Hyundai has announced that its ‘Ioniq 5 N’ has been recognized as the ‘Best High-Performance Electric Vehicle’ in recent European comparative evaluations, receiving high praise on June 19.
This high-performance electric vehicle comparative evaluation was conducted jointly by the leading German auto magazine Auto Zeitung and the British CAR Magazine. These magazines are renowned for their in-depth analysis of the automotive industry, and their evaluations serve as significant criteria for European consumers when purchasing vehicles.
The evaluation occurred over three days on Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit and surrounding roads. Journalists from ‘Auto Zeitung’ and ‘CAR Magazine’ tested seven high-performance electric vehicles, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Tesla Model S Plaid, BMW i5 M60, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package, Lotus Eletre R, Pininfarina Battista Nino Farina, and Lucid Air Dream Performance, subsequently assessing each model.
The Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit, known for its challenging layout with over 170 corners, drastic elevation changes, and a length exceeding 20km, is often called the “Green Hell” due to its complexity and dense forestation.
Both magazines consistently praised the Ioniq 5 N for delivering “the most crucial value a high-performance car must offer—the overwhelming fun of driving,” outperforming other expensive high-performance electric vehicles.
Indeed, despite costing significantly less than high-end models like the €2,618,000 Pininfarina Battista (approximately 3.87 billion KRW), the €240,000 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Weissach Package (approximately 355.12 million KRW), and the €218,000 Lucid Air Dream Performance (approximately 322.59 million KRW), the Ioniq 5 N, priced at €74,900 (approximately 110.84 million KRW), demonstrated superior driving performance and enjoyment.
‘Auto Zeitung’ and ‘CAR Magazine’ highly praised the Ioniq 5 N for not compromising on the fundamentals of the vehicle.
‘Auto Zeitung’ commented, “Everything related to driving—steering, power distribution, acceleration response, and braking—was perfect. We were amazed by the Ioniq 5 N’s powerful force and well-balanced chassis.”
‘CAR Magazine’ expressed surprise, saying, “Despite being packed with various digital features, we were astonished post-test drive. The Ioniq 5 N has been transformed into a perfect electric car boasting high performance by improving the chassis and drivetrain structure and reinforcing the motor and battery mounts.”
Both magazines also highly acclaimed the specialized high-performance features of the Ioniq 5 N. They highlighted the ‘N Drift Optimizer’ that aids natural drifting as “a feature that allows anyone to enjoy drifting easily by just pressing the accelerator pedal, providing a genuine and pure driving pleasure.”
Additionally, they focused on the ‘N Active Sound Plus,’ which emulates the emotional appeal of high-performance combustion engine cars, and the ‘N e-shift’ system, a virtual shifting feature.
‘Auto Zeitung’ noted, “The biggest surprise in the Ioniq 5 N was undoubtedly the N Active Sound Plus. It perfectly reproduces the heavy exhaust sound of sports cars, including subtle noises during gear shifts.”
‘CAR Magazine’ praised the N e-shift feature, “The most highly rated feature in the Ioniq 5 N is the N e-shift, which adds an incredible layer of immersion to driving, something thought impossible in electric vehicles.”
Customer reactions to the comparative evaluation were also very enthusiastic. Comments on ‘CAR Magazine’s YouTube content included: “In over a month of driving the Ioniq 5 N, I never felt the need to take out my Porsche 911 from the garage,” and “The Ioniq 5 N serves as an all-weather vehicle that can function both as a family car and a hot hatch, a rarity for an electric car to achieve both functionality and price.”
The Ioniq 5 N, as Hyundai’s symbolic model signaling the execution of its core electrification strategy, ‘Hyundai Motor Way,’ consolidates Hyundai’s advanced electrification technologies to maximize driving performance as the first high-performance electric vehicle under the N brand.