Some vehicles just grab you right away. Either their looks or sounds, or perhaps how they perform. Now we’re getting EVs that are doing just that. The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N AWD had me at “hello.”
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N AWD just reached out and grabbed us.
One look at its sleek silhouette compelled me to spend some quality drive time with the marque’s first N-badged EV. By the way, for those of you for whom this application of the 14th letter is new, the “N” nomenclature is applied to the highest performing variants of Hyundai’s automobiles. Think Audi RS, BMW M, or Mercedes-AMG and you’ll get the idea.
The lovely and ever so inquisitive Mrs. Me did hit me with a question about the Ioniq I was left struggling to answer though. “Is it an SUV, a hatchback, or a station wagon?” she asked. To which I replied, “Yes.” Like some of the best music I’ve heard, the Ioniq 5 N is probably best thought of as unclassifiable.
Whatever it is, the Hyundai definitely looks fast. If the orange accents aren’t enough to telegraph the Ioniq 5 N’s intentions for you, look more closely and you’ll spot a smoothly integrated tail spoiler flowing from the roof, along with a rear valance diffuser underneath its rear bumper. Flared fenders, 21-inch wheels and side skirts further enhance the I5N’s handsome styling. Peek through the openings in those striking wheels, and you’ll see the Ioniq 5 N also runs a huge set of brakes.
Wondering how Hyundai’s cars got so good-looking all of a sudden? You can thank the company’s chief creative officer, Luc Donckerwolke, who previously led the Volkswagen Group’s design department. There, he oversaw the look of Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini offerings. He is why all of the company’s models, including those from Genesis and Kia, now have a premium look.
Standard output is 601 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive system is capable of prioritizing the front or rear wheels as needed.
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N also has plenty of go to justify the way it shows. A pair of electric motors, one dedicated to the front wheels and the other dedicated to the rear, place a maximum of 641 horsepower at the disposal of the Hyundai’s pilot. This figure can be attained on a short-term basis — like say, when you’re snatching the headlights out of a Mustang GT from a traffic signal — with the “N Grin Boost” button on the Ioniq 5 N’s steering wheel.
Standard output is 601 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive system is capable of prioritizing the front or rear wheels as needed to ensure optimal traction. Power is stored in an 84-kWh battery pack, which accepts a 238 kW or better DC fast charging connection.
One can anticipate up to 221 miles of range on a full charge, according to the EPA. However, the best I saw was 200. On the other hand, recharge times weren’t especially drawn out. I got a 100% charge from an 80% discharge in just over 40 minutes.
Interior Accommodations
A widescreen panel dominates the dash, housing the Ioniq 5 N’s digital 12.3-inch instrumentation screen, as well as its 12.3-inch infotainment interface — the latter of which is a touchscreen. The instrumentation side is reconfigurable in a few different ways to emphasize certain performance-oriented metrics over others — depending upon the driver’s concerns.
A widescreen panel dominates the dash, housing the Ioniq 5 N’s digital 12.3-inch instrumentation screen, as well as its 12.3-inch infotainment interface.
The steering wheel hosts a drive mode selector, a regenerative braking level adjustment dial and the N Grin Boost button. In keeping with the model’s performance capability, a set of aggressively bolstered front seats is specified to provide support for the driver and front passenger when the Ioniq 5 N is used earnestly. Adorned with the “N” logo, the seats are also configured to accept racing harnesses.
Comfort, Convenience & Safety Tech
The Ioniq 5 N’s ride height makes ingress and egress easy to accomplish. Those who are, shall we say — wide of beam, may find the seats a bit snug as the bolsters are fixed in place. Meanwhile, head, leg and shoulder room are more than adequate, even for rear seat passengers.
All controls fall readily to hand, and the operation of most functions is conducted intuitively. Bose did the audio system, which sounds pretty good. Android and CarPlay compatibility are standard. The Hyundai also offers Wi-Fi Hotspot capability and wireless charging for mobile devices. Driver assistance tech includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring.
The Ioniq 5 N’s seats are unmistakable and ensure the driver remains firmly planted during high-speed moves.
The Ioniq 5 N also monitored my attentiveness to admonish me to keep my eyes front when it “saw” me looking away from the road. However, the system was also fooled into chiding me in corners in which I needed to look through a side window to stay on my chosen line.
Driving Impressions
An unapologetic EV fan, I love the way the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N goes. In addition to the preternatural smoothness with which all EVs conduct themselves, the I5N is fiendishly quick. Its product planners also included a couple of features to “enhance” its driving experience.
A simulated “gearshift” program, which mimics the feel of a manual transmission when the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles are employed, can be activated. There are also driver-selectable synthesized aural responses. One replicates a jet, while another mimics a high-performance internal combustion engine. “Revs” rise and fall in sympathy with throttle applications and “gear shifts”.
I’m not a fan, so I ran the car with them switched off. However, those nods to the EV-resistant might help a wider range of drivers feel more at home. Additionally, once you nail the throttle and feel the Hyundai’s explosive acceleration, you’ll likely be as hooked on it as I am. And here, if you would, please indulge me as I greet my fellow addicts; “Hello, my name is Lyndon and I’m an acceleration-aholic.”
Seriously though, the high-performing Hyundai EV delivers a driving experience even the most discerning of enthusiasts will appreciate. Handling is balanced, and the I5N delivers an abundance of grip. Steering is precise and weighted nicely, while braking is resolute. One pedal driving is supported too.
One can anticipate up to 221 miles of range on a full charge, according to the EPA.
The Hyundai also offers a drift mode, for those who prefer sliding through corners with their car’s tail hanging out. Getting back to the acceleration potential though, I easily replicated three-second runs to 60 mph with the N Grin Boost feature activated. Top speed is limited to 162 miles per hour.
In Summary
Those whose minds still envision the long-departed little Excel when they hear the name “Hyundai” really need to update their operating systems. Today’s Hyundai offers a lineup of cars for just about every taste and driving proclivity.
Factor in Kia and Genesis, and the company has a broad selection of near-luxury and luxury offerings, too. And each model in the company’s brand portfolio is backed by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
What’s more, solid performance models are on offer across all three brands, while value for the dollar remains a key plank in their unique selling positions. To that end, pricing for the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq N AWD starts at $66,100. Price as tested for the model with which I spent a week was $67,685.
0 Comments