The IONIQ 5 is steadily carving out a spot among the most popular EVs in the US. Hyundai moved over 20,000 IONIQ 5s in the first half of 2026, putting it ahead of much of the pack.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 sales continue rising in first half 2026
Hyundai’s record run continued in the US, with the company posting its best-ever Q2 and first-half sales performance in company history.
The South Korean automaker sold 450,568 vehicles in total, an increase of 3% compared to the first half of 2025.
Hyundai’s electrified vehicles led the growth, accounting for a third (33%) of total sales. Hybrid vehicle sales set a new record, rising 71% in Q2, led by the Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata, and Tucson HEVs.
Despite several automakers reporting fewer EV sales, the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 have maintained strong momentum in 2026. Hyundai sold 20,730 IONIQ 5 models in the first half of 2026, up 9% from roughly 19,000 in the same period last year.
While a few brands have yet to release first-half sales figures, we do know the IONIQ 5 is now outselling the Chevy Equinox EV, GM’s top seller.
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)
GM reported Chevy Equinox EV sales dropped 62% in Q2 to 6,660. Through the first half of 2026, GM sold 16,249 Chevy Equinox EVs, down 41% from last year.
The IONIQ 5 also outsold the Toyota bZ, which was ahead through the first quarter. Toyota bZ sales reached 17,553 in the first half of 2026.
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 (Source: Hyundai)
Meanwhile, several brands sold considerably fewer EVs than they did in 2025. Ford sold just 11,632 Mustang Mach-Es through June, down 47% from last year. Honda Prologue sales also dropped 48%, to just 8,407 units.
Hyundai’s three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, is luring in more buyers. Sales are up 380% through the first half of 2026 with 4,858 models sold.
2027 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Performance Calligraphy Black Ink Edition (Source: Hyundai)
While Chevy remains ahead as the second-best-selling EV brand in the US behind Tesla, with the new Bolt adding another 4,224 in H1 2026, Hyundai is closing the gap with just two models after discontinuing the standard IONIQ 6 (only the N Line will remain on sale).
The IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 are both built at Hyundai’s Metaplant America manufacturing plant outside of Savannah, GA.
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