The Hyundai Ioniq five earned a warm reception upon its debut in 2022. The compact electric SUV inspired with its bold styling, cabin and fast charging.
This year, Hyundai launched a new high-performance variant called the Ioniq 5 N to compete against the likes of the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and Tesla Model Y Performance.
I was inspired by the old-fashioned look of a rally car, the performance of a supercar and the complex driving and infotainment technologies of the Ioniq five N.
I was disappointed by the limited EV range of the high-performance Hyundai.
The base Hyundai Ioniq five 202 starts at $42,500, while the Ioniq five N starts at $66,100.
Freight costs and floor mats raised the value of my paycheck car to $67,685.
Despite being labeled an SUV, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a hot hatchback in the truest sense, evoking classic rally racers from the 80s and early 90s like the Lancia Delta Integrale.
The N’s revised front fascia includes aerodynamic elements such as active fenders and air flaps for improved cooling. At the rear, the N features a giant spoiler and a diffuser that protrudes from the bumper to optimize airflow.
Compared to the standard Ioniq 5, the N is about an inch lower, two inches wider at the bottom due to wider tires, and over three inches longer due to the rear diffuser.
Behind the wheels are massive 15. 75-inch front brakes and 14. 2-inch sets at the rear.
The Ioniq 5 N is built on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which is also shared with the Genesis GV60 and Kia EV9.
According to Hyundai, the Ioniq 5 N can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes at a rate of over 250kw. With a 240V level-two charger, its batteries can charge from 10% to 100% in about 7 hours.
The SUV also has two-way charging capability, meaning you can take small devices out of the vehicle.
The EPA rates the Ioniq five N for just 221 miles of range. Due to the cold weather, I had a hard time getting 20 five miles per charge.
The biggest disadvantage of the Ioniq five N is its lack of autonomy. The popular battery-powered Ioniq five has a range of up to 318 miles with rear-wheel drive and 290 miles with all-wheel drive.
(High-performance electric cars tend to be designed for shorter ranges, due to the force needed for faster acceleration or more force. )
Instead, locate a plastic canopy that hides batteries and electronics.
By pressing the orange “NGB” button on the steering wheel, the total power of the Ioniq 5 N increases from 601 to 641 horsepower in 10 seconds.
Driving the Ioniq five N is a dream. It takes everything glorious about high-performance electric vehicles, instant torque and mind-blowing acceleration, and combines it in a package with the visceral pleasures of an internal combustion rally car.
As a result, everything seems surreal. The Ioniq 5 N is a dual-motor electric vehicle, but when the correct functionality settings are activated, a tachometer appears and the car operates as if it has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood.
Fire up the Ioniq 5 N and the shift lever will allow you to shift through the gears simulating an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
It offers a simulated ICE experience like no other vehicle on the market.
Hyundai claims the 4,900-lb SUV can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.25 seconds and reach a top speed of 162 mph.
Despite the flashy exterior, you’ll find a cabin that’s anything but flashy. Instead, the focus here is to make the Ioniq 5 N easy to live with as a daily driver.
The ergonomics and quality are excellent. There are many garage and charging options. I also like the folding cup holder, which is stored for an additional garage.
The heated and ventilated faux leather bucket seats proved exceptionally supportive in the corners. However, they are manually adjusted, which can be a bit of an annoyance when getting into and out of the vehicle.
Instead of a traditional gauge cluster, the Ioniq 5 N comes with a configurable digital instrument display.
The Ioniq 5’s shift lever is on the right side of the guide column, where the ignition key used to be. It’s in a strange location but its use is strangely intuitive.
The touchscreen runs the latest edition of Hyundai’s feature-rich, easy-to-navigate infotainment system.
The screen is also home to the Ioniq 5 N’s many performance features menus as well as its surround view camera.
The Ioniq Five N comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The rear seat occupants have their own USB sockets and air conditioning vents fixed to the B-pillars near the doors.
Fold down the 60/40 split rear seat and shipping capacity increases to 59. 3 cubic feet.
The rear of the Ioniq Five N also features a small garage space under the floor. This is where the charging cables and tire inflation kit are located.
Standard features include a surround view monitor, a blind spot view monitor, a blind spot collision avoidance system, navigation-based intelligent cruise control, lane keeping assist, and parking assist. lane maintenance.
Driving the Hyundai Ioniq five N feels like the steak scene from The Matrix. My brain tells me that this Hyundai Orange Soultronic looks and sounds like a turbocharged rally car from the 80s; He steps on the gas and also rushes like a bat out of hell.
But I also know that everything is false. There are no four amplified bangers under the hood and the sound comes from the speakers.
At the end of the day, though, I don’t care. Ignorance is bliss because I enjoyed every second I had behind the wheel of the Ioniq 5 N.
My only complaint is that the battery runs out before I can get home.
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