- Autocar recognizes Hyundai Motor’s first high-performance EV for redefining the electric driving experience
- IONIQ 5 N praised for its dynamic capability, innovation and everyday usability
- Five-Star Car award places IONIQ 5 N among a select group of top-performing vehicles evaluated by Autocar
Hyundai Motor Company’s first high-performance EV, the IONIQ 5 N, has been awarded a prestigious Five-Star Car award by Autocar, a globally respected automotive publication. This distinction places the IONIQ 5 N among an exclusive group of vehicles recognized for setting new benchmarks in performance, innovation and everyday usability.
Autocar has been conducting its renowned road test for nearly a century. Its Five-Star Car award is reserved for vehicles that demonstrate exceptional performance across all categories. This year, only three models – including the IONIQ 5 N – earned this top distinction, reflecting the road test’s rigorous standards.
The IONIQ 5 N is Hyundai’s first model to receive a Five-Star Car award from Autocar, with its road tester team commending the vehicle for its cutting-edge technology, dynamic capabilities and engaging driving experience – qualities rarely found in today’s high-performance EVs. In its official review, Autocar described the IONIQ 5 N as a “game changer” that is “blindingly good fun and capable of rising to any occasion in dynamic terms.”
Powered by a dual-motor setup delivering up to 641 horsepower (with N Grin Boost-mode activated), the IONIQ 5 N accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. But beyond raw speed, Autocar praised its N e-Shift function, which simulates gear changes and engine-braking characteristics typically found in internal combustion performance vehicles – enhancing driver engagement through a more immersive feel.
Mark Tisshaw, Autocar Editor, said, “Cars that truly change the game have always been vanishingly rare, and that remains true in the topsy-turvy era the automotive industry is currently weathering. Yet the IONIQ 5 N is just that: a game-changer. With the arrival of the N, the electric driver’s car has landed, and it’s fully deserving of its perfect five-star Autocar road test.”
The IONIQ 5 N is the first all-electric model from Hyundai’s N division, designed to deliver true driver involvement in the era of electrification. Built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, the vehicle features an advanced regenerative braking system, track-spec thermal management and dedicated performance vehicle control software inspired by motorsport. Combined with a spacious interior, vehicle-to-load functionality (V2L), and advanced connectivity, the IONIQ 5 N redefines what a high-performance EV can be.
Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai & Genesis UK, said, “From the outset, the IONIQ 5 N has been a car that has demonstrated Hyundai’s technological leadership, helping to change perceptions about the brand thanks to its wonderful performance, precision handling and genuine emotional engagement. This is demonstrated yet again by the Five-Star Car award from Autocar — recognition of its success in one of the toughest and most revered road tests in the motor industry.”
