Hyundai IONIQ 5 N - The ‘Five-Star Car’ Winner at the 2025 Autocar Awards

Saudi Arabia : The Five-Star Car award is only given to models that perform exceptionally well across all categories.

• The IONIQ 5 N has been praised for its lively driving abilities, innovation and everyday convenience. 
• The Five-Star Car accolade puts the performance SUV in a select group of cars judged by Autocar.
• The IONIQ 5 N has become the first car to get this prestigious award.

Hyundai’s first high-performance electric vehicle, the IONIQ 5 N, has received the Five-Star Car award from Autocar, a respected global car magazine. This award puts the IONIQ 5 N in a special group of vehicles that reach high levels of performance, innovation, and everyday use.

Autocar has been testing cars on the road for almost 100 years. This year, three cars earned this top honour, including the IONIQ 5 N. This shows how strict and careful their testing process is.

IONIQ 5 N - First Hyundai to get Five-Star Car Award

The IONIQ 5 N is the first Hyundai to earn a Five-Star Car award from Autocar. Road testers praised its advanced tech, lively handling, and fun driving feel—qualities that are rare in today's high-performance electric cars. In their review, Autocar dubbed the IONIQ 5 N a "game changer" that is "incredibly fun to drive" and can handle any driving situation well.

The car features two motors that produce up to 641 hp when the N Grin Boost mode is activated. This enables the car to go from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.4 seconds. But it's not just about speed. Autocar also liked the N e-Shift system, which mimics gear changes and engine braking similar to traditional performance cars. This makes driving more engaging and adds a real sense of connection.

Reasons why IONIQ 5 N earned this prestigious award

Mark Tisshaw, the Autocar Editor, noted that cars that truly change the way we see driving are very rare. This is still true in today’s chaotic car world. But the IONIQ 5 N proves to be one of those rare finds. It enters the scene as a real change for electric car fans. With the new N version, Hyundai brings a fresh kind of driving experience. That's why it earned a perfect five-star review from Autocar.

The IONIQ 5 N is Hyundai’s first fully electric car from its N division, aimed at giving drivers a real connection to the road. It’s built on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, which supports its high performance. The car includes smart features like an advanced regenerative braking system and a cooling system designed for track use. 

The car also has custom performance software inspired by motorsport racing. Inside, it offers plenty of space, along with vehicle-to-load (V2L) power compatibility and modern connectivity options. The IONIQ 5 N changes what people expect from a high-performance electric vehicle.

President of Hyundai & Genesis UK, Ashley Andrew, said that the IONIQ 5 N has always shown Hyundai’s strength in technology. The car has helped change how people see the brand with its strong performance, sharp handling, and real emotional connection. 

This was proven again when the car won the Five-Star Car award from Autocar. The award is a sign of its success in one of the most challenging and respected road tests in the car industry.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 N price in KSA

While the standard model of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 starts at SAR 194,350, the N version is yet to be launched with the expected price of SAR 269,399 in KSA.