster than a legendary $20 million supercar? It sounds unbelievable, but it’s the reality of today's used EV market.

Here at Elevate Motor Co, we're cutting through the hype and political noise to bring you the facts. We dove deep into the data on dozens of used EVs and landed on two clear winners for November 2025: the 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD and the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL AWD. By the end of this comparison, you’ll be seriously questioning why anyone would spend over $45,000 on a brand-new gas car when this kind of value exists.

The Contenders: What Your Money Actually Buys

We focused on 2022 all-wheel drive models with under 50,000 miles, as they represent a sweet spot of modern features (like heat pumps for better winter efficiency) and incredible depreciation. You can find both the Model 3 Long Range and the Ioniq 5 SEL trims for around $20,000 to $23,000, a massive saving from their original sticker prices.

But specs on paper don't tell the whole story. Let's look at what matters in the real world.

Range King vs. Charging Champion

This is where the decision gets interesting, because these two cars excel in opposite ways.

The Marathon Runner: Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 Long Range boasts an EPA-rated 353 miles, but what's impressive is that independent tests show it achieving a real-world range of 345 miles. That's a massive number that gives you incredible freedom for daily driving and makes road trips a breeze. It's the clear winner if your top priority is minimizing stops.

The Sprint Star: Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Ioniq 5 SEL has a stated range of 266 miles, but like a humble workhorse, it often over-delivers, hitting around 270 miles in real-world testing. While that's a significant 75-80 miles less than the Tesla, the Ioniq 5 has a superpower: its charging speed.

It makes our brains hurt a little, but even though the Tesla has a higher peak charging rate (250kW vs. the Ioniq 5's 240kW), the Hyundai is the faster car to charge. How? It maintains its peak speed for longer.

  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 (10-80%): ~18 minutes
  • Tesla Model 3 (10-80%): ~30 minutes

That's nearly 10-12 minutes saved at every fast-charging stop. If your travel style involves quick stops for coffee and a stretch, the Ioniq 5 will get you back on the road faster.

Performance, Practicality, and Big 'Gotchas'

How do these cars feel to live with day-to-day? Again, it's a story of different strengths.

Driving Dynamics and Speed

The Model 3 is the driver's car. It’s about 400 lbs lighter, which gives it sharper, more sedan-like handling. It wins the 0-60 mph sprint at 4.2 seconds (vs. the Ioniq 5's 4.4 seconds), and you can even purchase a $2,000 software upgrade to drop that time to a blistering 3.7 seconds. If you love a responsive, planted feel on backroads, the Model 3 takes the cake.

Everyday Livability

This is where the Ioniq 5 starts to pull ahead. Its secret weapon is the included Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) adapter. This allows you to use the car's battery to power external devices, think a coffee maker while camping, a laptop at a remote work site, or even your home refrigerator during a power outage. It’s a feature that truly embodies the spirit of stewardship and being prepared to help others.

In terms of space, it's a toss-up:

  • Model 3: Has a much larger and more useful front trunk ('frunk'), perfect for keeping groceries cool or storing items you don't need often.
  • Ioniq 5: Offers a more spacious-feeling cabin and a slightly larger rear cargo area, thanks to its hatchback design.

The Tech Experience & A Crucial Warning

Here’s a major factor that dealers might not tell you. The Tesla app is light-years ahead of Hyundai's Blue Link. It's incredibly fast, intuitive, and, most importantly, free. In contrast, the Hyundai app can feel painfully slow and requires a paid subscription to use features like remote start.

But the biggest 'gotcha' is battery preconditioning. To get the fastest charging speeds, an EV's battery needs to be at an optimal temperature.

  • The Tesla Model 3 automatically preconditions its battery when you navigate to a Supercharger or even a third-party fast charger.
  • The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 does not have battery preconditioning. This feature wasn't added until the 2023 model year, which means your charging speeds, especially in colder weather, can be significantly slower than advertised. This is a critical point to consider!

Our Final Take: Which EV Is Right for You?

After weighing all the pros and cons, there's no single 'best' car, only the best car for you.

Choose the 2022 Tesla Model 3 if:

  • Maximum range is your number one priority for road trips or a long commute.
  • You value a seamless, fast, and best-in-class software and app experience.
  • You prefer a sporty, agile driving feel.

Choose the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 if:

  • You want the absolute fastest charging stops possible on a road trip.
  • Practical features like V2L for camping or emergencies are a game-changer for you.
  • You prefer unique, head-turning styling and a more open, SUV-like interior.

Both of these vehicles offer astounding value, proving that you don't need to break the bank to own a fantastic, efficient, and fun-to-drive electric car.

Which one would you park in your driveway? Let us know your choice in the comments on YouTube! And for more honest EV reviews that blend faith, fun, and facts, be sure to subscribe to the Elevate Motor Co. YouTube channel.