Did you hear the news? Three years in a row, Hyundai has won the EV of the Year award. In 2022, the Ioniq 5 won, then the Ioniq 6 did, and finally, in 2024, the faster Ioniq 5 N did. The three EVs share Hyundai’s E-GMP base and have an 800-volt electrical system, making them one of the fastest DC fast-charging cars on the market. Even though there are more clear differences between the Ioniq 6 sedan and its SUV siblings, we think it is still important to look at the differences between the race-ready 2025 Ioniq 5 N and the regular Ioniq 5, which you can buy right now as a 2024 model. Battery life, range, and charging The regular Hyundai Ioniq 5 came out a few years ago with two different battery sizes. The SE Standard Range with rear-wheel drive is the only one that can get the smaller 58.0-kWh battery pack. The battery pack for the last few rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive Ioniq 5s can hold 77.4 kWh (84.0 kWh by 2025). At the moment, only the Ioniq 5 N can use the 84.0-kWh battery pack. No matter where the energy comes from, the Ioniq 5s can charge at a maximum of 350 kW. Hyundai says that the boxy EV with pixel-like details can be charged from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes thanks to its fast-charging link. We charged the AWD Ioniq 5 for 26 minutes and the N for 35 minutes. The charge went from 10% to 90%. Only the SE Standard Range is projected to have a longer driving range (220 miles). The Ioniq 5 N, on the other hand, has a much shorter EPA-estimated driving range (221 miles), even though it has the biggest battery. Other RWD Ioniq 5s should be able to go 303 miles on a full charge, while AWD models should only be able to go 260 miles. We narrowed the range gap between the AWD 5 and the N during our real-world speed test by setting the automatic climate control to 72 degrees and the cruise control to 75 miles per hour. On our highway test run, we have yet to try a rear-drive version, but the front-drive one did 220 miles, and the rear-drive one did 190. Highlights and Interesting Things The Ioniq 5 N has a lot of the same features as the regular Ioniq 5. Two 12.3-inch dashboard screens (the N has a unique black bezel), dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a hands-free liftgate, passive entry, and a bunch of technologies that help you drive, like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep mode, and automatic high beams. The closest models are the Limited and the N. They both come with more high-end features, such as a Bose radio, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front seats, and a wireless charging pad. However, the N only has some of the functions that the Limited does. There is a head-up display, a fixed panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, a digital rearview mirror, and a center panel that slides out. The N doesn’t have as many great features as the Ioniq 5, but it still has enough to be the most fun model in its family and one of the most fun electric cars on the market. What makes the N different are its fake features, like its fake shifting and engine sounds. Its eight-speed dual-clutch transmission-simulating N e-shift mode slows it down in a straight line, but for performance car fans, it’s the closest thing an electric car can get to the feel of a gas-powered car. The N Active Sound+ in the high-performance Ioniq 5 makes this sound even better by mimicking the sound of a sporty four-cylinder engine and even the rpm limiter bouncing. Also, anyone who finds these features annoying can turn them off. A fixed center console with built-in knee pads, fully bolstered front sports seats with illuminated seatback logos, and a three-spoke steering wheel with custom buttons that activate an overwhelming number of drive modes and settings that can be changed are some of the other features that are only available on the N. Performance and the Engine The Ioniq 5 N’s all-wheel-drive motor is very powerful, with 641 horsepower. It also has many other features that make it work better than other I5 models. The regular 5 had 0.85 g of cornering grip, while the N had 0.96 g, thanks to its wider, stickier Pirelli P Zero PZ4 summer tires. With its big Brembo brakes and rubber tires, the N could stop from 70 mph in 153 feet, which is more than 30 feet less than a regular ute. Even though EVs are usually fast, the I5N beats the next most powerful model because it has a better grip and a lot more power. The N reached its top speed of 163 mph in less than 3 seconds thanks to its launch control and 568 pound-feet of torque. It did the quarter-mile at 123 mph in 11.1 seconds at the speed strip. We tested the Ioniq 5 Limited, which has 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. It went from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, hit its top speed of 117 mph, and got through the quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds at 102 mph. Cost and Personal Choice The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N costs the most because it is a top-of-the-line model. The N-type costs $8,700 more than the top-of-the-line Ioniq 5 Limited, which starts at $67,495 and goes up to $58,795. Hyundai has models that are offered at much lower prices for people who don’t want to spend that much. The least expensive way to become an Ioniq 5 owner is to get the 168-hp SE Standard Range, which costs $43,195. A rear-drive SE, on the other hand, has 228 horsepower, more options, and a longer range for an extra $4000. The following table shows how the basic prices of the five go up by $2000 each after that. Hyundai Ioniq 5 pricing for the year 2024: Most SEs make between $43,195 and $53,955. It costs $47.245 for SE RWD. It costs $48,795 for a SEL RWD. It costs $50,745 for SE AWD. It costs $52,295 for the SEL AWD. Limit for RWD: $54,895. It costs $60,795 to buy the Disney 100 Platinum Edition. N: $67,495 (Model for 2025) The Hyundai Ioniq 5 lineup has a wide range of prices, speed, and features, so there is something for everyone. Of course, the best option for you will rely on your budget and the experience you want to have. We’ve made up our minds: the Ioniq 5 N is the best electric car of 2024. It pleases all of our senses in different ways.
