The beginning of 2025 brought a brief but interesting encounter with an electric car that was supposed to remain somewhere far away in another world. But here it is – we meet the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: a unique electric car that delivers incredible power and dynamics! And thanks to what? I'll tell you now.
When everything is clear at first glance
The first glance at the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car makes it clear: everything is serious here. Instead of another hint of the “sports package”, I see a developed front bumper with triple channels for improved radiator cooling, I see a diffuser and a rear wing, I see wheel arch covers – which are really needed to cover the very wide 275-millimeter tires. Similarly, 21-inch wheels are really needed – just to accommodate the enlarged brakes. After all, 400-millimeter discs with 4-piston calipers are installed in front, 360-millimeter discs are located behind (against 345-millimeter discs “all around” in the regular Hyundai Ioniq 5). Even at first glance, it is clear: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a truly “charged” electric car. This is a play on words that reveals the essence of this N.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car demonstrates the general design of the Ioniq 5, but immediately stands out with numerous original details: a front bumper with enlarged air ducts, a rear bumper with a diffuser, side extensions, 275/35 R 21 tires and 21-inch wheels. By the way, all these changes have led to an increase in the dimensions of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N relative to the regular Hyundai Ioniq 5: length - 4.72 meters (plus 80 mm), width - 1.94 meters (plus 50 mm). But at the same time: the body of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is “planted” lower than the regular Hyundai Ioniq 5, and therefore the height and ground clearance have decreased - 1.59 meters and 160 mm, respectively. But the 3-meter wheelbase has not changed at all.
The interior is appropriate. The front panel is marked with horizontal lines, there is room for a pair of 12.3-inch displays, and behind it is a large sofa, access to which is provided by even larger doors - all this is also present in the regular Hyundai Ioniq 5. However, it is worth looking inside the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, as the gaze immediately stops at the bucket seats: incredibly pronounced and rather stiff lateral support, an integrated headrest, the expected N logos. By the way, a similar one can be found on the steering wheel, where several buttons for changing the driving characteristics are also located at once - the usual DRIVE MODE switch, the red NGB key, and a pair of N buttons.
Want more interesting features? Here, for example, are the pedals: they have metal pads as expected - this is a must-have for any model that somehow has the word "sport" in its name. But the peculiarity of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is that these pedals are additionally enlarged - clearly for an intense "drive" when your feet are dancing the hopak. Another feature: a large center console. Here are various switch buttons, here is wireless charging; but it is worth noting the knee pads separately - this is clearly designed for very sharp turns. I wonder how the bags in the 480-liter trunk will feel in such turns?
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N interior tries to combine the space and convenience of a regular Ioniq 5 electric car with the sporty hints of the N version. From the first here are the general shapes of the front panel and the space on the rear adjustable sofa, and from the N version here are sports seats (landing 22 mm lower than the usual) and N - steering wheel, pedal covers, red accents. The trunk offers a volume of 480 liters, which is a lot for a sports electric car.
High-tech base, unique details
Let's start with the history of a few years ago, when the Hyundai Ioniq 5 appeared - the first Hyundai electric car built on the E - GMP platform: support for 800-volt architecture, support for charging up to 350 kW and V 2 L technology, the ability to create electric cars with one electric motor (rear-wheel drive) or two electric motors (all-wheel drive), a fairly large battery. This platform has already become an excellent basis for creating numerous electric cars, including the Hyundai Ioniq 6, which was already the hero of a detailed review. However, it was the Hyundai Ioniq 5 that once became the pioneer of this platform; and now the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N boldly moved on.
First of all, the sports version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is expected to be very powerful: two PMSM electric motors produce a total of 448 kW (609 hp) and 740 Nm or even 478 kW (650 hp) and 770 Nm for 10 seconds if the N Grin Boost mode is activated - this is the same red NGB button on the steering wheel. The front electric motor alone develops 166-175 kW, while the rear one can produce almost twice as much - up to 282-303 kW of power. Interestingly, the electric motors can spin the rotors up to 21 thousand revolutions (versus 15 thousand in the regular Hyundai Ioniq 5) and they have almost the same gear ratio: 10.65 for the front electric motor and 10.657 for the rear electric motor. In addition, a new SiC (Silicon Carbide) inverter for electric current was also required to power the more powerful rear electric motor; it is about one and a half times larger and heavier than a normal one – but can also transfer proportionally more current from the battery to the electric motor.
