Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

When Hyundai's high-performance N division said they would brace electrification, they really meant it, shocking the entire world by storm. After years of waiting since the launch of IONIQ 5, the first-ever electrified N car has arrived and it's time to get too jealous about it.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N interior

Welcome to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, the high-performance version of the award-winning IONIQ 5 electric crossover that signals the start of N's electrified route, like it or not. It costs 76,000,000 Korean Won plus additional costs and from every angle, this commoner's EV gets Physical. Physical: N, of course.

Although it looks vaguely similar to the normal IONIQ 5, this beefed-up version features signature N elements, a sporty exterior design, an N Steering Wheel with N-specific functions, and a specific center console with race-specific features fit for your track day use in Inje, among many others. It's hard to say if the IONIQ 5 N is a classified sleeper car because it looks pretty much like the normal one but...who knows. It's going to be a long day.

Armed with an 84kWh Li-ion battery pack and two electric motors powering the front and rear wheels, making it a punchy 4WD prized fighter, the IONIQ 5 N produces a default 609PS of power and 740Nm of torque, more powerful than the Kia EV6 GT. However, with the N Grin Boost engaged for ten seconds, the power gets bumped to 650PS, and with N Launch Control in play, it's capable of a 0-100kph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 260kph, faster than a luxury German saloon. As for the driving range, it's good for 351km on one full charge.

Just like the normal IONIQ 5, it supports V2L capability, meaning you can use some of its juice to charge your phones, your laptop, heck, you can even plug in your TV sets and binge-watch some K-dramas while in the middle of a tailgating party with your pals.

Being a 4WD electric street fighter, the IONIQ 5 N is armed with an e-LSD at the rear axle as well as N Torque Distribution with 11 levels of adjustment and by surprise, an N Drift Optimiser. Although it feels bulky to drive as expected for an electric car, its N characteristics made it damn-straight addictive everywhere. You can really forget about your thoughts while trying to wrestle this car like a Ssireum match.

Although controversial, the IONIQ 5 N features numerous gimmicks such as the N e-shift system where a virtual 8-speed DCT comes out for the play and with the manual mode set, it shifts like you were in a video game, and the ultra-flashy N Active Sound+ where two external speakers and eight internal speakers can imitate engine noises including the jet-inspired Supersonic sound effect.

Like the normal IONIQ 5, the N features a host of safety features such as Remote Smart Parking Assist, Surround View Monitor, and Hyundai SmartSense, among many others.

So, what can I say about the IONIQ 5 N? While the virtual gear shifting and the virtual sound effects are flashy enough to be taunted by speedo boys as a poser machine, not to mention the quirky and bulky handling feel that feels like you're in a Ssireum match, the IONIQ 5 N is one of the many reasons that electric cars are getting manly and dangerous at the same time. Mixing subtlety and obviousness is one thing but with the IONIQ 5 N, we're experiencing burning jealousy right now, wishing we wanted to drive one someday.

The commoner's EV has turned...

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company