2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review: Australian first drive

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2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Hyundai might be the most innovative car brand on the Australian market today, fielding mainstream high-volume models, a performance sub-brand, and an all-electric line-up that is the envy of most.

It’s no shock, then, that the South Korean brand breaks the mold with its latest product, the Ioniq 5 N, which is not only the first all-electric mainstream performance model, but also Hyundai’s most expensive at $111,000 before on-road costs.

But the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has the potential and promise to perfectly blend performance and practicality for a plethora of people, making it one of the ultimate do-it-all models on sale today in the same vein as the Ford Ranger Raptor and Audi RS6. Let’s see if it gets there.

How much is a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

By now you’ve probably already heard that this is the most expensive Hyundai Australia model offered to date.

Priced at $111,000 before on-road costs, the Ioniq 5 N will certainly put a dent in your savings, but then again, there’s nothing at any price point that offers a similar blend of performance, practicality and poise is there?

Yes, this thing is more than $10,000 pricier than a Kia EV6 GT and about $20,000 upstream of a Tesla Model Y Performance, but neither of those cars promises the same degree of hardcore performance as this Hyundai.

Even the flagship Ford Mustang Mach-E GT doesn’t come close, and that’s $6010 cheaper.

At its disposal, the Ioniq 5 N pushes out a supercar-scaring 448kW/740Nm, which is more power than aforementioned rivals, though the EV6 GT matches torque outputs and the Mustang Mach-E GT exceeds it at 860Nm.

That’s it for the all-electric crossover rivals, but you could even argue the Ioniq 5 N would compete against the cream of the hot hatch crop, like the 294kW/500Nm Audi RS3 Sportback ($96,800) and 310kW/500Nm Mercedes-AMG A45 S ($119,900).

Sure, the Ioniq 5 is larger, but when spending around $100,000 for something that promises to be fun to drive fast and practical, the ultimate Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class enter the equation, despite the differing approaches to powertrain and gulf in outputs.

For this price, though, you’ll be expecting a long list of equipment, and at least Hyundai has come to the table in this regard.

Standard equipment includes LED exterior lights, a powered tailgate, and rear privacy glass, but N-specific upgrades such as 21-inch wheels, gloss-black exterior accents, and an eye-catching body kit also feature.

In terms of options, there’s matte paint for $1000 and a glass roof for $2000.

This thing is $27,000 – or a whole Hyundai i30’s worth – more expensive than a top-spec Ioniq 5 Epiq upon which it is based, but it is a whole lot more than just dialling up the electric motors and slapping on a body kit.

How big is a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

Aside from the sporty bits on the outside, the Ioniq 5 N has also been upgraded with new parts on the inside to make it feel distinct from the rest of Hyundai’s mid-size electric SUV line-up.

The major changes of which being a new steering wheel and updated functionality from the infotainment system.

The steering wheel is now clad in semi-perforated leather so sweaty hands won’t slip off mid-corner, and there are also buttons to engage the various N-specific driving modes.

Most crucial of all, though, is the N Grin Boost button that allows for a 10-second boost in performance, essentially overclocking the Ioniq 5 N for a short period so you can launch the car even harder.

The 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is also tweaked, offering things like a lap timer, G-force meter, and more, while still retaining useful features like satellite navigation, digital radio, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits behind the steering wheel, with a clear display that changes around when you flick it to different driving modes.

This N also scores sporty bucket seats, Alcantara bits, and metal pedals, and other highlights include dual-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, a wireless smartphone charger, USB-C charging outlets, and a head-up display.

Of note, the front seats in the N are adjusted manually, whereas the rest of the Ioniq 5 family have electronic adjustment. This lets Hyundai mount the seats lower for a better driving position.

Space is also excellent, like it is in the standard Ioniq 5, with plenty of room to empty your pockets and store water bottles, coffee cups and snacks.

However, I do really miss the adjustable centre console of the standard Ioniq 5 that did a lot to really open up the cabin and make it feel more spacious.

But losing that functionality is a worthwhile trade-off for a fixed unit that is padded and allows for a leg brace on spirited driving.

The front and rear seats are spacious for even entire families, and with fully functional rear doors, the Ioniq 5 N could actually be used to drop the kids off in the morning, and then head straight to the racetrack in the arvo.

Performance usually comes at the cost of practicality – that’s just the price you have to pay sometimes.

