Hyundai Ioniq 5N review finds perfect blend of new tech and old-school performance

Traditional performance theatre has been harnessed in this sporty all-electric vehicle. The Hyundai Ioniq 5N is one of the best EVs we’ve seen produced yet.

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, McLaren and Hyundai. The latter isn’t typically a brand you’d put among the supercar category.

But among the humdrum mainstream machines within the Hyundai showroom is pure weaponry.

The all-electric Ioniq 5 has been lauded the world over for its style, value and performance – yet the ‘N’ version goes next level.

It’s fast. Ridiculously fast for about $125,000. Spend your hard-earned and it’s a ticket to 100km/h from standstill in 3.4 seconds.

Supercar manufacturers used to wear zero to 100km/h times like a badge of honour. These days, they don’t talk about it so much. Electric vehicles have essentially made the old-school mark redundant.

Tesla’s Model 3 Performance lays claim to a quicker time of 3.1 seconds for $80,900 … but it falls short of the Hyundai’s features and you need to trick a few optional extras to get additional functionality.

Ultimately, when it comes to the EV sprint, you are splitting hairs. Or tenths. Where the Ioniq 5N shines is its ability to feel, and sound, like a true performance car.

What do you get?

Externally the Ioniq 5N looks like something special. Standard models also have arresting good looks, yet the halo N variant takes things up a notch with a body kit and orange inserts on the front and rear bumper as well as 21-inch alloys wearing Pirelli P-Zero rubber.

Step inside and the athleticism continues with bucket Alcantara and leather trimmed front seats with heating and ventilation functions, metal pedals with pixel flag rubber grips and a chunky sports steering wheel adorned with paddle shifters as well as N-specific buttons for additional performance prowess.

Other inclusions are an eight-speaker Bose stereo, wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger and a power tailgate.

External hues of black, blue, grey, white or orange are no-cost options, but matte blue, grey, gold or white are $1000 extra.

Like all Hyundais, a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty applies. It’s also covered for non-competitive track days.

Prepaid servicing is available, with $1250 covering four years or 60,000km. Hyundai currently has a special offer that includes the two services as part of the drive-away deal, along with a choice of a home wall charger or a $1500 voucher for the Evie public charging network.

Bucket seats with leather and Alcantara trim, along with metal pedals featuring pixel flag rubber grips and a chunky sports steering wheel adorned with paddle shifters are among the interior features of the Hyundai Ioniq 5N.

How was the drive?

It’s the best EV we’ve piloted.

Was it the fastest? No, that honour went to the raucous Porsche Taycan – which, by the way, was nothing short of magnificent.

Was it the quietest? No, the serenity of the BMW i7 was difficult to beat.

But for theatre, overall performance and adrenaline-pumping ability, the Ioniq 5N delivered on the athletic promise.

There are a near infinite amount of options to tweak and alter the hatch’s personality, along with drag and drift modes – including a boost button that ups the power and torque for 10 seconds of the ultimate shunt.

Best of all is, with the N mode engaged, the artificial engine soundtrack generated through the stereo that nearly perfectly mimics the aural delights from sports cars of old. Use the paddle shifters and it performs like a conventional gearbox, downshifts and all.

While all fake, the gearbox and the sounds, it’s nothing short of brilliant.

Many EVs are purely straight line demons. Not the Ioniq 5N. It corners, grips and changes direction with tenacity.

But it’s not all speed, G-forces in the bends and bone-jarring suspension. Dial down the modes and it’s also a comfortable daily cruiser.

It’s at home in the carpark or on the track.

Our test returned average energy consumption of 19.2kWh/100km – slightly below the official figure from Hyundai. Regular sampling of the boost and N modes will rapidly deplete the battery.

Hyundai's electric sports car, the Ioniq 5N, will sprint from 0-100km/h in less than four seconds.

Would you buy one?

Kel: All my friends loved the look, and it was a brilliant drive. While I understand the performance fascination, I probably don’t fully appreciate its true ability. The internal sounds were great but what’s the point if people outside the car can’t hear it? My heart still belongs to its cousin, the Genesis GV60, for its luxury and looks for similar money.

Grant: Many keen drivers lament the loss of personality and drama as electric vehicles advance. Hyundai has delivered something special with the Ioniq 5N. Not only does it encapsulate the essence of sports cars of old, it also harnesses the excitement of the future – with the added ability to act as a family chariot. It’s explosive bang for buck.