The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is not the sort of car that quietly blends into the background of everyday life. In Ecotronic Grey it feels cool and considered, the kind of colour that looks just as good parked outside your local cafe as it does sitting at the trailhead of a coastal walk. It draws attention without shouting, which somehow makes it even more magnetic.
Its stance gives away its true personality. Sitting wider and lower than the standard IONIQ 5, it looks ready for something more exciting than the school run. The big 21 inch wheels and flashes of red from the N brake calipers hint that this is a car built for people who like to drive, not just commute.
Then there are the little details that start to feel part of your routine. The pixel lighting that flickers to life as you approach, the blacked out badges and the subtle rear wing all add up to a car that feels special every time you walk back to it. It is the kind of EV that makes you turn around for a second look before heading inside.
Daily Driving Comfort, Taming a Track Weapon
What surprised me most about living with the IONIQ 5 N was just how civilised it can be when you are not chasing lap times. For something capable of outrageous acceleration, it settles into daily life with an ease that feels almost cheeky. In its softer suspension setting the ride is firm but never punishing, soaking up potholes, tram tracks and speed humps well enough to keep everyday driving comfortable.
Around town the electric drivetrain does what EVs do best, gliding away from the lights in near silence and making stop start traffic feel less draining. The steering lightens up nicely at low speeds, visibility is excellent and the cabin feels open and relaxed, which is not something you always expect from a car with this much performance baked in.
It is only when you lean into the throttle or tap one of the bright N buttons on the steering wheel that its other personality snaps into focus. Until then, it is happy to cruise, proving that even a genuine track weapon can behave like a well mannered daily driver when real life calls.
Weekday Commutes and Urban Life, Supercar Energy in City Traffic
Living with the IONIQ 5 N during the working week is a study in contrast. It looks like something designed for mountain roads and racetracks, yet most of its time is spent doing very ordinary things like grocery runs, errands and crawling through peak hour traffic. Somehow it never feels out of place doing any of it.
In slow moving city conditions the car is calm and composed. The electric drivetrain is smooth and quiet, the steering is light and easy to manage and the cabin feels airy with great visibility in all directions. Even in tighter inner city streets it is simple to place, helped by the 360 degree camera and excellent mirrors that take the stress out of parking and narrow laneways.
What you really notice is how special it makes everyday life feel. Sitting at the lights you are surrounded by performance readouts and N buttons, yet you are just on your way to pick up groceries or grab a coffee. It turns the routine into something a little more fun, without demanding that you change how you live.
Weekend Getaways, Coastal Curves on the Great Ocean Road
The IONIQ 5 N really comes alive when the city falls away and the road begins to unwind. Heading out along the Great Ocean Road, it feels like the car has finally been given the space it was built for. The wide stance, planted suspension and all that instant electric response turn sweeping coastal bends into something you look forward to rather than simply pass through.
What makes the experience special is not about chasing speed, it is about how connected everything feels. The steering weights up, the chassis feels locked into the tarmac and the car flows from corner to corner with a confidence that makes you trust it. With the ocean flashing into view between headlands and the cabin filled with that futuristic N soundtrack, it feels less like a drive and more like an event.
Pulling into coastal towns along the way, the IONIQ 5 N still fits right into the relaxed weekend rhythm. It parks easily, draws curious glances and then waits quietly while you wander off for fish and chips or a long walk along the cliffs, ready for the next stretch of winding road when you are.
Inside the IONIQ 5 N, Technology That Works
Step inside the IONIQ 5 N and it becomes clear that this is not just about performance. It is a genuinely clever place to spend time. The twin 12 inch screens dominate the dash, one handling the infotainment and the other acting as a fully configurable digital instrument cluster. Everything is sharp, responsive and easy to understand, whether you are setting navigation, checking energy flow or diving into the N performance menus.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, making it easy to jump straight into your playlists, podcasts or maps without thinking about cables. Combined with the crisp graphics and fast response times, it is one of those systems that quietly makes every drive smoother.
Despite all the tech, the cabin never feels cramped. The flat floor opens up the space, giving you room to stretch out and move around easily, and the driving position is low and sporty without feeling claustrophobic. The front seats hug you nicely, but they are still comfortable enough for long drives. In the rear, there is generous legroom and headroom for adults, helped by the battery packaging and the absence of a traditional transmission tunnel.
Practical touches are scattered everywhere. There are USB C ports front and rear, wireless phone charging and clever storage in the centre console and door bins that actually hold more than a coffee cup. The boot is also more usable than you might expect for a performance EV, offering around 480 litres of space with the rear seats up, enough for weekend bags, shopping runs or a couple of carry on suitcases. It is this blend of smart technology and real world space that makes the IONIQ 5 N feel just as suited to everyday life as it is to its wilder side.
