Generally talking, we like each the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and its mechanical twin, the Kia EV6. Starting at a little bit over $40,000, the Ioniq 5 presents as much as 303 miles of vary, might be had in both rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and simply seems downright cool. We want you may get it in precise enjoyable colours, however that’s not the top of the world. Plus, there’s an N model coming that makes 600 horsepower and can hit 60 mph in a claimed 3.4 seconds. We’re completely not going to complain about that.
After our first drive of the Kia EV6 GT, although, we did have some issues in regards to the Ioniq 5 N. The EV6 GT makes 576 hp and has an identical 3.4-second zero-to-60 time, so it might stand to motive that its high-performance Hyundai sibling would drive equally. Unfortunately, on the time, we discovered it a little bit underwhelming in case you’re searching for something aside from straight-line pace. At the time we wrote:
The EV6 GT doesn’t precisely embarrass itself, nevertheless it by no means feels settled or planted. On prime of that, the Goodyear Eagle F1 tires scream their guts out on the slightest whiff of aggressive turn-in or throttle utility. Kind of like the Kia Stinger, the EV6 GT is a fast, highly effective grand-ish touring machine, however not a sports activities automotive. …
The backside line is that Kia constructed one thing thrilling: The quickest and strongest manufacturing automotive within the model’s historical past. But it’s not within the form of package deal you would possibly count on. The EV6 GT isn’t a nasty automotive – removed from it – nevertheless it’s not adequate to justify the vary and value sacrifices that the horsepower calls for.
That doesn’t precisely set the stage for the sort of driver’s automotive that we’ve come to count on from Hyundai’s N division. Plus, there’s all the electrical gimmickry that Hyundai promised the Ioniq 5 N would have, equivalent to faux exhaust notes and a mode that will simulate the shifts of a dual-clutch transmission. Thankfully, it’s going to be one thing you may flip off, however nonetheless, we had our issues.
It’ll in all probability be some time earlier than we get to drive the Ioniq 5 N, however not too long ago, Top Gear (the journal aspect of the enterprise, not the presumably not-canceled TV present) bought the prospect to drive a pre-production model, and let’s simply say it doesn’t sound like we had something to fret about. As an EV, it’s clearly nonetheless a heavy automotive, it reportedly feels lighter than it really is. And most significantly, it sounds prefer it’s simply an absolute blast to drive. Even the faux DCT mode sounds prefer it’s enjoyable sufficient to be greater than a gimmick. Plus, it actually will drift.
It’s in all probability not going to chase down a Porsche 911 GT3 RS on the race observe, nevertheless it sounds just like the Ioniq 5 N is a automotive that you simply really ought to take to the observe. And anytime somebody finishes off a overview saying, “This car has some genuine agility but, best of all, a proper sense of humor,” yeah, we’re going to get excited. Price and vary are nonetheless attainable Achilles’ heels, however for now, we’re simply counting the times till we get an opportunity to hop behind the wheel ourselves.
Source: jalopnik.com