Name: New Hyundai Ioniq 5 N models and Specifications
Brand: Hyundai

478kw-84-kwh-5dr-auto

With a motor on each axle, the Ioniq 5 N produces a combined 601bhp – or 641bhp in 10-second bursts using an over-boost function called N Grin Boost. Using launch control, the car is said to hit 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds. To get a Porsche Macan with a similar level of performance you’d need to step up to the range-topping Turbo.

478kW 84 kWh

You get lots of standard equipment plus plenty of tech designed to make the N version handle like a true performance car.

IONIQ 5 N

Hatchback

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

478kW 84 kWh 5dr Auto [Vision Roof]

478kw-84-kwh-5dr-auto-vision-roof

478kW 84 kWh 5dr Auto

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

There's just one version of the Ioniq 5 N, and aside from the paint and a sunroof, there are no options to add. All the drive-mode gizmos and mechanical advancements over the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> come as standard.

On one hand, it’s cheaper than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/e-tron-gt/saloon/review/n22728">Audi e-Tron GT</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n26737">Porsche Macan Electric</a>. On the other, it’s more expensive than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n24838">Kia EV6 GT</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y Performance</a> – although the differences up at this price point are not huge.

Compared with petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatchbacks</a>, the Ioniq 5 N costs slightly more than an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs3/hatchback/review/n175">Audi RS3</a> and our favourite, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n17170">Mercedes-AMG A45 S</a>. Both those are even more agile. You can check the latest prices using our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>.

The 5 N is capable of the same <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105">superfast charging speeds</a> as the regular car, which means at its maximum rate of 238kW you can get a top up to 80% in less than half an hour. Using a more common 50kW <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/electric-car-charging-networks-rated/n23269">public charger</a>, that time would be one hour and 10 minutes.

The non-N <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> was awarded five stars out of five when it was tested by safety experts <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>. That result doesn’t technically cover the 5 N, but the results suggest it should offer an excellent level of protection.

In terms of reliability, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> finished an impressive tenth out of 31 manufacturers in our 2024 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;although the regular Ioniq 5 finished a less-reassuring 15th out of 18 models in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> section of the survey.

“Just as a Ferrari should be finished in Rosso Corsa and a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> in Championship White, I think a Hyundai N product should be Performance Blue. So with colour choice out of the way, the only other option you have to consider is if you want a sunroof.”&nbsp;– <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/lawrence-cheung/n23691">Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor</a>

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The Ioniq 5 N draws its power from an 84kWh battery, which is the bigger option in a regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>. It gives the 5 N an official range of around 278 miles, which is down on a non-N Ioniq 5 (354 miles) and behind the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y Performance</a> (319 miles).

You’ll be able to cover those miles quickly: with a motor on each axle to provide <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">four-wheel drive</a>, the Ioniq 5 N has a combined 601bhp – or 641bhp in 10-second bursts using a function called N Grin Boost (NGB). Using Launch control, the car is said to hit 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds.

The way it builds speed is truly savage. But then again, the same can be said of the GT version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n26737">Porsche Macan Turbo Electric</a> and the Model Y Performance. Where the Ioniq 5 N stands out from the crowd is with the many drive mode party tricks it has up its sleeve. Take a deep breath and we’ll explain...

To start with there are regular modes you’d expect: Eco, Normal and Sport. They alter things like the accelerator response, the steering weight and the damper stiffness. Plus, there are two customisable modes you can configure to your heart’s content using the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment screen</a>.

Then, like on the EV6 GT, there’s a drift mode –&nbsp;which encourages the car to go sideways, but with a hint of traction control to prevent the car from spinning – and two types of track mode that maximise the cooling of the battery and electric motor to prevent overheating.

Are you still with us? Excellent, because we're far from finished. When&nbsp;you delve into the infotainment system you'll stumble upon N Pedal – a feature that significantly amplifies the impact of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-regenerative-braking-and-how-does-it-work/n25212">regenerative braking</a>.

The concept is simple: when you ease off the accelerator during spirited driving, the increased braking force assists in shifting the car's weight forward, enhancing your turn-in ability. Additionally, N Torque Distribution offers 11 options for torque allocation as you accelerate, allowing you to distribute power anywhere from 100% to the front wheels to 100% to the rears.

