Auto Sellers Nonetheless Have A Huge Downside — Hyundai Expertise

Final Up to date on: twenty seventh July 2025, 01:29 am

So, let me first begin off by saying that I went to a Kia vendor at the moment and had an outstanding expertise with the gross sales rep there. He knew a ton concerning the EV6 we take a look at drove, but in addition about different electrical automobiles. He was extraordinarily desperate to be useful, reply questions, and present us issues we would not know. Now, it seems his dad was an early VC investor in Tesla … so he was not regular. Nonetheless, he did remark that almost all gross sales folks his age knew loads about electrical automobiles and issues had been altering (from that no less than) when it comes to serving to folks purchase EVs.

After that have, my household and I had been desperate to go take a look at drive a Hyundai IONIQ 5 at a close-by Hyundai vendor. However … oy …

It took just a few moments for a salesman to concentrate to us once we got here in, after which it took just a few extra moments to seek out somebody who was free to assist us. That’s fantastic I suppose — busy place and unfortunate timing. Nonetheless, the one that was lastly recruited to provide us a take a look at drive in an IONIQ 5, effectively, let’s simply say that he was not probably the most enthusiastic salesperson I’ve ever met and he didn’t appear to know a lot concerning the IONIQ 5, or care to promote it.

He wasn’t effectively versed within the regen braking choices, and would simply assume sure capabilities earlier than exhibiting his precise lack of familiarity with the automobile. Fairly than exhibit something that stood out concerning the IONIQ 5 that may make me need to purchase it as a substitute of a Kia EV6 or Volkswagen ID.4, he admitted to having little expertise with the IONIQ 5 and no actual information of what the competitors supplied. He additionally appeared to imagine all EVs had comparable options and driving traits.

The whole lack of curiosity find or exhibiting us something distinctive or cool concerning the automobile was definitely a large turnoff. Although, the true deal-breaker with the IONIQ 5 was a complete lack of air con vents within the again seats. What??? With two younger youngsters in Florida, sorry, however that’s simply not one thing you may settle for. On the brief take a look at drive, everybody sitting within the again seat discovered it very uncomfortable to not have air vents.*

Oh, yeah, the size of the take a look at drive…. My spouse commented that he appeared to direct us to take the shortest take a look at drive attainable. Once more, I get it if it was the tip of the day and the man was desperate to go house. Nonetheless, it was hanging and actually stunning that the gross salesparticular person appeared to have no real interest in promoting us the automobile, or simply knew so little concerning the IONIQ 5 that he needed to get out of the automobile and transfer on as shortly as attainable. Maybe there was one other regular “EV man” or two who specialised in promoting EVs. Many sellers have this, and the Kia man indicated there have been two of them (him and one other man) on the Kia dealership who had been their go-to gross sales folks — the opposite man even owned an EV6. Nonetheless, in 2025, plainly any salesperson at a automobile dealership ought to have stable understanding of their EV choices and a few speaking factors about why they’re higher than the competitors.

I suppose I shouldn’t be stunned, since I’ve seen investigations and analysis on the generally poor automobile dealership strategy to promoting EVs within the US. Nonetheless, I used to be admittedly anticipating far more by now. Even my expertise a couple of decade in the past serving to my mother store for an EV in Florida left me much less upset and jaded. How may this be the extent of EV gross sales at the moment?

Okay, let’s get again to the Kia expertise and word how good the man’s expertise, experience, and enthusiasm was. That was excessive stage gross sales. He needs to be counseled for that, and it does present how a lot has improved … in some instances. And two instances usually are not sufficient to make a scientific argument. Perhaps the Kia expertise was extra typical of the norm than the Hyundai one. I’ll go do some extra EV take a look at driving quickly and see if I uncover extra hope than disappointment. Within the meantime, any suggestions can be welcome on what you assume we must always consider when doing an auto dealership EV take a look at drive.

* Properly, guess what: Based on a fast examine on Google, the IONIQ 5 does have air vents within the again seats. “The Hyundai IONIQ 5 does have rear air vents, however their location and management differ relying on the trim stage. Some fashions have vents built-in into the rear pillars, whereas others have vents on the ground. The rear vents are sometimes managed by way of the entrance local weather management system, both by syncing with the entrance temperature or by utilizing devoted rear local weather controls on the touchscreen or bodily buttons.” So, regardless of asking about this no less than three or 4 instances and expressing our complete shock that there weren’t air vents within the again, the salesperson repeatedly advised us that there weren’t AC vents again there.

A submit on reddit from three years in the past asks, “Does the the US mannequin of the Ioniq 5 SE have rear AC vents? I do know some worldwide fashions do not need rear AC vents, however I’ve not been capable of affirm if the US mannequin SE excludes them.” An IONIQ 5 proprietor responds, “There are nonetheless flooring vents, simply none on the facet pillars or above. Havent seen an issue with it holding the again sizzling/chilly with 2 youngsters within the again.” One other respondent stated, “There are flooring vents for the rear seats. Nonetheless, you must flip them on within the local weather settings. It can save you some vitality by turning them off if you happen to don’t have rear passengers, similar for the passenger seat.” I’d not be stunned in any respect if the Hyundai salesperson had no clue about this.

However … there’s a probability he was proper on this case. One commenter responded “US Mannequin doesn’t include for SE. Until you’re in 98+ diploma climate 12 months spherical with direct solar mild 80% of the 12 months and park outdoors at house, then you ought to be fantastic” and one other stated “Not accessible on SE. Customary on SEL and Restricted. https://www.hyundainews.com/belongings/paperwork/unique/48174-2022Ioniq5ProductGuidefeatures090821.pdf“

To wrap up on this subject, although, in a separate reddit submit particularly asking about air vents within the again in an SE trim IONIQ 5 versus an SEL trim IONIQ 5, somebody responded, “The SE nonetheless has flooring vents. You do must manually direct air again there.

“That being stated, we received the SEL particularly for the pillar vents as a result of now we have a toddler and it feels higher having air directed at your face/higher physique. Plus air is mechanically directed again there and you’ll management the temperature by utilizing the passenger temp controls.”

Maybe it’s a lot to ask to count on a Hyundai salesperson to know the intricacies of various IONIQ 5 AC methods, however in tremendous sizzling Florida, one would count on the salesperson to have the ability to give an accurate reply about whether or not there are air con vents within the again seat. Although, given this man’s general understanding of the automobile and curiosity in promoting it, effectively, there are in all probability greater issues to fret about.