By the way, about the battery: it was on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N version that the 84 kWh battery, consisting of 384 cells and 32 modules, first appeared. The promised range is up to 448 km according to the WLTP measurement rules . And now the second “by the way”: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car has already partially fulfilled its role as a research laboratory. For example, this increased 84-kilowatt-hour battery already appears on the updated versions of the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Similarly, like the N Line package or the sports 3-spoke. However, the real Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is distinguished by a greater number of changes. So let's continue.
Despite the visually similar body, in fact, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is significantly different here too. Yes, 42 welding points and 2.1 meters of adhesive joints have been added; reinforced mounts for the shock absorbers, battery, and steering mechanism have also appeared. Moreover, the steering mechanism has been made sharper (by approximately 17%) and the level of electric power steering assistance has been increased. Yes, it has been increased - based on very wide and stiff sports 275-millimeter tires. And in general, the sports version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has many interesting chassis improvements: electronically controlled shock absorbers, a system for changing the distribution of traction between the axles (as many as 11 settings!), a special drift mode (10-40% of torque on the front wheels and 60-90% of torque on the rear wheels), three-mode Launch Control and an electronically controlled rear differential e - LSD. Plus even a battery preheating or cooling system – that’s why larger ventilation channels and more efficient radiators were needed. And also a sound simulation system and even gear shifting…
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car only starts with the E - GMP platform and all-wheel drive with two electric motors; and then continues with a reinforced body, modified brakes and an enlarged battery, an extremely powerful rear electric motor with its own inverter, etc. The result: a total peak power of up to 650 hp, a promised acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 3.4-3.5 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h! But there are figures that are not so shocking, but still need to be mentioned. For example: the aerodynamic resistance of the regular Hyundai Ioniq 5 is Cd =0.288, while the sporty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has an indicator of Cd =0.313; and this accordingly affects the range - here is the price for spoilers and pads, which should provide additional downforce. Or here's another: even the standard Hyundai Ioniq 5 with all-wheel drive weighs more than two tons, and the sporty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N weighs exactly 2.2 tons. How does all this feel on the road?
Impressions behind the wheel: how much is there!…
Three driving modes, four engine options, three suspension and steering settings, eleven traction distribution options, drift mode, Launch - Control with settings for three grip options... And I have a few hours of time for everything and an electric car on winter tires, which already has an owner among the employees of the Eden-Avto dealership. I'm here to the point that to fully understand the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, you need to drive for a long time and in different conditions, on different tracks and around the city. Therefore, for now, I can only note a few bright spots that are especially memorable.
The first – of course, it’s dynamics, acceleration! An electric car is always very powerful, always very fast and dynamic. Even in ECO mode, you have time to accelerate and change gears everywhere; at the same time, there is no sharpness in the responses to the accelerator pedal. Normal and sports modes are much more active. But it is after pressing that NGB button that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car literally strives to catch up with your head with its headrest – bang! – your head is stuck, your chest is clenched, and we are already flying forward. The qualifying “hundred” even on winter tires and on dry but cold asphalt was given in 3.7-3.8 seconds. Therefore, in ideal conditions – yes, it seems that the N will be able to show the promised 3.4-3.5 seconds. But what are they, these optimal conditions? I took a cold car, drove for 30-40 minutes around the city and tried to warm up the battery, and then sharply started for measurement. Warmed up, started, measured. But after several measurements, the battery temperature had already exceeded the recommended range. And the Launch Control system can be started with a frequency of once every two minutes. Although, I respect the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car , even without Launch Control and only in the usual sport mode, it steadily drove to "hundreds" within four seconds.
