Discussion
I'm a petrol head, but these are getting me intrigued.
Something really compelling about the package.
May look after a business lease, first car I've considered this for.
Anyone know the actual release date/when we will be able to order, and does anyone know if the warranty will cover trackdays. I understand it does for other N cars
Something really compelling about the package.
May look after a business lease, first car I've considered this for.
Anyone know the actual release date/when we will be able to order, and does anyone know if the warranty will cover trackdays. I understand it does for other N cars
Driving impressions embargoed until next week. Sounds fun.
In the meantime have a listen to this, 19m50s on
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/podcasts-my-wee...
In the meantime have a listen to this, 19m50s on
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/podcasts-my-wee...
Test drove one today. Not really a vehicle I'd seriously consider as I don't like SUVs and immediately just felt like I was sat WAY too high, but was keen to try it out from a drivetrain and related tech perspective.
Test route was just under an hour drive with a mix of dual carriageway, B-roads and town driving.
For reference driven a number of EVs in the past - the i3, i4, Mini Electric and Seat Mii Electric, which were all very different. None really came across as fun to me though - not that bothered about the performance, but just in terms of braking, cornering, etc.
Thought the engine noise and fake gearbox stuff was going to be s
t but it actually works brilliantly and makes it very natural and fun to drive.
It varies the torque delivery and regen based on the 'gear' you're in. Its not perfect (letting it hit a fake rev limit is silly for example) but it does a good job of giving you some more normal aural feedback of your speed and quickly adjust the attitude of the car.
When pushing on on the B-road section it hid its weight (2.3t) very well but suspect it would eat tyres and brakes with continuous hard use.
So if you want it to it does a good impression of something like a high performance petrol SUV with DCT gearbox, and for me it did make it more fun to drive in doing so.
From an actual car perspective it wasn't for me. It was bloody massive, particularly in terms of width, and as I say I don't like sitting so high-up.
I had a sit in the Ioniq 6 as well as that had a much more natural seating position for me with the seat dropped all the way down.
The boot was tiny considering the size of the car and it has no front storage in the dual motor version.
Its got a lot going on inside, but it did at least have physical buttons for a lot of functionality.
The steering wheel was comically complex and made wheel of the 458 I'd driven there in seem sparsely populated by comparison!
Main takeaway for me was that actually whilst running a petrol car may not be economical in the future, Hyundai have done a damn good job of synthesising the experience of driving one.
If they bring the tech down to something i30 sized. Doesn't need the big power, but to 200-300bhp with a single motor and lop out as much weight as possible. Range can be less too so long as ~200 miles. At that point I'd be very interested.
Test route was just under an hour drive with a mix of dual carriageway, B-roads and town driving.
For reference driven a number of EVs in the past - the i3, i4, Mini Electric and Seat Mii Electric, which were all very different. None really came across as fun to me though - not that bothered about the performance, but just in terms of braking, cornering, etc.
Thought the engine noise and fake gearbox stuff was going to be s
t but it actually works brilliantly and makes it very natural and fun to drive.It varies the torque delivery and regen based on the 'gear' you're in. Its not perfect (letting it hit a fake rev limit is silly for example) but it does a good job of giving you some more normal aural feedback of your speed and quickly adjust the attitude of the car.
When pushing on on the B-road section it hid its weight (2.3t) very well but suspect it would eat tyres and brakes with continuous hard use.
So if you want it to it does a good impression of something like a high performance petrol SUV with DCT gearbox, and for me it did make it more fun to drive in doing so.
From an actual car perspective it wasn't for me. It was bloody massive, particularly in terms of width, and as I say I don't like sitting so high-up.
I had a sit in the Ioniq 6 as well as that had a much more natural seating position for me with the seat dropped all the way down.
The boot was tiny considering the size of the car and it has no front storage in the dual motor version.
Its got a lot going on inside, but it did at least have physical buttons for a lot of functionality.
The steering wheel was comically complex and made wheel of the 458 I'd driven there in seem sparsely populated by comparison!
Main takeaway for me was that actually whilst running a petrol car may not be economical in the future, Hyundai have done a damn good job of synthesising the experience of driving one.
