Hyundai IONIQ 5 N : There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a carmaker find its groove. Twenty years ago, mentioning Hyundai in the same breath as performance would have raised eyebrows. Ten years ago, it would have sparked interest but skepticism. Today, as I push the IONIQ 5 N through a sweeping bend on the Great Ocean Road, feeling the electronic limited-slip differential work its magic, that skepticism has evaporated like morning dew on a hot summer’s day.
The IONIQ 5 N isn’t just good “for a Hyundai”—it’s exceptional by any standard. And as Australia’s love affair with electric vehicles continues to blossom alongside our never-ending passion for performance cars, this 478kW electric rocket disguised as a family crossover has arrived at precisely the right moment.
The Rebellious Child of Hyundai’s N Division
The regular IONIQ 5 already turned heads with its retrofuturistic design and impressive range. It won hearts and awards, establishing itself as one of the most distinctive and capable EVs on the market. But Hyundai’s N performance division, headed by former BMW M engineer Albert Biermann, clearly wasn’t satisfied. “We wanted to prove that electric can be exciting,” Biermann told me during the car’s Australian launch in Melbourne. “The N brand is about emotion, and we’ve translated that emotion into the electric era.”
That translation begins with raw power. The IONIQ 5 N packs dual motors producing a combined 478kW in its standard setting, but hit the N Grin Boost button on the steering wheel, and you’ll unlock 650Nm of torque and a temporary power boost to 650kW for 10 seconds. The result is a 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.4 seconds—supercar territory from a car that can accommodate the weekly shop and a family of five.
The strategy is familiar to anyone who’s driven Hyundai’s petrol-powered N cars: take a practical everyday vehicle and inject it with motorsport-derived steroids. But the execution here represents something more significant—it’s one of the most compelling arguments yet that the electric future need not be devoid of character.
Dressed for Success: Exterior Design
At first glance, you might mistake the IONIQ 5 N for its standard sibling—until you notice the subtle but significant changes that hint at its performance credentials. The body sits 20mm lower on its N-specific suspension, while the wheelarches have been slightly flared to accommodate the wider track and chunky 21-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres developed specifically for this car.
The front bumper features larger cooling intakes to manage the thermal demands of the battery and motors during high-performance driving, while a rear spoiler and diffuser work together to produce actual downforce—a rarity in the electric crossover segment. The signature Performance Blue accents appear on the lower body trim, brake calipers, and interior stitching, leaving no doubt about this car’s N division heritage.
“We’ve been careful not to overdo it,” explains SangYup Lee, Hyundai’s Head of Design. “The IONIQ 5 already has such a strong character that we wanted the N version to complement rather than overwhelm the original design language.”
That restraint has paid off. The IONIQ 5 N manages to look purposeful without resorting to the boy-racer aesthetics that often plague performance variants. It’s mature, confident, and distinctly Korean in its approach to design—standing apart from European and Japanese rivals.
The Heart of the Beast: Powertrain and Performance
Under the skin is where the IONIQ 5 N truly separates itself from the standard model. Hyundai has completely reengineered the E-GMP platform to handle the increased power and performance demands.
The 84kWh battery pack features reinforced mounting points and an enhanced cooling system to maintain optimal temperature during track sessions or spirited driving. This is crucial—many electric performance cars suffer from significant power reduction after just a few hard acceleration runs as their batteries heat up.
During my two-day test on both road and track, the IONIQ 5 N showed remarkable consistency in its performance. Even after several hot laps at Phillip Island Circuit, the power delivery remained steadfast, with the comprehensive thermal management system keeping everything in check.
The dual-motor setup provides all-wheel drive, with a bias toward the rear for a more engaging driving experience. Unlike some electric performance cars that simply offer neck-snapping acceleration in a straight line, the IONIQ 5 N has been tuned to deliver a genuinely engaging driving experience through corners.
The Magic Touch: Chassis and Dynamics
The chassis is where Hyundai’s N division has worked its most impressive magic. The IONIQ 5 N uses an integrated drive axle similar to that found in WRC rally cars, saving weight and improving strength. The electronically controlled suspension has been tuned specifically for Australian roads, with thousands of kilometres logged on everything from smooth highways to pockmarked country backroads.
“Australia presents unique challenges,” explains Hyundai Australia’s Product Planning Manager Tim Rodgers. “Our road surfaces are often more aggressive than those in Europe or North America, so we’ve worked closely with the N engineering team to ensure the suspension tuning meets local conditions while maintaining the character of an N product.”
That attention to detail is evident the moment you encounter a typical Australian country road. Where some European sports cars would crash and bang over imperfections, the IONIQ 5 N remains composed, soaking up bumps while keeping the body level and the tyres firmly planted.
The steering deserves special mention—electric power steering systems often lack feedback, but the IONIQ 5 N’s variable-ratio rack delivers surprising tactility. It weights up naturally as cornering forces increase, and there’s enough communication from the front tyres to place the car confidently even at high speeds.
Most impressive is the N e-shift function, which simulates the feel of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission—complete with artificial rev limiter and launch control. It’s entirely unnecessary in an EV, of course, but it adds a layer of engagement that many electric performance cars sorely lack. You can switch it off and enjoy the seamless power delivery typical of EVs, but I found myself leaving it on, enjoying the rhythm of “shifting gears” on a winding road.
