Confession time: I was prepared to be underwhelmed. As a World Car of the Year juror, I’d been invited to have a go in a pre-production example of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, an about-to-be-launched performance version of the Korean powerhouse’s award-winning Ioniq 5. But I couldn’t help wondering. Did the regular old Ioniq 5, one of my favorite EVs, really need improving?
This SUV was a notably fine steer in standard form, with predictable, planted handling and sporty steering allied to respectable accelerative properties (especially in twin-motor four-wheel-drive spec)and ride quality that belied its near 4,700-lb curb weight. A tasteful, minimalist interior made of unusually high-quality materials impressed, while on the outside, its simple yet head-turning style somehow broke the mold of enforced tedium that defines every crossover-filled parking lot. And, lest we forget, its 350-kW DC fast-charging capability—the rarefied stuff of much more expensive machines—made it a star.