Then there's N e-Shift and N Active Sound Plus – a unique combination in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> world. N Active Sound Plus triggers some fake engine noise from six interior speakers and two external ones. There are two less-conventional sounds you can choose instead. You might have seen – and heard – an<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/abarth/500/hatchback/review/n25801"> Abarth 500e</a> doing&nbsp;something similar.

N e-Shift makes the Ioniq 5 N&nbsp;drive as if it has an eight-speed<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022"> automatic gearbox</a>. It doesn’t actually have one – it has a single-speed transmission, as most <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> do. But with the “gearbox” engaged, the paddles on the steering wheel can shift up and down simulated gears.

N e-Shift was tuned by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> engineer who derived the real-life eight-speed auto gearbox used in other N cars. Flat-out acceleration sends the “revs” soaring, and as you pull a paddle for an upshift, the power delivery is interrupted briefly until the next “gear” engages, causing a genuine jolt in the driver’s seat.

Each gear responds in the way you’d expect. If you're in “fifth gear” at “low revs” and floor the accelerator, for example, the performance is limited and gradually builds as if you were in a petrol car. Coupled with a synchronised soundtrack that takes into account your gear and accelerator position, you can’t help but be impressed with the clever engineering that has gone into the system – engineering we reckon makes you a better driver.

That might sound like a bold claim for a feature that many will consider to be nothing more than a gimmick, but the artificial engine noise and gearing provides you with a more accurate perception of speed. That allows&nbsp;you to be more precise on twisty roads, particularly on the way into corners, where you can shift down for extra engine braking.

What if you can’t stand the idea of fake engine noise on a philosophical level? Well, with the N e-Shift and N Active Sound Plus systems turned off, you’re still left with an impressive-handling car. The front end of the Ioniq 5 N is sharper than that of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n24838">EV6 GT</a> and it&nbsp;has a more playful handling balance, with the car rotating gently when you lift off the accelerator mid-corner.&nbsp;

It also grips like hell (thanks to sticky Pirelli P-Zero tyres) and, with the standard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/types-of-suspension-adaptive-suspension-explained/n27085">adaptive suspension</a> in its firmest setting,&nbsp;does a good job of resisting body lean through quick corners. Indeed, it’s only when you start to really hustle the Ioniq 5 N down a heavily cambered country road that its 2.2-tonne weight starts to reveal itself, with the suspension taking a moment or two to rein in big body movements.

At those extremes, the lower, tauter <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a>&nbsp;electric car is more settled, as are most petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatches</a> such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs3/hatchback/review/n175">Audi RS3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n17170">Mercedes-AMG A45 S</a>. But compared to other all-electric models, the Ioniq 5 N is in a league of its own.

Better yet, its dynamism hasn’t come at the expense of comfort. With the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/types-of-suspension-adaptive-suspension-explained/n27085">adaptive suspension</a> in its softest setting, there’s still some firmness to it, but you can tackle big motorway miles with a ride that's a touch more pliant than in an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n24838">EV6 GT</a>.

“I think Hyundai’s N e-Shift system is excellent. The 'gears' give&nbsp;context to your road speed, and there’s nothing quite like a downshift to settle yourself and the car on the way into a corner.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/neil-winn/n1101">Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor</a>

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

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478kw-84-kwh

We love a bit of nostalgia,&nbsp;but trying to blend old and new can be tricky. So the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N&nbsp;– designed to be part old-school hot hatch and part high-tech electric car – has a tough gig.

The brains behind the Ioniq 5 N have weaved&nbsp;electric-car technology with internal combustion engineering knowhow to create a 641bhp fully electric hyper-hatch with a gearbox (sort of)&nbsp;and lots of artificial engine noise.