Performance snapshot
Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, Key Stats
Big numbers, real world usability, and a very serious sense of fun.
Power
478 kW
Peak output available in N mode conditions.
Torque
770 Nm
Available during N Grin Boost for short bursts.
0 to 100 km, h
3.4 seconds
Claimed acceleration with launch conditions.
Motors and drive
Dual motor, AWD
Front and rear motors for traction and balance.
Driving range
About 448 km
Guide only, range varies with wheels, speed, and temperature.
Fast charging
10 to 80 percent, about 18 min
On a high speed DC charger, when conditions suit.
Boot space
480 L
Seats up, handy for weekend bags and daily errands.
N Grin Boost
10 seconds
Extra punch on demand via the NGB button.
Fuel Efficiency and Charging, Living With a 478kW EV
For all its outrageous performance, the IONIQ 5 N still has to fit into real life, and that is where its driving range becomes part of the conversation. Hyundai does not pitch this as a long range hero, but in everyday mixed driving the battery feels more than capable of covering daily routines without any anxiety creeping in.
On a full charge you are looking at around the mid 400 kilometre mark in gentle driving, but that figure naturally dips if you spend more time leaning into its performance side. Even so, for a car with this much power on tap, the balance between fun and usable range feels well judged.
Charging remains one of its strongest lifestyle points. A fast DC charger can take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in about 18 minutes, which makes longer trips feel far less intimidating. At home, overnight charging becomes second nature, and by morning the IONIQ 5 N is ready to go again, no petrol station detours required.
A Week With the Wildest EV on the Road
By the end of the week, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N no longer feels like just another electric vehicle, it feels like a glimpse into the future of performance. It manages to be genuinely exciting without sacrificing the everyday qualities that make a car easy to live with, and that is not something many high performance models can claim, electric or otherwise.
It fits neatly into daily routines with its comfortable ride, generous interior space and smart technology, yet it always feels like it is holding something in reserve. The way it blends calm, quiet EV behaviour with a playful, almost theatrical performance side gives it a personality that most electric cars simply do not have.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that the IONIQ 5 N does not try to convert you with efficiency alone. It wins you over with emotion. It reminds you that driving can still be fun, still be engaging and still be something you look forward to, even in an electric future. For more information visit here.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is not the sort of car that quietly blends into the background of everyday life. In Ecotronic Grey it feels cool and considered, the kind of colour that looks just as good parked outside your local cafe as it does sitting at the trailhead of a coastal walk. It draws attention without shouting, which somehow makes it even more magnetic.
Its stance gives away its true personality. Sitting wider and lower than the standard IONIQ 5, it looks ready for something more exciting than the school run. The big 21 inch wheels and flashes of red from the N brake calipers hint that this is a car built for people who like to drive, not just commute.
Then there are the little details that start to feel part of your routine. The pixel lighting that flickers to life as you approach, the blacked out badges and the subtle rear wing all add up to a car that feels special every time you walk back to it. It is the kind of EV that makes you turn around for a second look before heading inside.
Daily Driving Comfort, Taming a Track Weapon
What surprised me most about living with the IONIQ 5 N was just how civilised it can be when you are not chasing lap times. For something capable of outrageous acceleration, it settles into daily life with an ease that feels almost cheeky. In its softer suspension setting the ride is firm but never punishing, soaking up potholes, tram tracks and speed humps well enough to keep everyday driving comfortable.
Around town the electric drivetrain does what EVs do best, gliding away from the lights in near silence and making stop start traffic feel less draining. The steering lightens up nicely at low speeds, visibility is excellent and the cabin feels open and relaxed, which is not something you always expect from a car with this much performance baked in.
It is only when you lean into the throttle or tap one of the bright N buttons on the steering wheel that its other personality snaps into focus. Until then, it is happy to cruise, proving that even a genuine track weapon can behave like a well mannered daily driver when real life calls.
Weekday Commutes and Urban Life, Supercar Energy in City Traffic
Living with the IONIQ 5 N during the working week is a study in contrast. It looks like something designed for mountain roads and racetracks, yet most of its time is spent doing very ordinary things like grocery runs, errands and crawling through peak hour traffic. Somehow it never feels out of place doing any of it.
In slow moving city conditions the car is calm and composed. The electric drivetrain is smooth and quiet, the steering is light and easy to manage and the cabin feels airy with great visibility in all directions. Even in tighter inner city streets it is simple to place, helped by the 360 degree camera and excellent mirrors that take the stress out of parking and narrow laneways.
