The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the electric car that car enthusiasts have been waiting for

For decades, sports car enthusiasts have taken for granted some of the inherent properties of internal combustion. While EV technology has more than proven its worth in high-end applications, it has also removed some key elements of sensory feedback that enthusiasts have long enjoyed and relied on.

For some, these features may be relics of the past, but they also reveal fundamental truths about the appeal of cars in this context. The exhaust note of an ICE powertrain is an important part of a vehicle’s personality. And the interplay between that exhaust note and the vehicle’s transmission provides a real-time acoustic reference for pace and a visceral connection to the feeling of speed. In other words, although EVs like the Lucid Air Sapphire can stunning accelerationthe lack of physical and auditory feedback after the initial launch can make the ride feel anticlimactic, while also making it more difficult to subconsciously monitor the vehicle’s speed – the latter of which is hugely important for those who pursue performance driving as consider more important. than just dropping the hammer from a traffic light.

In recent years, automakers have tried to address these issues, but many of the proposed solutions have failed to do so struggling to find a receptive audience. Now Hyundai has entered the fray with the Ioniq 5 N, a performance-tuned variant of its five-door crossover EV, which not only features a range of mechanical improvements, but also a range of technologies designed to enhance the sounds, sensations and behavior of a performance vehicle with an internal combustion engine. Some are likely to dismiss the simulation technology as gimmicky authenticity is particularly valued in this area. But after spending a few days with the Ioniq 5 N, I’m convinced it’s a milestone vehicle for enthusiasts, and a potential example of things to come.

The N treatment

Hyundai’s N badge is applied to vehicles that have been given a high-performance makeover by the automaker’s in-house tuning department, in much the same way that AMG models find their way into the roster of the latest Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Since its founding in 2012, the N Division has successfully applied its craftsmanship to vehicles such as the Veloster, KonaAnd Elantrabut the Ioniq 5 N is undoubtedly the most ambitious production car project yet.

That audio system is important because the stereo plays a crucial role in the Ioniq 5 N’s mission to recreate the sounds and sensations of an internal combustion engine vehicle. Using a feature called N Active Sound+, the Ioniq 5 N can create the aural signature of a traditional turbocharged four-cylinder engine when the feature is set to ‘Ignition’ mode, while Evolution mode creates a more space-age atmosphere offers, and the Supersonic mode is said to be inspired by fighter jets.

Also worth mentioning is N e-Shift, a feature that allows the drivetrain to mimic the behavior of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, complete with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for times when you want full control of the ‘gearbox’.

Given Hyundai’s holistic tuning approach, it should come as no surprise that the Ioniq 5 N is offered in one fully equipped specification with a starting MSRP of $66,100, excluding taxes, destination and other charges. In fact, the only option available to potential buyers is the exterior paint color.

Behind the wheel

It’s worth noting that the Ioniq 5 N can still behave like a conventional EV from the get-go when that’s preferred. Features like N Active Sound+ and N e-Shift can be turned on and off at will via the 12.3-inch touchscreen, and despite the aggressive appearance, the EV will happily coast along in silence while effectively sniffing out the bumps in the road, just as a garden variant Ioniq 5 would. There are three standard driving modes that can be called up via a steering wheel-mounted shift button – Eco, Normal and Sport – which adjust steering effort, throttle sensitivity and suspension stiffness. There is also an N mode that can be activated by pressing one of the two programmable N buttons also located on the steering wheel.

In practice, it gives the Ioniq 5 N a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde atmosphere. During daily driving tasks, I mostly left the SUV in normal mode with all N-related stuff turned off and with features like Smart Regeneration turned on ((which adjusts the amount of regenerative braking based on traffic conditions and other real-time factors), the Ioniq 5 N is actually a pretty accommodating commuter, although the sport seats’ lack of lumbar adjustment made it a bit more difficult to find a pleasant driving position.

Yet it was the forays into the twisting asphalt of the Angeles National Forest that allowed the Ioniq 5 N to really show its worth.

Activating N Mode unlocks a host of other performance features, such as N Drift Optimizer, which sets up the drivetrain and chassis like a traditional rear-wheel drive vehicle for lurid power slides, and N Battery Preconditioning, which optimizes battery cell temperatures to maximize the temperature of the battery cells. their efficiency for the type of performance driving you do (i.e. drag strip launches or track laps). It can be difficult to distinguish where these different features are enabled or adjusted within the Ioniq 5 N’s complicated collection of buttons, switches and infotainment system menus, but it’s worth dialing it all in. Not only does the Ioniq 5 N deliver supercar-like thrust and admirably agile handling for a vehicle of this size and weight, features like N Active Sound+ and N e-Shift are both useful and surprisingly enjoyable.

The pair also create a commendably faithful representation of an internal combustion car: different ‘gears’ provide different levels of torque delivery based on vehicle speed. If you forget to upshift in manual mode, the ‘engine’ will bounce off the ‘rev limiter’. When you release the throttle and downshift, the drivetrain will mimic the feeling of engine braking. Drop the hammer while cruising with that fake transmission in automatic mode and it will downshift a few “gears” before accelerating, just like a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle would. The pops and crackles of the ‘exhaust system’ at the accelerator pedal also had me grinning from ear to ear – not because the effect seemed strange, but because it added to the fun.

Crucially, these features make the Ioniq 5 N more intuitive and engaging to drive when cruising the canyons. Even after getting a feel for how they performed, I decided to leave them on.

It is very clear that this vehicle was designed by enthusiasts who paid careful attention to the details. And that, in turn, has created an experience that offers both the pros and cons of internal combustion, without losing sight of what makes performance vehicles fun to drive. While not without its flaws, the Ioniq 5 N represents a major step forward in the effort to bridge the gap between traditional car enthusiasts and our EV-centric future.