Fast electric vehicles aren’t an entirely new thing. For about a decade, we’ve been seeing videos of EVs surprising its occupants with blistering acceleration times. 0 to 100kph times under four seconds have become the norm for these kinds of cars to a point that it’s not really surprising anymore.
Every year, a whole bunch of these powerful and high horsepower EVs enter the market, giving us shocking headline figures and whatnot. When Hyundai introduced the Ioniq 5 N, we admit that we thought it would be just another EV that accelerates quickly.
Boy were we proven wrong, and we’re glad we were.
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What exactly is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?
To oversimplify, it’s the Ioniq 5 with a beefed up electric motor to make it go fast. But to say that isn’t going to do justice to all the effort that was made to develop it.
For starters, the suspension was given an overhaul, getting a wider track and a set of unique springs, dampers, and other suspension components. The suspension setup also gives it unique settings for its active suspension to make it go around corners even better. Hyundai even went as far as giving it even stronger chassis braces for extra rigidity. There’s a lot more tricks under the skin, but we’ll get to that later.
Of course, there’s the power. The standard Ioniq 5 we get makes 215hp and 350Nm of torque, more than good enough for a daily driver. A zero to 100kph time of 7.4 seconds isn’t something most people would complain about, either.
But the N version nearly triples that power output. For starters, the battery capacity jumps from 72.6kWh to 84kWh to give the dual electric motors extra juice. Those motors spin up to 21,000rpm to provide 600hp and 750Nm of torque. Because of that, 0 to 100kph acceleration times are cut down to just 3.5 seconds, less than half the time it takes for the standard model to do the same task.
N-hancements
But on top of all those, Hyundai added several goodies to enhance the driving experience. First up is the N Grin Boost that ups to power output for ten seconds. Activate that and its motors spool out 641hp and 770Nm of torque, allowing it do reach the century mark in 3.4 seconds.
Moving forward, the N Pedal aims to give the car characteristics similar to an internal combustion engine, while N Shift simulates a flappy paddle gearbox. Hyundai is pulling a massive effort for this EV to, at the very least, convince performance car buyers that feel every bit as engaging and characterful as a fuel-fed sports car.
N Battery Preconditioning helps maximize the car’s charge range when hammering it around the track, while N Brake Regen means one doesn’t have to rely solely on the brake discs to slow it down. The latter is something Hyundai is quite keen to point out as fast EVs often have overworked brakes because of the weight these cars carry.
For a little bit of fun, Hyundai added what’s called the N Drift Optimizer. No, it doesn’t turn the car rear-wheel drive in an instant. Instead, it retains the function of the all-wheel drive system but sends most of the torque to the rear wheels for longer slides. But if keeping the car neat and tidy around corners in the pursuit of lap times is more your thing, the N Torque Distribution system will be the ticket.
High-power vs. high performance
According to Joonwoo Park, the vice president of the Hyundai N brand management group, there are two kinds of fast EVs in the world. There’s the high-power EV and the high performance EV. What’s the difference, you ask?
Simply put, high-power EVs give you the thrill of fast acceleration, but not much else. A high performance EV on the other hand isn’t just quick in a straight but also enjoyable around the bends. Park says there are loads of the prior around, but not much on the latter.
Park and the entire Hyundai N division are adamant that their Ioniq 5 N is a true high performance electric vehicle. Yes, can get to triple digits in no time, but the main priority was driver involvement and pleasure. In an age where electric power steering and a whole raft of driver assists exist, it was a bold claim, indeed.
Park’s enthusiasm for the Ioniq 5 N is infectious, singing praises about the car’s feel and feedback. It was safe to say that he really hyped us up to get behind the wheel of the company’s creation. It also helps that Albert Biermann, now retired, was poached from BMW M and instrumental in forming the foundations and philosophy of the N brand.
Oh, and N isn’t a jab at BMW’s M. It stands for Nanyang (where the performance division was born) and Nürburgring (where its cars are honed and further developed), in case you’re asking. Just a little fun fact there.
Did we mention we were in Barcelona the whole time? Yup, Hyundai N was so confident in its latest baby that they sent us abroad just to have a go in it. The brand certainly pulled out all the stops for this model. It was now time to see if the car could really talk the talk.