The second is about driving modes. As you already understood, there are simply a lot of their options and combinations. In addition to engine settings, suspension, torque distribution, you can also control recuperation using paddles under the steering wheel (which is very convenient), choose audio accompaniment and even the option of displaying information on the HUD display on the windshield. And here's what's interesting: two dedicated N buttons on the steering wheel allow you to save any of your own settings. That is, you can change everything in a complex (engine, suspension, sound, etc.), or switch only between the display options on the digital instrument panel. Now, when you have already played with all the capabilities of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (and this is how it will be for the first time), then you can finally determine your most favorite settings and save them to these buttons.
Third – about the steering wheel and suspension. The steering wheel is quite sharp, it makes about 2.3 turns from lock to lock; moreover, the steering wheel does not burden your hands with unnecessary effort. At the same time, it never leaves the impression that you are driving a rather large… whether it is a crossover or a hatchback. After all, you constantly see a large hood with straight lines in front of you, you feel a lot of space around these very sporty bucket seats. As for the suspension, the situation is similar to that with engines. In normal modes, the suspension turns out to be quite elastic, but without discomfort: there is no shaking or unpleasant jolts – great for daily trips! At the same time, in sports mode, the suspension becomes rock-hard: are there any shock absorbers left somewhere or have they just welded a piece of scrap metal? No rolls, no body vibrations – great for a tense drive!
Finally, the fourth is the sound of NAC + ( N Active Sound +) and the N e - shift gearshift simulation system. Here it is: you have an electric car that draws a tachometer on the digital display. And its paddles under the steering wheel in certain settings can, instead of controlling recuperation, simulate gearshifting. Moreover, these shifts occur to a sonorous “soundtrack” with all the sobs and gassing as it should be for an internal combustion engine car. And when you gain a lot of speed on the virtual tachometer, then instead of “upshifting” to a higher gear, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car remains in the current mode and howls to the entire cabin with the sound of an engine that is about to explode – either from ecstasy or from the meeting of valves and cylinders. Oh, stop! What internal combustion engine, what valves, what cylinders?! This is an electric car! What so strives to be like a familiar car with a familiar internal combustion engine. Weird.
What is most memorable about the driving character of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car is not any specific feature, but the range of change of this character itself: it is like a tool that can and should be calibrated for certain driving conditions and for each driver individually - very interesting! And very fast: with a result of 0-100 km/h in 3.7-3.8 seconds, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car is one of the record holders in my personal ranking. But how much do they ask for such dynamics and such capabilities?
Cost of Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and price difference with regular Hyundai Ioniq 5
It is logical that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car occupies the position of the flagship for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 line as a whole. This means not only the most advanced technology, but also the maximum equipment: airbags and curtain airbags, lane keeping assistant, blind spot mirror control (including video control), reverse collision avoidance assistant, suspension with adjustable shock absorber stiffness, engine sound selection, battery temperature control system, drift optimization system, gear shift simulation, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel and front/rear seats, front seat ventilation, projection on the windshield, all-round view system, BOSE premium acoustics , wireless charging, multi-color interior backlighting, 21-inch alloy wheels, sports bucket seats, sports steering wheel and much more. The price of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is from 2.93 million UAH or $71.5 thousand.
In addition to unique sports details, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car has everything you can expect from a Hyundai Ioniq 5: full LED headlights, all-round visibility, premium audio, seat ventilation, digital displays in the cabin. For comparison, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 TOP with all-wheel drive (239 kW or 325 hp) and a 77-kilowatt-hour battery costs from UAH 2.447 million or $59.7 thousand - therefore, the surcharge for the N version (but a full-fledged N version, not just an N Line package) is almost half a million hryvnia.
Test drive results: so what is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for the automotive world?
I have two answers to this question. Firstly, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car is a real “laboratory on wheels” for Hyundai: you can safely implement the latest developments and experiment in different directions. So, already being an exclusive model, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car became the basis for an even more exclusive concept car and a blank for a racing car for its own monocup. Secondly, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric car is a symbol of what Hyundai can achieve. This is a real “hello - car” for the dealer, thanks to which you can attract even more customers. Let them even buy an ordinary car of the brand later, but on the example of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N they will know for sure: Hyundai can!