by Baron Wilton
posted on December 29, 2024
Electrified performance with Seoul
One of the most exciting cars to ever come from Korean factories is finally here. Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N may just sound like any other performance variant of a traditional car, but this hatchback is completely different. Up to 641 electric horses and a near three-second 0-to-60 mph time raise any eyebrows? Some critics are even calling it the most fun-to-drive electric car ever created for the masses. Let’s explore Mickael’s wildly impressive IONIQ 5 N, our December car of the month.
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
| BATTERY | HORSEPOWER | 0 to 60 MPH | TOP SPEED | RANGE | DAILY PRICE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 kWh | 601 hp | 3.3 sec | 162 mph | 221 mi | CA$390 |
| BATTERY | HP | 0 to 60 MPH | TOP SPEED | RANGE | DAILY PRICE* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 kWh | 601 hp | 3.3 sec | 162 mph | 221 mi | CA$390 |
The traditional IONIQ 5 is an evolution of Hyundai’s first battery electric vehicle, optimized for urban driving, comfortable commutes, and a futuristic feature-laden design. The handsome hatch is wildly popular on the roads and has been one of the most important electric vehicle launches since the mass-market adoption of the Tesla Model 3. The 5 N leverages all of the qualities that make the 5 so loveable — the charm of its pixelated design, sumptuous and roomy interior, and peppy acceleration — and it significantly levels up the performance.
Like the 5, the 5 N is built off the same battery architecture as the Kia EV6 with dual electric motors and an all-wheel-drive setup. But the 5 N outputs 601 horsepower compared to the all-wheel-drive 5’s 320 horsepower. And if you really need an extra boost in acceleration, the “N Grin Boost” mode amps up the horsepower to 641 for ten seconds of overtaking bliss. This abundant power on tap comes with a small side effect: a battery range of 221 miles instead of the regular 5’s 260 miles. But, that still means 221 miles of gnarly, raucous electric energy.
The 5 N is nearly two cars in one. Its driving mechanics are extremely customizable, similar to tinkering available on Porsche or Ferrari thoroughbreds. For starters, on days when the ice has melted off of Quebec’s roads, you can adjust the all-wheel-drive setup on Mickael’s 5 N to make it completely front-wheel-drive or any percentage in the middle. Now that you’re in front-wheel-drive, you can modify the intensity of the limited slip rear differential to optimize traction through corners. Want more efficiency? You can change the driving mode to your liking. Fooling your passengers that you’re actually driving a manual, gas-powered car? You can play with paddle-shifters to change fake gears and select between three types of combustion engine noises that pump into the cabin or exterior. And these sounds are astonishingly realistic — borrowed from Hyundai’s Elantra N rather than an unfitting noisemaker like the Jaguar F-TYPE R.
Unlike Hyundai’s N Line trim of cars that introduce aggressive design cues without the power to support it, the 5 N benefits from functional aesthetics. The 5 N adds a swanky rear diffuser, larger rims, more powerful brakes, and wider fenders. Mikael’s matte blue hatch also has orange accents and N specific badging all over the car, from the brake calipers to the bottom lip wrapping around the car.
Heading inside, you’ll enjoy Alcantara leather-wrapped bucket seats and an intuitive balance of physical infotainment buttons and a sweeping digital display. There’s also N buttons on the steering wheel that can be customized through the display settings, and the dashboard gauge clusters are dynamic depending on the data you want to focus on. As an everyday, practical sports car, the 5 N keeps all of Hyundai’s driver assistance technologies including adaptive cruise control, a 360 degree parking camera, and helpful conveniences like wireless smartphone compatibility.
The 5 N takes one of the best electric cars on the road and makes it a genuine racehorse, intentionally designed to be familiar to gasoline car drivers. Although the world is still waiting for Hyundai to release the N Vision 74 concept, the 5 N is a worthy compromise with face-meets-headrest acceleration and a dose of everyday practicality. Mickael’s IONIQ 5 N is ready to tackle Quebec’s whiteout winter and is available for your next electric adventure.
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Baron Wilton
Baron is a walking encyclopedia of car facts. His favorite sport is behind the wheel of his Jaguar F-Type, which he drives more in the canyons of SoCal than on the streets.
