Review: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Review
Up until this point, the worlds of electric vehicles and enthusiast cars have struggled to cohabitate. Battery power hasn’t always been the go-to choice for companies looking to make exciting and involving cars while a lot of public belief sees EVs placed within the ‘effective but unlovable’ category. Hyundai is looking to change all that with this car - the Ioniq 5 N.
It’s a car imbued with all of N’s learnings up until this point, taking into account everything that people have loved in cars such as the i30 and i20 N but applying it to a battery-powered model. Can it succeed? We’ve been driving it to find out.
What’s new?
While the Ioniq 5 has already started to become quite a common sight on our roads, the 5 N is a completely different proposition. It has been radically upgraded in a number of areas, with power boosted thanks to a pair of high-performance motors while comprehensive suspension upgrades aim to make this EV a truly involving driving experience.
The level of technology onboard the 5 N is near-baffling, too. There’s a special sound sytnesiser which can recreate the audio from a combustion-engined car, while a unique system simulates genuine gearchanges - this is a car which feels more like a regular paddle-shift model to drive from behind the wheel. Plus, you can switch all of these features off and remain with a very pleasant ‘normal’ EV, should you want.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Ioniq 5 N benefits from a larger battery than the standard car - up to 84kWh over the regular 78kWh - but that doesn’t mean any more range. In fact, there are fewer miles between trips to the plug than the standard Ioniq 5, with the N able to return up to 278 miles compared with the 298 miles you’d get in the regular model.
It’s a potent setup, mind you, with a dual-motor design bringing 641bhp and 740Nm of torque combined, which results in a 0-60mph time of just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 161mph. It certainly doesn’t hang around, that’s for sure, though four-wheel-drive brings some reliable traction for poor conditions.
What’s the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N like to drive?
The Ioniq 5 N feels like no other electric vehicle on the market today to drive. From start-up, it’s a massive overload of sensations and noises. While the engine sound for the 5 N is, of course, artificial, it’s well-judged and doesn’t feel too ‘techno’. When linked to the gearshift simulator, you end up with a car that feels genuinely engaging through the bends. Grip levels are superb, too, and though the 5 N remains quite a large car it’s one which does shrink around you as you gather some momentum. The steering is quite heavy, though this gives the Ioniq 5 N a planted, solid feeling around you. It’s all about the engagement with this car, however, as while some EVs can leave you feeling a little cold, the 5 N puts you at the heart of the action.
How does it look?
The standard Ioniq is already a very striking model, so you can understand why Hyundai hasn’t gone completely to town with the N. It’s all quite in keeping with N’s other models, in fact, which haven’t pushed the envelope styling-wise but approached from a more understated, controlled angle. There are, of course, lots of splitters and extensions, while a smattering of N logos ensures you don’t forget that you’re in something a bit different.
It’s all got a bit of old-school rally car to it, with the car’s flared wheel arches, side skirt extensions and large rear spoiler giving it the look of the model which looks ready to head into motorsport - or should that be batterysport?
What’s it like inside?
Hyundai has kept everything quite user-friendly inside. Sure, there are a lot of buttons on the steering wheel to give quick access to various driver models, but the handy row of controls underneath the main screen is a doddle to use and everything has a nicely robust feel to it. It would be nice if there were some more upmarket materials used here and there, but you can’t argue with the Ioniq’s build quality.
Rear-seat space is decent enough, too, and you also get plenty of N-specific interior styling touches here, there and everywhere while a 480-litre boot is more than large enough for a car of this type.
What’s the spec like?
There’s just one specification of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N but don’t fear - you’re not going to be losing out on equipment to the options list. In fact, you get the large bucket seats as standard, alongside the chunky sports steering wheel, 21-inch alloy wheels and digital key all included from the off. All of the mechanical upgrades come included from the start, too, meaning that you don’t have to add extras in order to get the quickest and most potent model available.
The main screen itself is clear and easy to use - and we like the matching digital display in place of the usual dials - though there’s a near-boggling number of options when it comes to the powertrain, sound and driving mode. You’ll need a decent stretch of time to get it all set up as you’d like, that’s for sure.
Verdict
As we’ve touched on, some electric vehicles have been branded ‘soulless’ - but the Ioniq 5 N can’t be one of these. It’s engaging, alert and effortlessly quick and it does all this within a practical bodystyle that could easily be used every day.
One of the best parts of the whole experience is the multi-tool attitude of the 5 N. Dial away the performance-focused features and you’re still left with an excellent and refined EV in its own right. But the 5 N really is at its best with everything switched on - at which point you’ll enjoy one of the most exciting EVs currently on sale.
