Can a Sizzling Hatch EV Constructed For the Observe Additionally Be a Good On a regular basis Driver?
When Clear Fleet Report had the chance in April 2024 to drive the all-new 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N on a race monitor, we jumped on the probability. Our expertise is linked on the finish of this story. However how does this beast of a monitor automobile do on the freeway and in-town on a milk-and-butter run? Fast reply: Very nicely.
What Is N?
The Hyundai sub-brand of high-performance vehicles will get the N moniker that the corporate says is about “Having enjoyable and bringing a youthful component and the wild facet to Hyundai.”
Hyundai N autos are aimed toward efficiency fans wanting a street-legal automobile they’ll take to the restrict on and off the monitor. These autos get N unique badging, modified engines, customized gearboxes, aerodynamic upgrades and variable suspension programs. Present Hyundai fashions which have acquired the N efficiency remedy are Kona, Elantra and Ioniq 5. Word: Hyundai additionally has “N-Line” trims that aren’t to be confused with the N fashions, as N-Line autos primarily are an look improve from base fashions.
Taming a Beast
The all-wheel drive (AWD) 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5N is powered by twin motors that scoot it alongside 0-60 mph in a seat-pinning 3.4 seconds. We don’t suggest or encourage attempting this, however the high velocity is ready at 162 mph. To get these numbers it means horsepower and torque must be prodigious—and they’re!
IONIQ 5 N: Powering-up
- Twin Electrical Motors
- 84 kWh Lithium-ion Polymer battery
- Base Horsepower: 601
- Base Torque: 545 pound-feet
- N Grin Increase Horsepower: 641
- N Grin Increase Torque: 568 lb.-ft.
- All Electrical Vary (AER): 221
What’s N Grin Increase?
The Ioniq 5 N efficiency numbers above are spectacular, however urgent the N Grin Increase button on the precise facet of the steering wheel provides 40 hp for up-to 10 seconds. Releasing the button for 10 seconds after which hitting it once more may be very very similar to the IndyCar system of Push To Cross. The one concern is the extra N Grin Increase is used, the faster the battery is depleted, so use it when completely needing a bit extra energy. Or simply use it for the heck of it. Test this video for more information.
Silent Cruising
The Ioniq 5 N was designed to be a totally succesful monitor automobile, however not surprisingly additionally it is a totally succesful on a regular basis driver that simply handles all each day wants whereas offering some enjoyable.
In every week we placed on 434 miles of Southern California freeway driving, taking us from Dana Level to Hollywood to Palm Springs and again. We handled the Ioniq 5 N with nice respect by preventing off temptation to press the N Grin Increase button so we might get a learn on the all-electric driving effectivity. We had been impressed with the outcomes—3.2 miles per kilowatt hour, which is what non-performance EVs get.
One characteristic we used always was the one pedal and i-Pedal driving. Be sure to have the Hyundai vendor gross sales affiliate display how utilizing and setting this regenerative braking approach will improve your electrical effectivity, driving vary and driving enjoyment.
Freeway and Round City Cruising
The excessive efficiency capabilities of the Ioniq 5 N may be dialed again to the purpose it drives very similar to its extra sedate sibling, the Ioniq 5 which we final examined in 2022. The N, which Hyundai calls an On a regular basis Sportscarhas drive modes of Eco, Regular, Sport, then three N settings (put these in your again pocket till wanted when headed to a monitor day). The primary three are self-explanatory when you’ll use them for environment friendly freeway cruising, common in-town and freeway driving or for the occasional taking twisties. We discovered Regular to be the perfect for almost all of our driving, which was totally on the freeway. A fast blip into Sport made for some spirited on-ramp merging and passing massive rigs and sluggish pokes on the 405, 5 and 15. If you already know these SoCal freeways, and the way they’ll develop into clogged, having a get-up-and-go mode is enormously appreciated.
Hyundai engineers had some enjoyable creating software program that simulates gear shifts and throttle sounds. One of many inherent advantages of driving an electrical automobile is the quiet and easy operation. Nonetheless, many individuals needed exhaust sounds and the sensation of transmission gear modifications. In case you are considered one of them, when taking an Ioniq 5 N for a check drive, go into the middle contact display and search for the N e-shift and N Energetic Sound+ settings. They make the IONIQ 5 N sound and really feel oh-so like a gasoline-powered automobile.
For much more enjoyable, press the Increase button and a well-known exhaust crackle is piped by means of the ten inside audio system and two exterior audio system because the e-shift takes you thru the “gears.” In fact, this isn’t truly occurring as EVs have just one gear. Nonetheless, the fake efficiency sounds are a kick, particularly when blipping the paddle shifters. Not that you must, however the electrical motors can spin as much as 21,000 rpm so the sounds, gear shifts and efficiency must be skilled.
It’s implied the Ioniq 5 N was designed for dealing with, which it does with wonderful dexterity and crispness. Hyundai calls it a Nook Rascal. The battery placement under the ground makes for as low of a middle of gravity doable, permitting the Ioniq 5 N’s 4,861 kilos to hug the bottom even when pushing corners arduous.
Stopping Prowess
Going quick is nice, however slowing is what makes for a quick lap and secure avenue driving. Hyundai says the “Ioniq 5 N’s specially-tuned brakes are Hyundai’s strongest braking system up to now.”
Regenerative braking on an EV is for effectivity. When coasting or braking, kinetic vitality is transformed into electrical vitality and returned to the battery so as to add driving vary. It additionally provides a degree of pleasure and enjoyable with the one-pedal driving approach. Hyundai reached a stability between the road and monitor by recalibrating the braking system so sturdy regeneration together with the mechanical brakes mix for straight and true stops with no brake fading.
