Fans of growling, gas-powered sports cars have been on the sidelines of electric cars, believing that even though they are fast, capable and fun, they can never replace the visceral experience of an internal combustion engine. The rumble under your seat, the gurgle of rev-matching, the powerful feel of paddle shifters–or an actual manual shifter. None of this can be matched by a computer-regulated EV such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
Or can it?
Meet the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: This EV Has a Gas-Powered Sports Car Soul
That was the challenge Hyundai’s engineers set out to conquer in creating the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, a performance-focused dual motor, all wheel drive sports car version of the uber-popular electric car. They broke down just what it is that people love about performance cars and figured out how the Ioniq 5 N can deliver a similar experience: Delivering 641 HP, it growls, it gurgles, it downshifts, it can drift. The driver can use paddle shifters to up or down shift, and it has launch mode. It’s designed to hug corners and curves, or slide through them, whichever you like, and to respond instantly to the driver’s commands.
We spent the day testing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N on a track. This is what we learned.
The Ioniq 5 N Looks Distinctly Sporty
Priced at $66,000, a solid $24K more than the base model, the N model is distinct. From the “N” badge, which stands for Namyang, Hyundai’s test track in Korea, to a wide lower spoiler framed in red and a red vertical stripe at the center of the grille, the Ioniq 5 N has a true sports car face.
Inside, There’s All Sorts of Power At Your Fingertips
The steering wheel has multiple buttons to customize your drive experience. On the upper left is Drive Mode, where you’ll find normal, eco or sport mode. The red tab on the right side is NBG, or N Grin Boost. Tap this for that instant 40 HP blast.
On the lower left is N mode; tap it and you’ll see the N driver display with performance settings and tracking, and which N mode options are selected. Here you can toggle through the settings to turn off traction control, add engine sounds from growling gas-sounds to whirring electric sounds to no sound at all. On the lower right is N E-Shift, which lets you switch between automatic and paddle shifters.
Are paddle shifters fun or phony? We asked a professional driver.
Factory Sport Seats Make The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Track Ready
Sport seats do several things: They have thigh bolsters to keep your butt planted in the seat; they have side bolsters to keep your core from moving around too much, and they have cutouts for a 5-point racing harness should you decide you need them. Sport seats to enhance the experience of daily driving and to allow drivers an edge on the track. And, they signal that this car is made for fast driving.
Get a look at Hyundai’s other flagship Ioniq, the 6, here.
Everything You Need, Secured
One of the selling points in the regular Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the “open cabin” which has a moveable center console, an open floor between the two front seats and lots of flexibility. Not what you want in a performance car; flying backpacks and phones make for a messy and dangerous drive. Hyundai replaced the moveable center console with one that is not only anchored, but has a deep box on top and a cubby below for stowing phones and other small things. A rubber pad inside the top cubby will hold a phone as it charges, too.
Large, Yes, But Still In Charge
Despite a frame and height of the Ioniq 5 that is more like an SUV than a sports car, Hyundai’s engineers tuned every aspect of the N version to turn its size into an advantage. They actually lengthened and widened the wheelbase, tuned the suspension and handling, and upgraded every component to create a balanced and precise drive experience, on the road and on the track.
Related: What it’s Like to Drive the First-Ever Disney-Themed Car: Hyundai Ioniq 5
Suede Isn’t Just Posh; It Holds Driver and Passengers In Place
Microsuede has become popular for it’s plush look and feel. But in the racing world it’s a tactical fabric: it holds your butt to the seat to prevent sliding around as you drive. All passengers in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N sit in suede-upholstered bucket seats so each can enjoy the ride firmly planted.
A Rear Diffuser Adds Length and Function
The rear bumper and spoiler aren’t just distinct and trimmed in red to mimic the front grille. The bumper was modified and a lower spoiler added for better aerodynamics, resulting in the addition of a few inches to the overall length of the car. And, the red “pixel” detail just above the spoiler adds another “N” visual cue.
Sport Brakes and Red Accents For the Win
Every good sports car needs sport brakes, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is no exception. What is the exception are the open-stile rims; EVs typically have wider and flatter spokes to enhance airflow past, not through, the wheels. And of course the sport brakes are red, matching nicely the red on the lower rocker panels and across the front and rear bumpers.
All This Adds Up to Fun on the Track
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N delivers an astounding 641 HP, 40 of that delivered via Grin Mode, a “boost” or launch mode that Hyundai has added to all its performance-powered EVs. It’s activated simply by pushing the NGB button which, for 20 seconds, adds 40 HP to the standard 601 in a blast that throws you back in your seat and hurtles you down the road. You can also turn off traction control for an extra little spin on the track.
