HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 N

The most entertaining EV yet and a brilliant performance car too!

- ABHAY VERMA

HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 N

 Engine: PMSM Power: 650PS Torque: 760Nm+ Battery: 84kWh 0-100kmph: 3.4 seconds Range: NA Price: ₹ 80.00 lakh ex-showroom (estimated)

Reiterating what I've said before. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is one of the best cars from 2023. Not just because of its design, comfort, space, equipment levels or excellent range, but also because it is the EV I drove the most last year, in some of the most extreme conditions. This was during our record runs, when I drove it to India's hottest border in peak summers, when air temperatures were close to 50 degrees and then to India's coldest border where temperatures dip below -50 degrees in winters. Needless to mention, it performed brilliantly, despite the extreme conditions. And last year is also when Hyundai introduced the IONIQ 5 N internationally!

It's the first electric N car from Hyundai and a revolutionary EV, one that's made enthusiasts across the world sit up and take notice. It stands out as a performance EV even when compared to more powerful electric cars. In fact the IONIQ 5 N is nothing like the roomy, comfortable and plush electric crossover that the standard IONIQ 5 is!

It's an out and out performance EV that reeks sportiness, uses dual electric motors, puts out up to 650PS (in boost mode), has a stiffer chassis and suspension and has quite a few aces up its sleeves on the electronics front, besides looking like a proper hot hatch. What's not to like? That's the question I was asking myself looking at the matte grey IONIQ 5 N here, standing in a basement parking in Seoul in South Korea on a cold winter morning.