2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Review

It’s finally happened. After almost 20 years, a mainstream manufacturer has cracked the code in giving an EV a true emotional connection to its driver like an ICE-powered car. It’s reportedly wonderful around a track, despite its 2,230kg tare weight too. Finally, there’s an EV that will appeal to more traditional car enthusiasts and while it’s not cheap, we think it’s well worth the price of entry thanks to this awesome engineering. But how does the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N fare as an all-rounder? Let’s find out.

How much does the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N cost to buy?

For now, there’s just one spec of Ioniq 5 N available in Australia, which is priced from $111,000 plus on-road costs or around $125,000 drive away, depending on location.

Ioniq 5 N standard equipment:

• 21-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli P Zero HN tyres
• Dusk-sensing automatic all-LED exterior lights
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Various driving modes and regenerative braking modes
• Keyless entry and start with remote start and remote parking functionality
• Rear privacy glass
• Electric tailgate with hands-free opening functionality
• Heated and auto-folding mirrors
• N bucket seats with heating and ventilation
• Leather and suede upholstery
• Leather steering wheel with paddle shifters and heating
• Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display
• 12.3-inch touchscreen with over-the-air updates
• Hyundai’s ‘Bluelink’ live services, including live traffic, weather, geo fencing, remote locking, remote climate control, emergency call (SOS) functionality and automatic collision notification
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• Bluetooth audio and streaming functionality
• Satellite navigation
• Eight-speaker Bose sound system
• Wireless phone charger
• 4x USB-C charging ports
• Digital rear mirror
• Vehicle-to-load functionality
• Heat pump
• Alarm

Ioniq 5 N safety equipment:

• Six airbags
• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection assistance
• Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert (both with braking)
• Blind-spot camera
• Lane departure warning with lane keeping assistance
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality
• Adaptive lane guidance
• Driver attention monitoring
• Low-speed automatic braking in forward and reverse
• Safe exit assist
• Auto high beam
• 360-degree camera
• Front and rear parking sensors

Ioniq 5 N colour range:

• Atlas White
• Abyss Black
• Cyber Grey
• Ecotronic Grey
• Performance Blue
• Soultronic Orange
• Atlas White Matte (+$1,000)
• Gravity Gold Matte (+$1,000)
• Ecotronic Grey Matte (+$1,000)
• Performance Blue Matte (+$1,000)

Ioniq 5 N options:

• Panoramic glass roof: $2,000

How powerful is the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

Using the same ‘e-GMP’ platform as the regular Ioniq 5, the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N uses an 84kWh lithium-ion battery for a claimed 448km of range. That battery feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive set up making 448kW of power and 740Nm of torque in regular mode – activating ‘N Grin Boost’ mode ups that to a huge 478kW and 770Nm. The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time is just 3.4 seconds, while the Ioniq 5 N reportedly hits a top speed of 260km/h.

Like the standard Ioniq 5, the N is based on an advanced 800-volt architecture and can be charged at up 350kW. A 10 to 80 per cent charge takes as little as 18 minutes, while the same percentage at a slower but far more common 50kW charger takes 70 minutes. At a slower AC charge – it can be charged at a 10.5kW peak – the Ioniq 5 N can charge from 0 to 100 per cent in around 11 hours. Hyundai claims energy consumption of 21.2kWh/100km and we saw higher than that at around 24kWh/100km – drive it more efficiently than we did and we’re sure Hyundai’s claim would be achievable.

What is the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N like to drive?

It’s telling that the slogan ‘driving still matters’ was used in the Ioniq 5 N’s development because this is an EV that really puts a smile on your face. It’s not a one-dimensional handler like so many other EVs are – there’s adjustability and poise and feedback for drivers to revel in. Yep, you can feel the 2,330kg tare weight in harder cornering when the tyres are screeching in pain, yet for the most part, it’s cleverly well hidden thanks to the sheer cornering force that the Ioniq 5 N is capable of showing.

Like the i30 N that it sits above, the sheer adjustability in the Ioniq 5 N’s drive modes can be a touch overwhelming because it’s seemingly endless. But we find that drive mode selection and tuning to be a personal thing, so if you’re test driving one, set aside a good 15 minutes to adjust the settings and feel how they change the car. Do so, and the N goes from feeling almost identical to a regular Ioniq 5 to a sharp and fast hot hatch very quickly. The N is very fast in both a straight line and in corners, where not much – even larger bumps – seems to phase it.

