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 seller at present 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 autos. He was extraordinarily wanting to be useful, reply questions, and present us issues we’d not know. Now, it seems his dad was an early VC investor in Tesla … so he was not regular. Nonetheless, he did remark that the majority gross sales folks his age knew rather a lot about electrical vehicles and issues have been altering (from that at the least) by way of serving to folks purchase EVs.

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

It took a number of moments for a salesman to concentrate to us after we got here in, after which it took a number of extra moments to seek out somebody who was free to assist us. That’s superb 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 essentially 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 automotive. Moderately than reveal something that stood out concerning the IONIQ 5 that might make me wish to purchase it as an alternative of a Kia EV6 or Volkswagen ID.4, he admitted to having little expertise with the IONIQ 5 and no actual data of what the competitors provided. He additionally appeared to imagine all EVs had comparable options and driving traits.

The whole lack of curiosity to find or exhibiting us something distinctive or cool concerning the automotive was actually an enormous turnoff. Although, the actual deal-breaker with the IONIQ 5 was a complete lack of air con vents within the again seats. What??? With two younger children 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 wanting to go dwelling. Nonetheless, it was placing and really stunning that the gross salesparticular person appeared to have no real interest in promoting us the automotive, or simply knew so little concerning the IONIQ 5 that he wished to get out of the automotive 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 have been their go-to gross sales folks — the opposite man even owned an EV6. Nonetheless, in 2025, plainly any salesperson at a automotive dealership ought to have strong 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 automotive dealership method to promoting EVs within the US. Nonetheless, I used to be admittedly anticipating rather more by now. Even my expertise a few 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 present?

Okay, let’s get again to the Kia expertise and be aware how good the man’s expertise, experience, and enthusiasm was. That was excessive stage gross sales. He must be counseled for that, and it does present how a lot has improved … in some circumstances. And two circumstances aren’t sufficient to make a scientific argument. Possibly 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 could be welcome on what you assume we should always consider when doing an auto dealership EV take a look at drive.

* Properly, guess what: In keeping with 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 through the use of devoted rear local weather controls on the touchscreen or bodily buttons.” So, regardless of asking about this at the least three or 4 instances and expressing our whole shock that there weren’t air vents within the again, the salesperson repeatedly instructed us that there weren’t AC vents again there.

A put up 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 should not have rear AC vents, however I’ve not been in a position to verify if the US mannequin SE excludes them.” An IONIQ 5 proprietor responds, “There are nonetheless ground vents, simply none on the facet pillars or above. Havent observed an issue with it holding the again sizzling/chilly with 2 children within the again.” One other respondent mentioned, “There are ground vents for the rear seats. Nonetheless, you need to flip them on within the local weather settings. It can save you some vitality by turning them off should you 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. Except you’re in 98+ diploma climate 12 months spherical with direct solar gentle 80% of the 12 months and park exterior at dwelling, then you ought to be superb” and one other mentioned “Not obtainable on SE. Normal on SEL and Restricted. https://www.hyundainews.com/belongings/paperwork/unique/48174-2022Ioniq5ProductGuidefeatures090821.pdf“

To wrap up on this matter, although, in a separate reddit put up 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 ground vents. You do should manually direct air again there.

“That being mentioned, we bought the SEL particularly for the pillar vents as a result of we have now a toddler and it feels higher having air directed at your face/higher physique. Plus air is mechanically directed again there and you may management the temperature through the use of 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 programs, 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 total understanding of the automotive and curiosity in promoting it, effectively, there are most likely larger issues to fret about.