Hyundai IONIQ 5 N review

Driving position 

On paper, the 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is closer to a supercar than it is a hatchback, and the driving position adds to this. 

You can position yourself quite low in the car, which makes you feel more connected to the road. It’s no McLaren 720S, but it’s impressive for a crossover-sized hatch. 

And the steering wheel can come nice and close to you, giving you more control over the vehicle on tighter bends. 

Tech and features 

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N’s real party trick is the vast amount of technology inside the cabin. 

It’s obviously based on the standard IONIQ 5’s interior but with some added sporty touches including ‘N’ steering wheel buttons comprising of: a boost button, track mode, and a fake engine sound button. 

You also get supportive bucket-style sports seats finished in Alcantara for that added race-car feel. 

In terms of actual tech, you get two massive 12.3-inch displays – one for the driver and the other that acts as the central infotainment screen. 

We particularly like the digital driver’s display because the level of customisation is quite something. You can keep it basic just showing speed and range or switch it to Sport mode to feel like you’re in an F1 car with things like a G force meter.  

You also of course get your standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity, so you can stay connected while driving to your heart’s content. 

Electric motors and power 

The real masterpiece behind the IONIQ 5 N is its electric motor setup and the way it drives. This Hyundai seriously knows how to get a shift on. 

From its 84kWh battery, the IONIQ 5 N produces 641hp and 770 Nm of torque, propelling it from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds. Though, as we proved in our video review, it can do it in 3.2 seconds. 

Despite weighing a staggering 2,220kg, the 5 N tops out a claimed top speed of 161mph. 

Aiding all this performance is some trickery from its Electronic Limited Slip Differential (e-LSD), which makes cornering a dream. Our test car was fitted with some sticky bespoke Pirelli P-Zero performance tyres, which helped too. 

However, the main gripe a lot of people have had with this car is its fake exhaust note, but we’re going to prove to you why they’re wrong. 

These noises simulate what we like to call the ‘character’ of a petrol car. 

This means that if you’re in the wrong gear, it’ll hit the limiter and if you’re in too high of a gear, you have to deal with basically no torque. 

It even uses the cars regenerative braking to simulate engine braking, and these ‘flaws’ help you to become a better driver, giving you an actual sense of speed. 

For most EVs, you tickle the throttle pedal and you’re at the national speed limit before you can say ‘woah, slow down’, but in this, you get actual feedback from the revs. 

So, when you’re on it, it’s just as rewarding. 

Handling and ride comfort 

After a car that tackles corners like they’re a straight piece of tarmac? This may be the car for you. 

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N truly handles like it’s on rails – you can really tell they’ve designed it on the Nürburgring. Plus, that e-LSD we mentioned above really makes all the difference. 

But above all else, it’s the damping that stole our hearts. The design team essentially made sure this car could tackle even the toughest racetrack with ease, flat out. 

And like the Hyundai i30N – its petrol-powered relative – you can makeadjustments as you go. 

At the press of a button, you can stiffen the suspension for track driving and soften it for a more road-bias ride. It won’t be as soft as the standard car, but it’s not bad for the stature of it. 

Boot space 

A 480-litre boot may sound like a lot, and it is, but when you compare it to the standard IONIQ 5’s 527-litre boot, it sounds a bit small. 

But despite this, you still get more than in the Polestar 2 and BMW i4. 

Rear seats 

Rear-seat space is no bother, either. You get loads of headroom and legroom, and even enough space for three adults. 

You’ll also find two USB-C ports, so the third passenger will have to fight for their charging slot. 

If you want to bring a little one along for the ride, you can with two ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the two outer seats. 

Storage solutions 

The IONIQ 5 N’s not short of added storage slots either.  

From a nifty wireless charging phone pad to decent-sized door bins, you can’t really complain when there’s so much space behind the front two seats. 

Okay, it doesn’t get the exact same centre console as in the standard car, so you do lose a bit of practicality there. But you do gain added knee support for hard cornering – something we’re sure you’d be grateful in this car. 

Safety 

Being a modern electric car, safety is at the forefront of its design. And, thanks to some clever onboard safety features, the IONIQ 5 N scored a full five stars following its most recent Euro NCAP safety test. 

These features include an advanced forward collision avoidance system, cruise control (with the ability to adjust your speed based on the sat-nav), lane-keep assist and even remote parking. 

Range and charging times 

The IONIQ 5 N gets the biggest battery ever fitted to a Hyundai – 84kWh with a 278-mile range. This is a little less than the 298 miles from the standard car, but it’s worth it for the performance trade-off. 

It also doesn’t matter as much because Hyundai’s hi-tech battery means you can charge at speeds of up to 240kW – taking you from 10-80% in just 18 minutes. 

Reliability 

‘Hyundai’ is a byword for reliability, so you should have no worries or concerns in this department.  

Plus, it’s an electric car, which has fewer moving parts than in a traditional internal combustion engine. 

Still worried? Luckily, Hyundai offers a five-year/unlimited-mile warranty to see you through. 

Insurance groups 

You can safely assume the IONIQ 5 N won’t be cheap to insure, not just because of its performance but also due to its hefty price tag. It’s the wrong side of £60,000. 

Having said that, you’ll want to be as covered as possible for your electric pride and joy.  

We estimate this car to sit right at the higher end of insurance groups, nudging group 50.