Charging
The Ioniq 5 N has a ten.9 kW onboard charger and an 800-volt electrical system. The 84.0 kWh lithium-ion battery has pre-heating. That provides a warmth pump for battery conditioning to enhance charging and efficiency as heating the battery to the optimum charging temperature. Ioniq 5 N house owners dwelling the place it will get under 40 levels persistently for months will depend on this characteristic to acquire a full cost.
The Ioniq 5 N may be trickle charged with a 120V frequent wall plug, however anticipate replenish instances to be lengthy and sluggish. The very best wager for house owners will likely be to put in a Degree 2 240V dwelling charger that may take the battery from 10-to-100% in 7.2 hours. Speedy charging with Degree 2 at 50 kW and 400 volts will take the battery 10-to-80% in about 70 minutes. DC quick charging at 250 kW and 800 volts, will take you 10-to-80% in 18 minutes.
For much more comfort, the Ioniq 5 has Automobile-to-Loador V2L, the place energy can circulation out of the battery and cost e-bikes, tire pumps and out of doors tools, run your workplace whereas touring and even be a house electrical energy supply throughout an influence outage.
Distinctive Exterior Design
The 2025 Ioniq 5 N has minimal entrance and rear overhangs. The seamless clamshell hood closes to a slit the place the oblong projector LED lights peek out from the far edges of the curved nostril.
The edges reveal crisp traces and an origami-like crease making a triangle on the doorways that begins on the A pillar and culminates on the 45-degree angled C pillar. The LED tail lights, which replicate the oblong design of the headlights, have a horizontal gentle bar with a small sq. sample working the total width of the hands-free raise gate.
The rear bumper, diffuser and air outlet, checkered flag reflectors, distinctive badging and high-mount brake gentle are all solely discovered on the IONIQ 5 N.
The Ioniq 5 N is available in one trim and a selection of 5 exterior colours—Abyss Black, Soultronic Orange ($500 additional), Efficiency Blue Matte ($1,000 additional), Ecotronic Grey Matte ($1,000 additional) and Atlas White, which was our shade.
Spacious and Sporty Inside
The utterly flat ground supplies spacious leg, shoulder and head room for all 5 occupants. The floating bridge console discovered on the bottom Ioniq 5, which is moveable and incorporates cup holders and cost ports, has been changed with a hard and fast middle console.
Lined in Alcantara with H-Tex, Hyundai’s title for artificial leather-based, the light-weight entrance sport bucket seats are heated and ventilated with 6-way guide changes. The one inside shade is black with blue accents.
The cut up 60:40 rear bench seat reclines and has 59.3 cubic ft of cargo house when folded down and 26.1 cubic ft with upright. There isn’t a entrance trunk (frunk).
The low slung sprint has twin 12.3-inch horizontal shade screens, one for the configurable digital devices and the opposite for the infotainment system. Leisure was by means of the 8-speaker Bose premium audio system with AM/FM/SiriusXM, wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with Bluetooth streaming and hands-free phone. The Bluelink app supplies entry to car programs together with distant begin and distant charging, and the Digital Key supplies additional comfort and security.
Security
The Ioniq 5 N comes with an intensive record of normal security options starting with six airbags: entrance, facet affect and facet air curtain with rollover sensors. Hyundai’s SmartSense security tech is powerful with superior driver help programs (ADAS), together with lane maintaining help, blind spot detection, ahead collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic avoidance help. Click on the above hyperlink to study concerning the Hyundai security suite. Different options are hill begin help, Auto Maintain, a encompass and blind view monitor with parking sensors, and a tire strain monitoring system.
Pricing
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is available in one trim degree—all you select is the colour. The MSRP, together with the $1,475 freight cost, is $67,675. The 2025 Ioniq 5 N is on the market in restricted portions at choose sellers in choose states, so contact your native Hyundai vendor for availability.
Observations: 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
Hyundai says the Ioniq 5 N is constructed on its 3 Pillars philosophy of Nook Rascal, Racetrack Functionality and On a regular basis Sports activities Automotive. Click on every to get an illustration.
The Ioniq 5 N is an absolute blast to drive on a race monitor, equaling and bettering many gasoline-powered sports activities vehicles, however that isn’t what we’re contemplating right here. We’re addressing if a blast-to-drive all-electric efficiency automobile may be tamed for chauffeuring the youngsters to soccer practices and making bread-and-milk runs. The clear reply is sure, however with the caveat that only a few different drivers will likely be having as a lot enjoyable with the mundane driving duties.
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Story by John Faulkner. Pictures and video by John Faulkner and Hyundai.
Different Ioniq 5 critiques from Clear Fleet Report:
Flash Drive: 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Highway Take a look at: 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Flash Drive: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Disclosure
Clear Fleet Report is loaned free check autos from automakers to judge, sometimes for every week at a time. Our street exams are based mostly on this one-week drive of a brand new car. Due to this we don’t tackle points reminiscent of long-term reliability or complete price of possession. As well as, we are sometimes invited to producer occasions highlighting new autos or expertise. As a part of these occasions we could also be supplied free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our greatest to current our unvarnished evaluations of autos and information irrespective of those inducements.
Our focus is on autos that supply the perfect gas economic system of their class, which leads us to emphasise electrical vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and different environment friendly powertrains. We additionally characteristic these environment friendly gas-powered autos which might be among the many high mpg autos of their class. As well as, we goal to supply critiques and information on superior expertise and the choice gas car market. We welcome any suggestions from car house owners and are devoted to offering a discussion board for various viewpoints. Please tell us your views at writer@ cleanfleetreport.com.