But not here, because the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s boot will easily fit prams, groceries, golf clubs and whatever else your daily life can throw at it.

To be fair, this is a 480-litre boot, which is 80L less than what you get in a standard Ioniq 5 due to the higher position of the inverter and extra bracing. Will you miss the 80L? I’m betting not because the boot aperture is still generous and the flat floor affords lots of storage space.

Take note, though, the Ioniq 5 N loses the front boot area found in the Ioniq 5 due to the inclusion of a speaker system for its N Active Sound + feature.

Does the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is fitted with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with functionality for satellite navigation, digital radio, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The system is also backed up with a wireless smartphone charger to keep your device topped up while connected, but a wired set-up through a single USB-C port on the centre console is also available.

The infotainment system is snappy and fast but can take a beat to load a new function like maps or media.

Hyundai also offers its Bluelink smartphone app that connects with the Ioniq 5 N for extra features like an emergency call function, weather forecast information, and calendar integration.

The app also lets you view the vehicle’s status from your phone, including battery levels, remotely locking/unlocking the doors, and adding satellite navigation destinations.

Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N a safe car?

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has not been crash-tested by ANCAP, or Euro NCAP, and as such, does not have an official safety rating.

However, the Ioniq 5 upon which it is based was awarded a maximum five-star rating when it was tested in 2021. It is unclear how much of this assessment is applicable to the Ioniq 5 N, though, as there are physical changes to the car.

For reference, the 2021 Ioniq 5 was awarded an 88 and 87 per cent score in the adult and child occupant protection tests respectively. It also scored 63 per cent for the vulnerable road user protection examination, and notched 89 per cent in the safety assist category. 

What safety technology does the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N have?

Despite the lack of ANCAP rating, the Ioniq 5 N is equipped with an impressive suite of standard safety equipment.

There’s Hyundai’s SmartSense suite that includes blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, safe exit assist, and a surround-view monitor.

Of course, there are also the requisite systems like anti-lock brakes, hill-start assist, traction control, and electronic brake distribution, as well as front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger, and side curtain airbags.

In the second-row, there are ISOFIX points in the two outboard seats, as well as top-tether anchorage points for all three pews.

How much does the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N cost to run?

Like all new Hyundais, the Ioniq 5 N comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery components are covered for an industry-standard eight-year/160,000km period.

Servicing is every 24 months or 30,000km, whichever occurs first. The first three services, or six years/90,000km, will run a total of $1875 at $625 per scheduled maintenance period.

Due to the newness of this model, our insurer was unable to provide a comprehensive quote for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

What is the range of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

Mounted to the floor of this car is a new-generation 84kWh battery, which is larger than the one you will find in a standard Ioniq 5. And that bigger battery means driving range is a claimed 448km (WLTP).

You won’t get anywhere near that figure if you are using that N Grin Boost mode a bit too much, but it is capable of a very respectable range that won’t leave you feeling like you need to be attached to a charger every day.

Speaking of which, with 800-volt architecture, the Ioniq 5 N can recharge from 10–80 per cent in less than 20 minutes when using a 350kW DC fast charger.

A charger with this throughput is hard to find, though, but when using a domestic AC 7kW charger, the Ioniq 5 N can go from 10 per cent battery to full in around 11 hours.

As the launch event for the Ioniq 5 N involved mixed driving on public roads with multiple driver changes, as well as a morning track session, it was hard to ascertain an accurate real-world efficiency figure.

Officially, however, the new high-performance Hyundai model will chew through 21.2kWh per 100 kilometres (WLTP), but obviously this figure is much higher during circuit driving.

What is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N like to drive?

Electric cars have an image problem with enthusiasts, and Hyundai plans to change that perception with its Ioniq 5 N.

But how do you infuse character and soul into a car that doesn’t burn dinosaur juice and is as complicated to drive fast as playing a video game?

For starters, the Ioniq 5 N is gifted with a special powertrain that sets it apart from the rest of the EV crowd. Its motors, one driving each axle, have a combined system output of 448kW and 740Nm – making it one of the most potent EVs on sale in Australia.

Sure, that doesn’t beat the Taycan Turbo (500kW/850Nm), but the Ioniq 5 N has more power and torque at its disposal than the much-vaunted Nissan GT-R.

With drive sent to all four wheels, the Ioniq 5 N can accelerate from 0–100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, but switching on the N Grin Boost function ups outputs to 478kW/770Nm for 10 seconds and shaves 0.1sec off the run.