If they bring the tech down to something i30 sized. Doesn't need the big power, but to 200-300bhp with a single motor and lop out as much weight as possible. Range can be less too so long as ~200 miles. At that point I'd be very interested.
I've had time to digest my time with the Ioniq N5 (really need a 48hr test drive to be honest.
Now the initial excitement of driving one is a few days past, do I still want one? Yes probably.
It's the most genuine Jekyll & Hyde car I have ever driven.
Want a comfortable car to be "just a car"? It will do just that, it's quiet (although had some concerning trim rattles from the rear), it rides pretty well, especially when you consider it runs on 275/35R21 tyres. The sports seats, despite their limited adjustment are comfy.
The power delivery in "normal" mode is smooth, although when you really prod the accelerator it it plenty fast enough for most situations,with acceleration that will embarrass an awful lot of cars on the road today.
However.... engage "N"mode and things take an entirely unexpected, rather amusing turn. Power is nearly doubled to 601bhp, with an additional 40bhp "overtaking boost" (not that it really needs it) available for 10s (bare in mind here the o-100mph sprint takes just 6.9s.
The 0-60 time of just 3.3s actually feels marginally uncomfortable after a few runs but is highly addictive, but all of this is merely a supporting act, to something that was somewhat of a surprise....the "active sound & simulated exhaust"
I'm not a fan of EV's with fake engine sounds, the Taycan sounds all rather too false. The 5N was different. The sound was pretty convincing, it comes with a gearbox mode also, that replicates the torque spikes of a DSG type 'box, and it does it very, very well.
Add to this the pops & crackles on "gear change" the whole thing is pretty convincing, you can feel the "engine" through the chassis too, courtesy of a subwoofer mounted to the body, in the boot. Pop a non petrol head in the car & I suspect they would never know it's an EV.
This could well be the car to convince me we don't need a boring car & a weekend fun car, this car genuinely fulfills both briefs on that front. Will I buy one, probably, but I'll need to find a dealer that can offer a 48hr test drive to be 100% sure as it's costly.
It's very clear that some very clever people within Hyundai has spent an awfully long time calibrating powertrain, brakes steering to make it genuinely enjoyable.
Now the initial excitement of driving one is a few days past, do I still want one? Yes probably.
It's the most genuine Jekyll & Hyde car I have ever driven.
Want a comfortable car to be "just a car"? It will do just that, it's quiet (although had some concerning trim rattles from the rear), it rides pretty well, especially when you consider it runs on 275/35R21 tyres. The sports seats, despite their limited adjustment are comfy.
The power delivery in "normal" mode is smooth, although when you really prod the accelerator it it plenty fast enough for most situations,with acceleration that will embarrass an awful lot of cars on the road today.
However.... engage "N"mode and things take an entirely unexpected, rather amusing turn. Power is nearly doubled to 601bhp, with an additional 40bhp "overtaking boost" (not that it really needs it) available for 10s (bare in mind here the o-100mph sprint takes just 6.9s.
The 0-60 time of just 3.3s actually feels marginally uncomfortable after a few runs but is highly addictive, but all of this is merely a supporting act, to something that was somewhat of a surprise....the "active sound & simulated exhaust"
I'm not a fan of EV's with fake engine sounds, the Taycan sounds all rather too false. The 5N was different. The sound was pretty convincing, it comes with a gearbox mode also, that replicates the torque spikes of a DSG type 'box, and it does it very, very well.
Add to this the pops & crackles on "gear change" the whole thing is pretty convincing, you can feel the "engine" through the chassis too, courtesy of a subwoofer mounted to the body, in the boot. Pop a non petrol head in the car & I suspect they would never know it's an EV.
This could well be the car to convince me we don't need a boring car & a weekend fun car, this car genuinely fulfills both briefs on that front. Will I buy one, probably, but I'll need to find a dealer that can offer a 48hr test drive to be 100% sure as it's costly.
It's very clear that some very clever people within Hyundai has spent an awfully long time calibrating powertrain, brakes steering to make it genuinely enjoyable.
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