JUST east of the popular tourist destination Bali in Indonesia, is the island of Lombok where the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N all-electric performance sports utility vehicle (SUV) was put through its paces.
Nestled in the tranquil beaches and lush green landscape is the world-renowned Mandalika International Street Circuit – a 4.3km circuit which has held MotoGP races since 2022.
Hyundai vehicles branded with the letter “N” represent the company’s high-performance vehicles, which have been built to provide a race-like experience through the company’s participation in motorsports.
The letter “N” also represents the carmaker’s location in Namyang, South Korea, specifically the Hyundai global research and development centre, including the location where its performance-oriented vehicles are tested – the Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
Being the more potent version of the Ioniq 5, the experience was one of exhilaration where its capabilities were showcased on a technically demanding track with 17 turns.
Adding to the demanding rigours of the tight track were the scorching temperature and high humidity levels which pushed mechanical and electrical components to their thermal limits.
Although sitting static in the pit lane, the futuristic design of this race-bred machine is an eye-catcher with its aggressive front fascia, large air intakes for improved cooling and other aerodynamic tweaks to help differentiate it from the standard Ioniq 5.
Out from the pit lane, the dual-motor setup provided a commanding and instantly gratifying power surge (with N Grin Boost) rated at 650PS and 770Nm of instant torque.
Being the performance derivative of the road-going Ioniq 5, the battery has been upsized from 77.4kWh to 84kWh and its chassis reinforced for improved steering response and linearity.
With such performance, the Ioniq 5 N is able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 3.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of 260kph.
In comparison, the regular Ioniq 5 is able to complete the century sprint in 7.5 seconds (rear-wheel-drive) or 5.3 seconds (AWD) while its top speed resides at 185kph.
The dual-motor setup in the Ioniq 5 N, to provide an all-wheel-drive (AWD) experience, gifts this SUV with an assuring drive and its “N Grin Boost” (NGB) escalates the occasion to a level that feels like it can rival a supercar.
With torque vectoring, the Ioniq 5 N ensures power gets put down effectively, even on the track’s uneven surface.
The first few corners highlight the car’s agility and despite weighing around 2.2 tonnes, the stiff chassis and low centre of gravity; thanks to the battery’s placement within the floor, made it remarkably nimble.
Around tight bends, the N-tuned suspension system, allowed it to maintain composure through the numerous tight bends – minimising body roll and providing a level of precision that inspires confidence.
The steering is responsive and communicative, translating the surface’s nuances directly to the driver’s hands, a definite rarity against most electric vehicles (EVs).
Mandalika’s two main straights, one stretching over 900m, are perfect for unleashing the Ioniq 5 N’s raw speed.
Flooring the accelerator from one of the turns, the car simply rockets forward with a smooth yet explosive acceleration which can take it from 0 to 100kph in just 3.5 seconds when the NGB is engaged.
What sets the Ioniq 5 N apart is its emotional engagement where Hyundai’s “N Active Sound+” system creates synthetic engine and transmission noises through the speakers.
This includes the growl of an internal combustion engine (ICE) with the burble of a high-performance exhaust system and the whining of a jet engine (to each their own).
This feature adds a visceral dimension to the driving experience that bridges the sensory gap that’s often missing in EVs and helps to bring about a greater emotional attachment to a usually silent experience when cruising at high speeds.
Another experience that dupes the mind into thinking that this isn’t an EV is its ability to simulate abrupt transmission shifts via the paddle-shifters.
This is also the same way to increase or decrease the vehicle’s three levels of its N Pedal regenerative braking feel.
Navigating through the track’s tight turns allows this SUV’s cornering prowess to come into full play.
The electronically controlled limited-slip differential (e-LSD) and torque vectoring system simply shine through to keep the wheels properly clawing for grip around the bends.
The most remarkable cornering aspect is its ability to adapt to various driving styles.
While power distribution is adjusted precisely between the front and rear axles for maximum grip and stability, drivers can send all the proverbial “twist” to the front axle or entirely to the rear, if preferred.
In the former setup, the SUV will tend to understeer out of corners, while the latter will turn it into a playful tail-happy ordeal for this EV.
During the test, setting it with 30% (front) and 70% (rear) torque distribution felt ideal for the right amount of engagement rather than having it at a rather stable 50:50 torque split between the front and rear.
With all power sent to the rear, the Ioniq 5 N became more of a handful to control when attempting to scalp corners - something more advanced drivers might prefer.
Although the drive was limited to three laps (warm-up, hot, and cooldown laps), the 275/35 series tyres on the 21-inch wheels struggled to maintain consistent grip during the
hot lap.
Even with high-performance tyre options like Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and Pirelli P Zero tyres, the substantial weight of the SUV posed a challenge for them.
During the warm-up lap, both tyres provided a respectable level of grip at around 36psi and quickly increased to above 40psi around midway through the hot lap and this was where grip began to noticeably decline.
Due to the track’s layout, the front left tyre took much of the abuse with a higher pressure reading by about +2psi as indicated via the tyre pressure monitoring system.
Additionally, under aggressive cornering, the tyres had a tendency to fold onto their sidewalls, which further compromised stability and traction, and upon exiting tight corners, a slight bump could be felt as the load came off the tyres.
While they offered promising performance initially, their ability to cope under sustained high-stress conditions revealed limitations when contending with the SUV’s heft during dynamic demands.
Regardless of preference, the balance between power delivery and steering input was in sync; certainly surprising for a sporty all-electric SUV.
Braking
With this tight circuit, it demanded consistently strong braking, especially for the first and last turns.
Here, the regenerative braking system, combined with its high-performance brakes, performed admirably in such torturous conditions.
With three customisable regenerative levels (1 being the least and 3 being the highest), the N Pedal programme allows the driver to fine-tune how aggressively the system slows the car to allow for a smoother transition into corners.
Despite the rigours of the track, the braking system showed no signs of fade.
The regenerative braking also helped to extend the car’s range, although, on a tight high-speed circuit like Mandalika, energy consumption is understandably secondary to outright performance.
A major concern with EVs on the track is thermal management, as sustained high performance can cause the battery and motors to overheat but not in the case of the Ioniq 5 N which possessed independent motor and battery cooling systems.
Even after multiple laps at full tilt, the car maintains optimal temperatures, allowing for consistent performance – a significant achievement for an EV in such demanding conditions.
Final thoughts
The Ioniq 5 N delivers an exhilarating performance that feels incredibly competitive in the demanding environment of the Mandalika Street Circuit. Driving it has been unforgettable.
While it may not match the raw speed and agility of lightweight supercars due to its heft, its ability to consistently thrill becomes a permanent fixture in the mind to make it a truly performance-focused EV.
The SUV was seamless in blending the instant torque and efficiency of an EV with the passion and engagement of a performance machine.
In doing so, the Ioniq 5 N has proven that motorsport-inspired performance and electrification can truly co-exist.