In layman’s terms, it’s proper quick, and you can’t buy anything today that can accelerate as fast for less.

To test its full capabilities, you’ll have to make use of a racetrack, and luckily the local launch of the Ioniq 5 N included a session at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The whole mantra for Hyundai’s N cars is fun, accessible performance, and the Ioniq 5 N delivers, being as fun as almost any petrol-powered sports car I have ever driven.

These electric motors are putting out a sizeable chunk of power and torque, more than enough to move this 2.2-tonne behemoth, but the trick with this car isn’t just its rapid acceleration. The magic is in the way it can corner.

With a tricked-out limited-slip differential, a wider track, lowered suspension, extra bracing, and torque vectoring, the Ioniq 5 N just locks on and attacks apexes like a dog off a leash. This is genuinely fun and engaging to hustle around a circuit.

Like N cars of the past, this one also has customisable drive programs to dial in things like steering weight, suspension set-up, traction settings, and more.

It’s a veritable smorgasbord of changes you can make to tailor this car to your skill level, and make driving like this easier and more accessible to more people.

However, as Hyundai’s first all-electric N car, some unique features set it apart from anything else on the market.

The standout is the N e-shift, which simulates an automatic gearbox and lets you rip through gears, even emulating that jerkiness when swapping to the next cog and featuring a rev limiter.

And this pairs so well with the fake engine sounds and exhaust pops of the N Active Sound + (NAS+) system to deliver a level of tactility not found in another EV currently on the market.

I know it sounds gimmicky on paper, but this thing transforms and elevates the Ioniq 5 N into a genuine driver’s car.

All that muscle memory of slowing for a corner and downshifting, then turning in, accelerating, and ripping up a gear as you build speed – it works here because of that simulated shifter, and I bloody love it.

And for all the hoons out there, this thing will even drift!

There’s a Drift Optimiser mode that helps get the tail out by sending 100 per cent of the torque to the rear wheels.

And after you’ve had all your fun and it’s time to swap the racetrack for the tarmac, well, the Ioniq 5 N can do that pretty well too. Turn off all the go-fast N features, and what you are left with is… an Ioniq 5.

You get one-pedal driving for maximum efficiency, mod cons like a heated steering wheel, and even adaptive cruise control with lane centering for when you are on the freeway.

And because it’s an EV, this thing is so quiet and serene that I’d even call it comfortable.

The 21-inch wheels and sportier suspension do nothing to detract from just how liveable day-to-day this thing is. I’d more than happily daily drive the Ioniq 5 N – commuting to work, picking up the kids at school, and grabbing groceries – it can do it all.

Can a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N tow?

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N does not have the ability to tow, and as such does not have a braked or unbraked towing capacity.

The payload capacity of the Ioniq 5 N is 430kg, which should accommodate a family of four relatively easily, but be mindful not to pack too much gear if going away on a road trip.

Four adults should also not exceed the Ioniq 5 N’s payload capacity, but again, be mindful of anything else you are also carrying.

Should I buy a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

The Ioniq 5 N isn’t just a sporty EV, it transcends its powertrain restraints and is a truly wonderful driver’s car that is engaging and dynamic in all the right ways.

It is also a comfortable, capable, and confident commuter car, able to silently slink through gridlocked traffic without much fuss, and on top of all that, there’s space inside for a whole family of four.

Forget the Ford Ranger Raptor or Audi RS6, this, the Ioniq 5 N, might be all the car you will ever need.

Should you buy one? Absolutely.

How do I buy a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N? The next steps.

You could make the argument that a ‘standard’ Ioniq 5 is fast and fun enough, but the N flagship does take things to a whole new level not yet seen in the automotive world.

The biggest hurdles to overcome when purchasing an Ioniq 5 N will be what colour to choose, as that will also dictate what is available in stock and how long you will have to wait.

Having said that, there are plenty of cars in stock currently, as only the Performance Blue and Gravity Gold colours incur a three-to-six month wait time, while Ecotronic Grey and Atlas White Matte have estimated deliver times from April.

Here is where you can find your nearest Hyundai dealership, here is where you can see what Hyundai models are in stock at Drive, and if you want to stay updated with everything Hyundai, you’ll find all the latest news here.

The post 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review: Australian first drive appeared first on Drive.

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