Hyundai IONIQ 5 N 2024 Shotgun Review

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is set at $111,000 plus on-road costs, which positions it some $11,000 upstream of the related Kia EV6 GT.

But the halo N car backs up its elevated price with a mountain of track-oriented performance features, more grunt and a heap of extra tech.

Just some of these key features include N Drift Optimiser, N e-shift, N Active Sound+, Torque Kick Drift, two-mode battery pre-conditioning system and N Torque Distribution, the latter allowing drivers to tailor the torque split almost infinitely between the front and rear axles.

An electronic limited-slip rear differential, adaptive dampers, high-performance braking package, 21-inch alloy wheels and an N-exclusive 84kWh battery are all included as well, while some key creature comforts include paddle shifters, a Bose sound system, bucket front seats, dual 12.3-inch screens with N-specific displays and read-outs, and a bespoke multifunction steering wheel.

Accompanying all the track gizmos is a 478kW/740Nm dual-motor battery-electric powertrain capable of launching the 2200kg crossover from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds and propelling it to a top speed of 260km/h.

Despite all this ferocity, however, the standard IONIQ 5’s entire safety suite is fitted standard – autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, safe exit assist, speed sign recognition and more.

It’s hard to ascertain a truly detailed impression of a car from three laps of a track in the passenger seat, but the pre-production 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N still gave us a pretty good idea of what to expect behind the wheel, thanks to its communicative chassis and ballistic performance.

National TCR champion Josh Buchan was the pilot for our jaunt around the Brabham Circuit at Sydney Motorsport Park, and being the drifty larrikin he is, Buchan immediately set the N Torque Split system to its most rear-biased setting.

That didn’t stop the IONIQ 5 N launching off the mark like a startled cat, but it did cause it to axle-hop and threaten to kick sideways like a rear-drive touring car on the way out of pit lane – something we experienced behind the wheel of the preceding Hyundai RN22e rolling lab exactly 12 months prior at The Bend.

Once it was in a straight line, Buchan unleashed the full 478kW/740Nm in the run down to Turn 2 and we were quickly reminded just how fast modern EVs are, let alone one with this much firepower on hand.

The IONIQ 5 N’s other party trick is its fake noise and gearbox, but it’s so spookily well calibrated that for the uninitiated they may never suspect Hyundai’s new weapon doesn’t run on petrol. There is a degree of digital synthesis to the noise, but for all intents and purposes it sounds and feels like a super-fast i30 N.

Tipping in at speed reveals flat and composed cornering manners with a huge amount of mechanical grip on offer, thanks to the immense Pirelli P Zero tyres, low centre of gravity and standard all-wheel drive.

Go near the throttle, however, especially with a rear-biased torque split, and the IONIQ 5 N will flick its tail out and smoke its 21-inch rear Pirellis for as long as you like… at least in the hands of a professional driver.

Whether or not it’ll be this easy for a mere mortal remains to be seen, but from what we could feel in the passenger seat it shouldn’t be too hard given the car’s fantastic balance and effortless torque delivery.

That said, our prior experience in the RN22e suggests it’ll take a little bit of practice to get the hang of.

The only thing we can really say against the 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N at this early stage is it’s a hefty bugger and every so often you’re reminded of its two-tonne-plus kerb weight.

Buchan jumped on the anchors at his usual racing braking points a few times during our short session and you could feel nearly every one of the 2200kg pitch forward a bit more than some other performance cars after being propelled at Mach Jesus down the straight.

The bite and power from the oversized braking system is immense, but then again it needs to be in order to manage the mass, which Hyundai has done a wonderful job of containing.

But as in the RN22e, there’s no way to genuinely cheat physics and the sticky Pirellis will eventually give up the ghost if you’re in a bit hot towards the apex or off-line.

If you’re an EV fan with a penchant for track driving and drifting antics then, yes, you should take a serious look at the new 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N owing to its supercar-like performance, sports car pricing and game-changing involvement.

We’ll reserve our final judgement for when we’ve driven it, but the early signs are promising.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N at a glance:
Price: $111,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now (to order)
Powertrain: Two asynchronous electric motors
Output: 478kW/740Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 84kWh lithium-ion
Range: 450km approx (WLTP)
Energy consumption: To be confirmed
Safety rating: Not tested