I’ve Thoroughly Tested the Hyundai Ioniq 5N and also the Ioniq 5 Limited and I Have a Very Controversial Opinion On Which Is the Better Vehicle - Feel free To Call Me Wrong, But Tell Me Why You Think So

If you opted to read this story, you likely are a fan of the Hyundai Ioniq 5. You are in good company. I’m also a “fan,” in a certain sense. I’ve named the Ioniq 5 as the “Best EV Overall” at Car Talk, and I’ve sung the model’s much-earned praises in numerous stories here at Torque News. I’ve had outstanding support from the folks at Hyundai, who have invited me to test and drive the Ioniq 5 for weeks at a stretch many times since its release. All told, I’ve spent about ten weeks in Ioniq 5 cars of nearly every trim, and I have tested the N as recently as two weeks ago, and the Limited this week. Here’s my theme for today’s story - The Ioniq 5 Limited is far better for nearly every drive than the Ioniq 5N. Let me lay out my case for this unfiltered opinion.

Related Topic: 4 out of 5 Hyundai EVs are Now Leases - How Warranty Works If You Buy At Lease End

First, a quick primer for those who may not be as familiar with the Ioniq 5 as some. The Limited and N trims stand atop the Ioniq 5 pyramid, which has six overall trims. Hyundai markets the N trim separately from the other five trims (SE Standard, SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited). The Limited has nearly everything imaginable in a top-notch four-door hatchback vehicle. The N is basically a racecar version of the Ioniq 5. Let’s dive in to see what each offers that the other doesn't, and I will explain why, for nearly every shopper, the Limited is the better choice.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N  - Range - Winner Limited
The Ioniq 5 is a battery-electric vehicle, and so range is always a top consideration. Here, there is objective proof that the Limited tops the N. The Limited has a 269-mile EPA-estimated range when equipped with its 20-inch wheels. The N has just 221 miles of EPA-estimated range. That is a big difference if you are on a road trip. Other trims have even more range. If range is your top priority, check out the complete line of the Ioniq 5 to see which model has the range you want. Some of the longest-range trims are less expensive than those trims with less range.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N - Price - Winner Limited
In my professional opinion, the Ioniq 5 offers great value in every trim. Narrowing our focus to the N and Limited, the Limited is the objective winner. Our Limited tester this week has a price including Inland Freight and Handling of $59,785. The Ioniq 5N we fully tested back in August of 2024 had a price of $68,705. Dealers set the final price, so these may vary in your shopping experience, but I can only report factually on the prices of the units I test. Nine thousand U.S. dollars is a big gap, and with added tax on top of that, it’s around ten grand in my state. Advantage Limited. Now, if you are open-minded, look for the very best lease deal on whatever Ioniq 5 trim offers the best deals. It likely will not be Limited or N.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N - Seats - Winner Limited, Unless…
The Limited has great seats. Heated, ventilated, perorated, entry assist enabled, power adjustment in about a gazillion ways. Covered in something that feels expensive. I’d rate them an A- overall. In this segment and price point, they are among the very best you can find.

The N has racecar seats - sort of. They feature microfiber inserts for grippiness and what appear to be five-point harness holes at the top. However, they are manual and not what I consider comfortable. They may fit you well. If so, rock on. I had a hard time finding a reasonable adjustment, since forward and back were the main options. These seats are not optimized for daily driving, highway use, or pretty much any other scenario - except one. If you were on a racetrack, they would be better than the Limited’s seats. That’s it. So, if you are buying the N to race, the seats are pretty good.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N - Tires & Brakes - Winner Limited
The Limited has all-season, low-profile sporty tires. My most recent tester had Michelin Primacy Touring tires, which are a very popular, very high-quality, premium tire model. You can use them in snow. I have done so. They work pretty well in every situation. You can keep them on all year round unless you plan to do a LOT of harsh winter driving, in which case you should get some dedicated winter rubber. 99% of owners won’t do that. They will drive the OEM tires all year until they are worn, and then they will buy similar tires.

