Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Line S

FIRST DRIVE Revisions to former Car of the Year include introduction of new trim with all the show of the 5 N, but a little less go

- Ellis Hyde

ESSENTIALS Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Line S

Price: £55,900
On sale: Now
Powertrain: 84kWh battery, 1x e-motor
Power/torque: 321bhp/605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
0-62/top speed: 5.3 seconds/114mph
Range: 307 miles
Max charging: 260kW (10-80% in 18min)
Size (L/W/H): 4,655/1,890/1,605mm

THE Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been a benchmark for electric family cars since it was launched in 2021, thanks to cutting-edge design and tech, a comfortable ride and a hugely spacious interior - all of which helped the oversized hatchback win the coveted title of Auto Express Car of the Year.

Of course, a lot has changed in the EV world since then, and the loniq 5 faces more competition than ever from both new arrivals, including the Ford Explorer and Renault Scenic, as well as heavily updated old foes such as the Tesla Model Y.

So now Hyundai has issued several upgrades for 2025, including bigger batteries that provide up to 354 miles of range, plus more standard kit, such as a heat pump, extra sound insulation to improve refinement and some very subtle styling tweaks.

Given that the loniq 5 remains one of the most head-turning cars on the road, we're not surprised Hyundai kept visual changes to a minimum. There are new wheels, refreshed bumpers, redesigned LED front lights, a larger roof spoiler and, perhaps most importantly, a rear windscreen wiper, which we're astonished this car didn't have from the off.