Inside Story: Interior and Technology
Step inside the IONIQ 5 N, and you’re greeted by a cabin that balances performance cues with the futuristic design of the standard car. The N-specific front seats are exceptional—deeply bolstered to hold you in place during hard cornering, yet comfortable enough for long journeys. They’re wrapped in sustainable materials, with blue stitching and an illuminated N logo that glows when you unlock the car.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel houses controls for the various drive modes and performance features, including the N Grin Boost button that unleashes maximum power for overtaking or those moments when you simply want to experience the car’s full potential. Behind it sits a customizable digital instrument cluster that changes its appearance based on the selected drive mode.
The dual 12.3-inch screens that form the instrument cluster and infotainment display will be familiar to IONIQ 5 owners, but the N brings additional performance-focused screens, including real-time telemetry, lap timing, and even a drift analyzer that scores your sideways antics. It’s gimmicky but fun.
Sound and Fury: The N Active Sound+
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the IONIQ 5 N is its N Active Sound+ system. Through both external and internal speakers, it generates artificial engine noise modeled after Hyundai’s petrol-powered N cars. You can choose between different sound profiles or turn it off entirely.
Initially skeptical, I found myself warming to the system over time. While purists might scoff, the sound adds an undeniable dimension to the driving experience, creating an emotional connection that’s often missing in EVs. During hard acceleration, the simulated exhaust note builds to a crescendo that genuinely enhances the sensation of speed.
More than just fake engine noise, the system also provides useful acoustic feedback about what the car is doing—you can “hear” wheelspin or the simulated shifts of the e-shift system. Is it authentic? No. Is it enjoyable? Surprisingly, yes.
“We spent nearly two years developing the sound profile,” says Biermann. “It needed to be distinctive, emotionally engaging, and provide useful feedback to the driver. We didn’t want to copy a V8 or a straight-six—we wanted something that would become the signature sound of electric N cars.”
Living with the Beast: Practicality and Range
For all its performance credentials, the IONIQ 5 N remains fundamentally practical. The flat floor and long wheelbase create a remarkably spacious interior, with particular attention paid to rear legroom. The boot offers 531 litres of space, expanding to 1,600 litres with the rear seats folded—plenty for family duties or the occasional IKEA run.
The 800V electrical architecture enables ultra-rapid charging, with the ability to go from 10% to 80% battery in just 18 minutes on a suitable DC fast charger. This isn’t just a theoretical figure—I tested it at a Chargefox station outside Melbourne and achieved a charging curve remarkably close to Hyundai’s claims.
Real-world range inevitably suffers compared to the standard IONIQ 5 due to the performance focus, but the IONIQ 5 N still managed approximately 380km of mixed driving during my test—including some enthusiastic mountain road sections. Drive it sensibly, and over 400km should be achievable, putting it on par with many petrol-powered performance cars.
Living Costs: Ownership Experience
Hyundai Australia has priced the IONIQ 5 N at $109,000 before on-road costs—positioning it as the flagship of the N range. That’s a significant sum for a Hyundai, but it undercuts similarly powerful performance EVs from premium European brands by a substantial margin.
The warranty package includes 5 years of unlimited kilometre coverage for the vehicle and 8 years/160,000km for the battery, reflecting Hyundai’s confidence in the durability of its performance EV technology. Servicing is required every 24 months or 30,000km, whichever comes first, with capped price servicing available for the first five scheduled services.
As for running costs, they’re a mixed bag. Electricity is generally cheaper than petrol, particularly if you can charge at home, but the IONIQ 5 N’s performance focus means it’s less efficient than the standard model. Insurance costs will likely be higher too, reflecting the car’s performance potential and higher replacement cost.
A New Performance Benchmark
The IONIQ 5 N represents a watershed moment—not just for Hyundai, but for performance cars in general. It demonstrates conclusively that the electric revolution need not spell the end of driver engagement or emotional connection.
What’s most impressive is how cohesive the package feels. This isn’t simply a standard IONIQ 5 with more powerful motors; every aspect has been carefully considered and engineered to deliver a complete performance car experience. The chassis, brakes, thermal management system, and even the artificial sound work together harmoniously.
Is it perfect? Not quite. The artificial sound system won’t please everyone, the weight (over 2.2 tonnes) is unavoidable in a battery-electric vehicle of this size, and the price tag puts it in competition with some serious performance machinery. The simulated gearshifts, while entertaining, are ultimately an elaborate workaround for the lack of a traditional transmission.
But these are minor quibbles in the face of what Hyundai has achieved. The IONIQ 5 N manages to combine blistering performance with family-friendly practicality, wrapped in a package that turns heads without resorting to outlandish styling. It’s a technical tour de force that also happens to be enormous fun.
Final Thoughts: The Future Is Bright
As I reluctantly return the keys after two days of driving, I’m left with the distinct impression that the IONIQ 5 N represents more than just a new model—it’s a statement of intent from a manufacturer that continues to exceed expectations.
Twenty years ago, the idea of a Hyundai challenging established performance brands would have seemed laughable. Today, the IONIQ 5 N doesn’t just challenge them—in many ways, it leads the pack, demonstrating a depth of engineering expertise and a willingness to take risks that some more established players seem to have lost.
For Australian families with a performance itch to scratch, who need practicality but aren’t willing to sacrifice excitement, the IONIQ 5 N makes a compelling case. It’s a car that works on weekdays and thrills on weekends, that embraces the electric future while preserving the soul of what makes driving enjoyable.
In the transition to electrification, many have worried that we would lose something essential about what makes cars engaging. The IONIQ 5 N provides a reassuring counterpoint to those fears. The future of performance may look and sound different, but if this car is any indication, it will be no less thrilling.
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