The N has racetrack summer-only rubber. Our tester had Pirelli-brand tires. Because they are high-performance, summer-only, if you live where it’s below 40°F in winter, you MUST change them in fall to something else or risk crashing. It’s that black and white. These tires grip like crazy on warm, dry pavement. So much so that they Hoover up stones and sand and stuff like nails, and they are louder than the Limited’s tires. And they sort of shuffle when you make K turns. It’s a weird feeling at low speeds. They sort of scrub. These tires are only better on a racetrack.

The N has more stylish brakes as well. They may be better on a racetrack, but on public roads, they offer no meaningful advantages over the ones on the limited. Racing brakes are built to withstand the heat of repeated, extreme braking. They resist what’s called fade. This is not something you would ever experience on a public road.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N - Acceleration and Speed - Winner N
The Ioniq 5 Limited is a freakin rocket. It can launch harder than any muscle car from the 1960s and 1970s. 0-60 MPH is about 4.4 seconds according to the magazines that test that stuff. It feels crazy fast in all situations if you want it to.

The N is even faster. You might be able to see some 0-60 MPH times around 3 seconds, which is kooky fast. It is the vehicle I have named America's Best Muscle Car. There is a button called the N Grin Boost button that you can push for grins and giggles, which bumps up the thrust. It’s a barrel of monkeys. Here, the N is objectively the “better” vehicle. If you plan to use that capability. Will you? It takes a very special road layout to blast to 60 in three seconds, and it’s illegal. It’s called “Display of speed,” and it can get you a ticket. Just laying that out there.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N - Handling and Comfort
The Limited is pretty stiff. 20-inch super low-profile tires and firm dampers are why. The N is much firmer. So firm, your passengers may object. Do you want to be in your spouse's lame-o car everywhere you go because he or she is not up for being banged around? Think it over. There is no place where a firmer ride is better, even on a track. Firmness is a by-product of bad tire and damper selection. Or, an affordable selection.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N - Charging - Tie
I’ve tested and seen about five N cars. All had the older CCS and J-Plug charging port arrangement that is used everywhere in America except at Superchargers. So, if you usually charge at those (Electrify America, ChargePoint, etc.), that is a good thing. The Limited for 2025 and beyond now has the NACS (Tesla-style) charge port. Better for Superchargers. Pick your poison. Either way, you’ll end up with adapters. They are heavy and roll around anyplace you put them. I have both an NACS and CCS Level 2 charger in my garage, so I’d go with NACS to make Supercharger use easier. I’ll call this a tie.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited vs. Ioniq 5N - Roofs - Winner Limited
On a racetrack, you don’t want a glass roof because you end up scraping your helmet if you roll it. Plus, metal fixed roofs add stiffness. And, although it may sound counterintuitive, metal roofs are lighter than glass ones, and weight up high is bad for racecars. Carbon fiber is best, but it's crazy money. So the Ioniq 5N has a metal roof, which makes the cabin darker. The Limited has a glass roof with a power sunshade. Perfect.

Conclusion and the Opinion Part
I have turned literally hundreds of hours of racetrack laps at three tracks in New England, including the wonderfully curvy Monticello Motor Club and the higher-speed mostly oval Lime Rock. Why anyone would opt to buy an EV for a racetrack escapes my understanding. Lightness is the game on a racetrack. The Ioniq 5 N weighs a staggering 4,861 pounds. It weighs more than the Limited by about 150 pounds. Not that it matters, since either weight is not appropriate for any road course. What is? Maybe 3,500 pounds for a car this size. A Miata weighs under 2,400 pounds. A GR86 weighs about 2,800. Why does it matter? It comes into play when you try to corner at the limits, brake, or accelerate. Stuff you do at the extremes on a track. I like to slide cars sideways under my control on tracks. I can’t imagine doing that with these EVs.

At a drag strip, the Ioniq 5N is the quicker car, but pretty tame. No shifting. You just floor it and go straight. Yeah? If you find that fun, have at it.

The opinion I offer is that the Limited provides way more performance than nearly any buyer will ever use. Opting for an even more extreme trim seems illogical to me. Particularly since it weighs more, is less comfortable, and costs a LOT more. Plus, it has the hassle of two sets of tires to manage. Feel free to shred me in the comments, but in my opinion, the Limited is the way to go for nearly every buyer. What's your opinion on this? Tell us in the comments below. 
 

John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools. 

All images by John Goreham.