WITH a string of honours to its name - including both the UK and World Car of the Year titles - you could be forgiven for thinking that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was as near to perfection as you'd ever get in a new car.

But the Korean maker isn't prepared to rest on its laurels and has enhanced the multi award-winning electric vehicle for the 2023 model year with a new more powerful battery along with several new features and a new flagship version.

The changes come little more than a year since the Ioniq 5 first appeared in UK showrooms and might well come as something of an electric shock for drivers who invested in the new model when it first arrived last year - but the good news for them is that buyers of 23 MY models will have to pay considerably more.

When the Ioniq 5 was first launched, prices ranged from £36,995 up to £48,145. The new range starts from £39,400 for the 58kWH SE Connect entry-level version and peaks at £56,400 for the all-singing, all-dancing, new Namsan Edition flagship with the latest 77.4kWh battery and four wheel drive.

Along with the new 77.4 kWh battery, which offers an increased range of up to 315 miles, the updated Ioniq 5 will be available, depending on model, with video-based digital interior and exterior mirrors. Mounted in the rear spoiler, the digital centre mirror (DCM) optimises visibility by providing an unobstructed, panoramic rear-facing view of the car, says the company.

Meanwhile, a new battery heater and conditioning feature is standard across the range which Hyundai says improves real-life charging performance in hot or cold ambient conditions. The new function activates automatically when a high-power charging point is entered into the vehicle's navigation system using connected routing.

Other changes include the fitting of smart frequency dampers to improve the response of front and rear suspension and increase both handling response and ride comfort.

Four trim levels are now available with the existing SE Connect, Premium and Ultimate grades being joined by the Namsan Edition which gets just about everything from the Hyundai parts bin including a full-length vision roof giving an unobstructed panoramic view, leather upholstery, relaxation seats, digital rear and side mirrors and a tech pack which includes remote smart park assist, parking collision avoidance assist, drivers' memory seat and auto flush door handles.