Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Crowned Five-Star Car at 2025 Autocar Awards
Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Earns Prestigious Five-Star Car Honour at 2025 Autocar Awards
– Groundbreaking all-electric performance car hailed as a “game-changer” by Autocar –
Hyundai Motor’s first high-performance electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5 N, has secured a major industry accolade, earning the coveted Five-Star Car award at the 2025 Autocar Awards. This prestigious recognition firmly places the IONIQ 5 N among an elite group of vehicles that have set new standards in performance, innovation and everyday usability.
Autocar, one of the UK’s most respected automotive publications, has been conducting its renowned road test programme for nearly a century. The Five-Star Car award is reserved only for models that deliver truly exceptional performance across all measurable criteria – a rare distinction that this year was awarded to just three vehicles, including the IONIQ 5 N.
Marking a significant milestone for Hyundai in the UK and globally, the IONIQ 5 N is the first model from the brand to receive a Five-Star Car rating from Autocar. Praised for its dynamic abilities, everyday practicality and pioneering technology, the IONIQ 5 N was described by Autocar’s expert road testers as a “game changer” that is “blindingly good fun and capable of rising to any occasion in dynamic terms.”
With a dual-motor powertrain producing up to 641bhp when N Grin Boost mode is activated, the IONIQ 5 N rockets from 0 to 60mph in just 3.4 seconds. However, it’s not just straight-line speed that impressed Autocar. The car’s N e-Shift system, which simulates traditional gear changes and engine-braking characteristics, was singled out for enhancing driver engagement – a rare quality among high-performance EVs.
Commenting on the accolade, Mark Tisshaw, Editor of Autocar, said:
“Cars that truly change the game have always been vanishingly rare, and that remains true in the topsy-turvy era the automotive industry is currently weathering. Yet the IONIQ 5 N is just that: a game-changer. With the arrival of the N, the electric driver's car has landed, and it’s fully deserving of its perfect five-star Autocar road test.”
Built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, the IONIQ 5 N combines high-performance hardware with motorsport-inspired software to deliver a uniquely engaging electric drive. Features such as advanced regenerative braking, track-ready thermal management, and precision control systems have helped it redefine what an electric performance car can be.
The IONIQ 5 N also excels in daily usability – with a spacious, technology-rich interior, vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, and extensive connectivity options tailored for the modern UK driver.