In the realm of electric vehicles, the field of SUVs has a much wider variety to choose from than other body styles, even if the individual vehicles tend to blend segments together. Case in point: the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It almost looks like a hatchback, but it’s deceivingly large, with a long wheelbase, tons of interior space, and available all-wheel drive, putting it squarely into crossover territory when it comes to practicality. Where it truly breaks the mold, though, is in its performance, particularly in the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
This hot version of the retrofuturistic oddity does so much more than the already delightful EV it’s based on, making the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TopSpeed’s Best Electric SUV of the Year.The Ioniq 5 is underpinned by a fantastic platform, called E-GMP, which Hyundai identified as the perfect foundation for its first electric N car. Its 84-kilowatt-hour battery pack is capable of exceptionally fast charging thanks to its high-voltage architecture, meaning less time spent juicing it up and more time spent driving. The Ioniq 5 N features a pair of electric motors providing all-wheel drive and impressive performance. Hyundai also crafted a unique experience to make the Ioniq 5 N drive like no other EV, and do it well.
“The Ioniq 5 N felt like I had bolted a set of wheels to my Gran Turismo racing rig. It messed with my mind, and I liked it.” — William Clavey, Editor-at-Large
Most of the time, the Ioniq 5 N offers 601 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque, which already seems a little excessive. That’s not a bad thing — excess is fun. But I you press the “N Grin Boost” (NGB) button, it temporarily unlocks a total of 641 hp and 568 lb-ft, making the car so fast, it’s almost difficult to process. In terms of acceleration, that translates to a 0-60 time of 3.25 adrenaline-soaked seconds.
We award this category to the electric SUV that performs the best in four areas: Value, Success Relative to Mission, Tech, and Gut (something about the pieces of the car just come together in a way that’s pleasing), as voted upon by the TopSpeed staff. In a field such as this, there are an increasing number of vehicles to choose from, whether it’s a well-conceived family hauler to an aspirational super-EV that does everything else so well that it outweighs the astronomical sticker price. In this case, our winner was a well-rounded pick that performed well in most categories.
The Ioniq 5 N’s Tech Is Focused On Driving Excitement
But its sheer speed is complemented by a number of features — some familiar, some novel — that make the Ioniq 5 N uniquely entertaining to drive. There’s the aforementioned NGB button that acts as a push-to-pass feature — though it’s perfectly capable of passing most vehicles as it is. It has a standard electronic limited-slip rear differential that helps with cornering. The N allows you to choose how to split torque between the front and rear wheels to customize the driving feel. The N Pedal function customizes the sensitivity of the accelerator. The N Drift Optimizer sends power to the rear wheels and allows you to get the car as sideways as you like. A left-foot braking feature allows you to use the brake and accelerator at the same time.
“The Ioniq 5 N is an absolute game-changer, being the first-ever full-fledged performance EV with the complete and total package that isn’t a high-dollar exclusive hypercar. It’s so damn good, that it nudged this ICE-lover closer to being an EV believer.” — Chris Chin, Automotive Journalist
But perhaps the most surprising thing about the Ioniq 5 N is that it actually succeeds at mimicking certain behaviors of an internal combustion car with an actual transmission, and makes it fun. N Active Sound+ pipes an artificial engine note through interior and exterior speakers to provide sonic feedback. That soundtrack is especially useful when utilizing the car’s N e-Shift feature, which does a fine job of imitating the feel of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, giving drivers back a part of engaging with the car that we’d thought EVs had robbed from us forever.
Despite the Ioniq 5 N’s sporting cred and overindulgence in tire-shredding performance, it’s still a crossover, and a good one at that. It’s got plenty of room in both rows of seating, as well as a large footprint in the rear cargo area. Its all-wheel drive isn’t just great for generating impressive traction around corners, but also in assuring confidence in everyday driving. It has easy-to-use technology, and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Just because it looks like a hot hatch and drives like a bat out of hell doesn’t mean it’s not a comfortable, family-friendly EV that you’d want to take to soccer practice.
|
Battery Type |
Liquid-Cooled Lithium-Ion |
|---|---|
|
Battery Capacity |
84 kWh |
|
Drivetrain |
Dual-Motor AWD |
|
Horsepower (Combined) |
601 HP / 641 HP With NGB |
|
Torque (Combined) |
545 LB-FT / 568 LB-FT With NGB |
|
0-60 MPH |
3.25 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
162 MPH |
The Runner-Up: 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
Don’t feel too sad that the Chevrolet Bolt is gone. Chevy’s current entry EV, the Equinox EV is even better. Its mission — providing an approachable, affordable, and generally charming electric crossover that’s good to live with — is accomplished. This compact SUV is aimed right at the heart of the market, and succeeds in providing all those things mainstream EV buyers want.
It feels familiar, without a lot of the extra oddities many EVs include in an attempt to set themselves apart from the rest of the pack. It’s offered with front-wheel drive — which is more practical than the rear-drive setup most EVs use in their lower trims — and all-wheel drive. It’s got a good amount of room for passengers and their cargo. Currently starting at $41,900, you don’t feel like you’re getting hosed (well, at least not as much) just because it’s an EV, and a $33,600 1LT trim should show up soon. It offers good range, at up to 319 miles on a charge. It also offers GM’s Super Cruise hands-free highway driving assistance feature, which makes it feel high-tech and stress-free.
Read the full article here