What you really notice is how special it makes everyday life feel. Sitting at the lights you are surrounded by performance readouts and N buttons, yet you are just on your way to pick up groceries or grab a coffee. It turns the routine into something a little more fun, without demanding that you change how you live.
Weekend Getaways, Coastal Curves on the Great Ocean Road
The IONIQ 5 N really comes alive when the city falls away and the road begins to unwind. Heading out along the Great Ocean Road, it feels like the car has finally been given the space it was built for. The wide stance, planted suspension and all that instant electric response turn sweeping coastal bends into something you look forward to rather than simply pass through.
What makes the experience special is not about chasing speed, it is about how connected everything feels. The steering weights up, the chassis feels locked into the tarmac and the car flows from corner to corner with a confidence that makes you trust it. With the ocean flashing into view between headlands and the cabin filled with that futuristic N soundtrack, it feels less like a drive and more like an event.
Pulling into coastal towns along the way, the IONIQ 5 N still fits right into the relaxed weekend rhythm. It parks easily, draws curious glances and then waits quietly while you wander off for fish and chips or a long walk along the cliffs, ready for the next stretch of winding road when you are.
Inside the IONIQ 5 N, Technology That Works
Step inside the IONIQ 5 N and it becomes clear that this is not just about performance. It is a genuinely clever place to spend time. The twin 12 inch screens dominate the dash, one handling the infotainment and the other acting as a fully configurable digital instrument cluster. Everything is sharp, responsive and easy to understand, whether you are setting navigation, checking energy flow or diving into the N performance menus.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, making it easy to jump straight into your playlists, podcasts or maps without thinking about cables. Combined with the crisp graphics and fast response times, it is one of those systems that quietly makes every drive smoother.
Despite all the tech, the cabin never feels cramped. The flat floor opens up the space, giving you room to stretch out and move around easily, and the driving position is low and sporty without feeling claustrophobic. The front seats hug you nicely, but they are still comfortable enough for long drives. In the rear, there is generous legroom and headroom for adults, helped by the battery packaging and the absence of a traditional transmission tunnel.
Practical touches are scattered everywhere. There are USB C ports front and rear, wireless phone charging and clever storage in the centre console and door bins that actually hold more than a coffee cup. The boot is also more usable than you might expect for a performance EV, offering around 480 litres of space with the rear seats up, enough for weekend bags, shopping runs or a couple of carry on suitcases. It is this blend of smart technology and real world space that makes the IONIQ 5 N feel just as suited to everyday life as it is to its wilder side.
Performance snapshot
Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, Key Stats
Big numbers, real world usability, and a very serious sense of fun.
Power
478 kW
Peak output available in N mode conditions.
Torque
770 Nm
Available during N Grin Boost for short bursts.
0 to 100 km, h
3.4 seconds
Claimed acceleration with launch conditions.
Motors and drive
Dual motor, AWD
Front and rear motors for traction and balance.
Driving range
About 448 km
Guide only, range varies with wheels, speed, and temperature.
Fast charging
10 to 80 percent, about 18 min
On a high speed DC charger, when conditions suit.
Boot space
480 L
Seats up, handy for weekend bags and daily errands.
N Grin Boost
10 seconds
Extra punch on demand via the NGB button.
Fuel Efficiency and Charging, Living With a 478kW EV
For all its outrageous performance, the IONIQ 5 N still has to fit into real life, and that is where its driving range becomes part of the conversation. Hyundai does not pitch this as a long range hero, but in everyday mixed driving the battery feels more than capable of covering daily routines without any anxiety creeping in.
On a full charge you are looking at around the mid 400 kilometre mark in gentle driving, but that figure naturally dips if you spend more time leaning into its performance side. Even so, for a car with this much power on tap, the balance between fun and usable range feels well judged.
Charging remains one of its strongest lifestyle points. A fast DC charger can take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in about 18 minutes, which makes longer trips feel far less intimidating. At home, overnight charging becomes second nature, and by morning the IONIQ 5 N is ready to go again, no petrol station detours required.
A Week With the Wildest EV on the Road
By the end of the week, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N no longer feels like just another electric vehicle, it feels like a glimpse into the future of performance. It manages to be genuinely exciting without sacrificing the everyday qualities that make a car easy to live with, and that is not something many high performance models can claim, electric or otherwise.
It fits neatly into daily routines with its comfortable ride, generous interior space and smart technology, yet it always feels like it is holding something in reserve. The way it blends calm, quiet EV behaviour with a playful, almost theatrical performance side gives it a personality that most electric cars simply do not have.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that the IONIQ 5 N does not try to convert you with efficiency alone. It wins you over with emotion. It reminds you that driving can still be fun, still be engaging and still be something you look forward to, even in an electric future. For more information visit here.
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