The pitch is “something for everyone”: the roominess of an SUV in a package that is loud, raunchy and engaging to drive, yet also clean running and, when you want it to be, near-silent.To be part of the fun, you’ll be asked to pay $111,000 plus on-road costs, the most ever asked here for a new Hyundai. By contrast, the entry-level Ioniq 5 is $67,000 plus on-road costs.
Sure, it is an Ioniq 5 turned up to 11, with a stiffened shell, upgraded chassis and two powerful motors that develop a combined maximum output of 478 kW and 770 Nm. But the thing that really makes it different is the fake gearbox. The well-synched engine sounds also help judge speeds and braking distances, which can be difficult in electric silence. I’d be amazed if sports car makers working on their first fully electric cars aren’t having. They will mumble about authenticity, of course, but most modern performance cars include a fair bit of showbiz anyway, whether it is heavily tuned and/or artificially boosted engine notes, or deliberately violent gear changes.
The N carries over most of the practical benefits of the much-acclaimed car it is based on, so when you want a quiet, comfortable ride, it does that too.The cabin has the usual sports model upgrades but is just a tiny bit bland. It remains hugely roomy, though, with excellent rear-seat legroom. There are some compromises: compared with the standard Ioniq 5, you lose all the front cargo area and a bit of the rear too.