The absolute best thing about the Ioniq 5 N for this writer is how you can make it feel like a regular geared ICE car through the manual shifting system, which not only creates ‘gears’ like a regular car, but will also adjust the throttle’s response depending on which gear you’re in to replicate turbo lag and will even bounce off the fake rev limiter and not shift up to the next ‘gear’. The 5 N is actually slower in this mode, but that doesn’t matter because you’re just having too much fun at this point. The best part? Although it seems like it given the noise from both inside and out, you’ve not produced any tailpipe emissions.

In more regular driving, the Ioniq 5 N shines as well. Early Ioniq 5 models were decidedly boat-like in ride quality but the N is thankfully much sharper and – in our opinion at least – more comfortable despite riding on huge 21-inch alloy wheels. In regular silent driving modes, it feels much like a regular Ioniq 5 – quiet, comfortable, refined and relaxing. The safety systems are well tuned and even though it grated upon its release, the speed limit recognition can thankfully now be muted through the steering wheel, not that you’ll be too worried about that because you’ll be having too much fun.

How comfortable is the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

As we’ve seen multiple times with the regular Ioniq 5, the interior of the Ioniq 5 N is quite practical, spacious, high-tech and good quality – plus, in N guise, it’s very sporty and appropriately sexy for a high performance model. The plastics used inside aren’t amazingly plush, but they are still appropriately soft.

Despite the added sportiness that the N badge adds, the Ioniq 5 N’s cabin is still quite practical. The centre console was actually redesigned for the N and to fit the bucket seats, and features a lot of open storage like the big wireless phone charging tray, massive open tray between the seats, a small box underneath the central armrest and big door bins too.

The bucket seats of the Ioniq 5 N are very supportive and generally quite comfortable, though they lack the electric adjustment that we’re sure many buyers would expect for the coin. On the plus side, they’re both heated and ventilated, plus the lovely leather steering wheel is also heated. Does a high performance car need such features when removing them would likely reduce its weight? Not to us, but for the coin, we’re glad they are featured.

Centre of the Ioniq 5 N’s cabin is a dual 12.3-inch screen set up, which includes Hyundai’s new ‘ccNC’ infotainment software that also features in cars like the new Santa Fe. While it’s a bit dark – which suits the vibe of Ioniq 5 N’s cabin, admittedly – it’s very easy to use, quick to respond to touch and it’s fully featured as well, including even a weather function. The eight-speaker Bose sound system is punchy as well.

The rear seat of the Ioniq 5 N is, like the regular Ioniq 5, a great space. The only difference compared to the regular model is that the N’s bucket seats do impede slightly on rear legroom, but it’s otherwise spacious and practical. Leg- and headroom is great, the seats are comfortable, there are vents, two USB-C charging ports, sliding and reclining seats and even manual blinds in the doors. There are also two ISOFIX points and three top tether points, while the doors open quite wide to help practicality.

The boot of the Ioniq 5 N measures 480-litres with the seats up and 1,540L with them folded, which is 40L less with the seats both up and down regular than the Ioniq 5, while no front boot features in the N. Like the regular Ioniq 5, the N’s boot features under-floor storage, a net and four tie down points.

What warranty covers the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

Like other new Hyundai models, the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is covered by a five-year/unlimited km warranty with an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the battery. Hyundai’s roadside assistance lasts for as long as it’s serviced at a Hyundai dealership.

The Ioniq 5 N’s service intervals are once every two years or 30,000km, whichever comes first, and the first three services cost $625 each ($312.50 annually).

Should I buy a 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

If you have the means and you’re after such a car, then yes we think you should absolutely buy a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Not only is it a great all-rounder with stunning performance and excellent handling on top of the regular Ioniq 5’s long list of attributes, but it also represents a watershed moment for cars: this is an EV that is as entertaining as an ICE car. It’s not only very fast but it’s also very fun.

Of course, a $110,000 plus on-road costs car is never going to be the most accessible in the world and when you’re on a track, the battery drains quicker than you’d expect. But look beyond those issues and it’s clear to see that motoring enthusiasts need not worry about the electric route for cars: you can have your cake, and eat it too.