The amazing Hyundai IONIQ 5 N success story is continuing at full pace after the electric hyper hatch picked up one of the most prestigious honours in the 2024 Auto Trader New Car Awards. The IONIQ 5 N collected the coveted Rory Reid Award as the car that stands out as the finest he has tested over the past 12 months.
The former presenter of TV’s Top Gear cast his vote for the Hyundai ahead of a string of other highly rated new cars, thanks to its compelling blend of sharp design, superb ability on the road and track, and general user-friendliness.
We have the IONIQ 5 available at Hyundai Croydon, Welling, Bluewater and Catford.
Reid, Auto Trader’s YouTube Director, said: “With aggressive styling, stunning performance and all the practicalities you could ever need, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N really does cover all the bases. It’s a truly engaging driving experience that also brings plenty of fun, with surprisingly convincing fake engine noise and gearshifts. If ever there was a car to convince hardcore petrolheads to make the switch to electric, this is it.”
The high-performance model is based on the Electrified-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) of the standard IONIQ 5 – the 2022 World Car of the Year – and integrates the motorsport-bred technologies and expertise of Hyundai’s N division to take driving enjoyment to a new level.
Among a host of key technical advances is a powertrain which delivers greater power output and enhanced performance in battery cooling and braking. The IONIQ 5 N’s electric motors spin up to 21,000 RPM, providing up to 609 PS in normal conditions, or 650 PS when the car’s N Grin Boost (NGB) feature is engaged, maximising acceleration for up to 10 seconds. 0-62mph is achievable in 3.4 seconds, while a top speed of 161mph is attainable on tracks.
Other upgrades include a strengthened steering column for improved feedback, Electronic Controlled Suspension that adapts suspension stiffness according to the drive mode, and a suite of sophisticated electronic control technology in the E-GMP platform. Highlights include N Pedal, an intelligent software function that provides instant turn-in and enhanced throttle sensitivity for exhilarating cornering, and fully variable front and rear N Torque Distribution.
The IONIQ 5 N also sets a new benchmark in terms of emotional engagement for a performance EV, courtesy of N e-shift, which simulates the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission of internal combustion engine N cars, while the addictive soundtrack that Rory Reid is such a fan of comes via groundbreaking N Active Sound+ technology.
The recognition from Auto Trader comes in the wake of a series of high-profile accolades for the IONIQ 5 N, including being crowned 2024 World Performance Car in the World Car Awards. In December it was named TopGear.com’s overall 2023 Car of the Year, following that up in May by being crowned Best EV Hot Hatch in the TopGear.com Electric Awards. In the same month, CAR hailed it as the world’s best electric performance car following a definitive seven-car test. The IONIQ 5 N has also made history at the Nürburgring, where it recorded the fastest electric SUV lap time with Germany’s Sport Auto.
