Great cars don’t come from committees. Or practicality. Or plain common sense, really. Great cars come from genuine devotion, a little neurodivergent hyperfixation, and a team given enough latitude to define its mandate.
One of those great cars is the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
Despite being built on the framework of an electric commuter SUV, the Ioniq 5 N is one of the best-handling, most complete, and most engaging vehicles on sale today. It’s truly a driver’s car that prioritizes fun and thrills over travel time.
The i5N comes into play in an interesting context. The concern was that EVs would be too heavy and fat to be performance cars, but even at 4,861 pounds, the Ioniq weighs the same as the new and (controversially) hybrid Mercedes C63S E Performance, and is hundreds of pounds lighter than the latest BMW M5. Compared to the Mercedes, at least, the Hyundai is a lot easier to drive.
There’s still one big downside, though: You can’t use it on rough, winding roads because its real-world range is so limited. That’s a pretty big downside. That problem could soon be fixed with a shiny new NACS connector, but I doubt it’ll be that easy.
In our latest video for Motor1 YouTube channel, we take a deep dive into the Ioniq 5 N, guided by myself. Sit back and enjoy one of the most exciting cars on sale today—standing sideways amidst a cloud of tire smoke.