It's based on the regular – and excellent –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> and comes with a number of performance upgrades. They include&nbsp;new suspension, reworked steering and a vast array of drive modes designed to set it apart&nbsp;from the closely-related GT version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>. In other words, it's built to&nbsp;appeal to drivers looking for a legitimate battery-powered track toy.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o1ahlETmH3M?si=YgKygcGUr5eOkxhR" width="560"></iframe>

Hyundai's N division is the South Korean car maker's version of&nbsp;BMW's M division and Mercedes' AMG, and has been responsible for some great petrol-powered models, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i20/hatchback/review/n23338">Hyundai i20 N</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/hatchback/review/n183">Hyundai i30 N</a>. But can it make a 2.2-tonne <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> fun to drive?

Read on as we find out whether the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N stands out among the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">best hot hatches</a> and rate it against the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n24838">EV6 GT</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y Performance</a>&nbsp;and other rivals...

Inside, there's not a huge amount of difference between the Ioniq 5 N and a regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>. There are new heated and ventilated bucket seats, which are not electrically adjustable but are nicely comfortable and supportive.

The driving position is the same, which is a shame if you’re hoping for a low-slung sporty feel behind the wheel. It’s more like a traditional SUV, and would be better if you could lower the seat a few notches (you can blame the battery under the floor for that).

Depending on your seating position, you might find that parts of the 12.3in digital driver's display are obscured by the steering wheel. The driver's display is joined to a 12.3in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a>.

The Ioniq 5 N's drive modes are activated using buttons on the steering wheel&nbsp;or through the touchscreen. There are many different menus and sub-menus to swipe through depending on the function you’re trying to activate or customise.

You can just take the keys and go for a quick blast up the road in one of the preset driving modes, but those wanting to delve into the full suite of driving features will have to spend a serious amount of time familiarising themselves with the lay-out. As much as it’s fiddly and a little overwhelming at first, we're sure some buyers will gladly pore over the many modes and configurations like the settings on a video game.

Aside from the N bits, the infotainment is the same as the regular Ioniq 5's. Some icons are a bit small, but it’s a responsive screen with good graphics and helpful physical buttons along the bottom to aid navigating through all the functions.

The climate controls are always visible on a screen below the infotainment, which is good, but the buttons are touch-sensitive rather than physical, so it requires more of your attention while driving to operate them.

The interior looks modern and is mostly well laid out, with leather and Alcantara that lift the quality a little compared with a standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>.

Not all of the plastics are as tactile as we'd like, including those used on the passenger’s side of the dashboard and the lower doors. A few bits even wobble when you prod them. That's disappointing on what is an expensive car. A <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n24838">Kia EV6 GT</a> looks and feels a little better inside.

“I love that the steering wheel is unique to the N version but I wish Hyundai had gone for a bolder interior colour scheme. For such a fun car it's all rather moody and serious.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/dan-jones/n23433">Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer </a>

The N performance version of the Ioniq 5 electric car is very fast and packed full of tech –&nbsp;but also expensive

The amount of space for passengers and luggage in the Ioniq 5 N is just the same as in a regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>&nbsp;so this is a car that's practical as well as quick.

Space up front is very generous: you’d have to be well over 6ft tall to have any problems with leg room. The wide interior adds to the sense of spaciousness.

In the rear, leg room is ridiculously generous, and not far off what you’d expect in a limo. Head room is good too. What’s more, you can recline the rear seats, and slide them back and forth.

The generous passenger space doesn’t come at the expense of good&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">boot space</a> – the Ioniq 5 N is roughly on a par with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a> for luggage carrying. We managed to slot seven <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">carry-on suitcases</a> below the load cover of the regular Ioniq 5 and EV6, so this 5 N should take the same. For comparison, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> took 10 cases in its front and rear boots.

“I found that the Ioniq 5 N feels huge inside. You can even recline the back seats for extra comfort.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/lawrence-cheung/n23691">Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor</a>

ioniq-5-n

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a very quick electric car in a practical package with some impressive drive-mode party pieces. It succeeds in drawing a smile on the driver’s face, but its relatively high price means it’s hard to justify over some electric and petrol-powered alternatives.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

This class is all about SUVs that run purely on electricity. No petrol, no diesel and not even any hybrid technology.

Relatively low-cost options include the MG ZS EV, but you can easily spend three times as much on more luxurious alternatives, such as the BMW iX.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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