On the road
Finally, the day had arrived that we’d be able to take the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for a spin. We were told we’d be doing a few driving exercises on the race track, as well as a few hot laps. But to get to the track, we had to go on public roads.
The route to the track took us around the district of Cuitat Vella before heading on to the expressway. There, the Ioniq 5 N felt like, well, a standard Ioniq 5. Okay, so the ride is ever so slightly firmer than the ‘normal’ version, but it’s not in a way that’ll break your back. If anything, it rode and drive like a sporty executive sedan.
That trait was made more apparent on the highway, proving itself to be a highly competent cruiser. It was smooth, serene, and quiet, making it a relaxing drive to the track. Even with its sporting credentials, it won’t beat you up with stiff suspension or hard seats. Heck, we reckon that it’ll make for a long-distance road trip car.
And here’s a fun fact for you: Highway speed limits around Barcelona go up to 120kph. That said, no one drive at those speeds as most would blow past it. Cruising speeds of 140 to 160kph are common (until speed camera warnings pop up), but with 600hp at its disposal, it was of little effort for the Ioniq 5 N. Regardless of the speed, the car remained cool, calm, and composed.
Track time, finally
But we didn’t fly out all the way to Spain to drive this car in the city, highway, and country roads. As promised, we were brought to the race track to experience the Ioniq 5 N in its habitat.
The venue in which we’d have a little bit of fun with the hot EV was Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí. It’s a long and narrow track that was primarily designed for motorcycles filled with high-speed sweeping corners, banked hairpins, and a load of elevation changes just to make things more challenging. At 4.1 kilometers long, its interesting layout has enough turns and straights to explore the car’s capabilities.
But before that, Hyundai brought us to the skidpad to have a little fun with the N Drift Optimizer. With a twists of the N driving mode dials and a couple of adjustments in the touchscreen, it was time to go sideways in it. Our instructor had said to just hoof the accelerator and let our steering inputs hold the slide.
Truth be told, it’s easier said than done. But after a few tries, we finally got the hang of it. Besides, it has more than enough power to pitch it sideways in the first place. But what that exercise revealed is that it can be a fun car without being intimidating thanks to its chassis. The limited slip differential helped, as well as the torque distributor.
Drifting hijinks aside, what’s like around a race track? In two words, we can best describe it as beautifully balanced. Despite weighing around 2,200kg (around as much as a 4WD Toyota Fortuner), it never felt wayward or clumsy. If anything, it uses its weight to its advantage, also thanks in part to its three meter long wheelbase.
Rotation makes a car go faster around the track and the Ioniq 5 N delivers on that front. With just a dab of the brake entering a high-speed sweeper, this car can do a zero countersteer turn while maintaining the racing line. At the same time, the good rotation also helps it scoot out of hairpins faster than expected. It’s not just good for something that’s technically a crossover SUV, it’s good for a high performance car, full stop.
But what stuck to us the most is how it felt organic. There’s bags of feel and feedback behind the wheel, giving you more confidence lap after lap. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N involves you in the process of driving instead of just dealing with a corner. Perhaps ironically, the electronic systems in place are responsible for giving it character instead of dulling the experience.
Jekyll and Hyde
Our time at the track was brief but meaningful. The car had proven its point by being capable in two extreme environments. Before we wrapped up the day, we took a long and scenic ride in it, sitting in the back seat because, well, why not.
From the back, we came to the realization that Hyundai made a car with two brilliant split personalities. It has the attributes of a great daily driver and track day runner. Think of it then as a student athlete who’s an MVP and a summa cum laude, all while being the kindest soul one would ever meet. The Ioniq 5 N is fun where it needs to be, all while being a practical, everyday car.
The Ioniq 5 N is that rare breed of car that offers little compromise in the chassis department. It’s smooth and serene if you want it to be and be dynamic and involving should you be in the mood for some thrills. We can name just a few cars that can do that, and we’re glad to include this one to that exclusive list.
We’ll end this little story with some food for thought. A high-power EV can make you fall in love with it in 3.5 seconds or less, but a high performance EV like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will make you fall in love with it beyond the straights.
