Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Confronts Four Goliaths, Proves Its Worth, and Scores Big

The earth-friendly Hyundai that's not afraid to munch on tires and can simulate an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission has a peak output of 641 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque. When you're not pushing it to its limits, the vehicle deploys a herd of 601 electrified stallions.

Its figures may not be close to what a Lucid Air Grand Touring or a Tesla Model S Plaid can play with when the driver mashes the accelerator pedal to the ground, but what they're not is spicy electric crossover SUVs that look like hatchbacks from afar or in pictures.

For the time being, the Ioniq 5 N doesn't share its throne with anyone, not even with its half-sibling, the less powerful Kia EV6 GT. You might be inclined to think that the Tesla Model Y Performance could easily take on the South Korean ride, but it won't put up much of a fight. Last year's world's best-selling car has over 100 hp less on tap.

And, believe it or not, not even the brand-new Porsche Macan Turbo Electric can match the Ioniq 5 N. The German CUV can play with only 630 "clean" ponies when Overboost or Launch Control are activated. The rest of the time, the Macan Turbo Electric makes use of 576 hp.

If you're not into all the zero-tailpipe emission stuff, then here's something that can help you understand faster why this dual-motor Hyundai is worthy of a bit more hype – it can play with 14 hp more than what the V8-powered BMW M5 CS produces. Not even the recently replaced Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S can match the EV's might because the eight-cylinder powerplant only puts out 510 hp.

Putting your money where your mouth is

Still, the Aussie team at CarExpert convinced Hyundai to support a few drag races in which the Ioniq 5 N competed against some very powerful (and posh) rivals. The marque helped with most of the costs involved to put the whole thing together.

By now, most people know that all-electric vehicles have the upper hand when racing in a straight line from zero to 60 (97) or 62 mph (100 kph). Even a rear-wheel-drive EV might lurch forward a bit faster than some popular all-wheel-drive cars. That instant torque functions like magic, and it's one of the reasons why urban dwellers love EVs. Nobody (hopefully) accelerates to excessive speeds within city limits, which means that any stoplight rivalry should theoretically end before the speedometer shows 40 or 50 mph.

When it comes to going beyond the quarter-mile run, things might look a bit different. Most EVs start artificially limiting the total power output depending on the battery charge level. The Model Y Performance, for example, will unleash all its 530 hp only if the state of charge is above 80 percent. Moreover, the high-voltage battery needs to be at the right temperature to have everything working at maximum capacity.

Still, the Ioniq 5 N embarked on this journey. Its first rival was a manual Porsche 911 GT3. It left the iconic supercar behind on two occasions: first, when the EV was set to unleash all its power, and second, when the driver set it in the faux manual mode. Not even the roll race allowed the Porsche to shine. Six cylinders were no match for the two permanent magnet motors.

Then, the Hyundai was put on the starting line against a Mercedes-AMG G 63 with a Brabus tune. The G-Wagen tried to keep up with the Ioniq 5 N. Ultimately, it failed to do so. The EV won on both occasions. The rolling race showed that the V8 thrown into an SUV that's less aerodynamic than a brick couldn't put the EV into its place.

Seoul, will we have a problem?

The third rival presented itself with two more cylinders, a lot less weight, and improved aerodynamics. The V10-powered Huracan STO is a track-inspired road-legal supercar. Simply put, it is a menace. But that didn't matter much. The EV won the first drag race. Things changed in the second run because the Lamborghini proved what it was capable of. Sadly, the internal combustion engine-powered machine lost the rolling race.

But it was time to take things up a notch – again. Enter Ferrari 812 Competizione – a (very expensive) V12 Italian automotive wonder. The mid-engined rear-wheel-drive race-inspired grand tourer had all the attributes it needed to defeat a South Korean CUV that was about nine times cheaper when looking only at MSRPs. And that it did. The prancing horse avenged all the other conventional rides used in this drag race. Still, given the price difference, it was quite close for comfort and a bit surprising.

One thing the Aussies don't show in the video below is the Hyundai's battery charge level for each race. We're shown only once that it's at 82 percent. That is important because dropping below a certain threshold may result in the Ioniq 5 N limiting its power output. We suspect they charged the EV before each run to keep it above an 80 percent state of charge. If they didn't, then the CUV is even more impressive.

However, they did run all the cars from naught to 62 mph (100 kph) and measured their quarter-mile times. The Ioniq 5 N came on top with a time of 3.52 seconds when all that mattered was the sprint to 62 mph, but it didn't defeat the Italian duo in the single quarter-mile run. The Lamborghini was 0.03 seconds faster, while the Ferrari crossed the finish line with 0.33 seconds to spare.

At the end of the day, this drag race proves that you don't need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars (or even millions!) on or for a certain car, worry about where you park, and deal with pricey insurance premiums to occasionally have fun. A ride like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can trick your mind that you are driving a noisy manual vehicle from time to time while also helping you lower your carbon footprint when you're not eager to put the pedal to the metal. Tires may need replacing more often, though! But, hey, at least you won't visit the gas station ever again. Charging at home really is a perk.

As far as I am concerned, the one thing that brings me joy as a gearhead and auto journalist about this outcome is that we have many, many choices. No matter your finances and taste, there's something out there for everyone. Let's hope it remains that way.