Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Earns ‘Five-Star Car’ Accolade at 2025 Autocar Awards

On June 25, 2025, Hyundai Motor Company announced it’s groundbreaking IONIQ 5 N has earned the prestigious Five-Star Car award from Autocar, one of the world’s most respected automotive publications. This elite honor places the IONIQ 5 N in rare company, recognizing it for outstanding performance, cutting-edge innovation, and everyday practicality—traits seldom found together in a high-performance EV.

Autocar’s Five-Star Car distinction is awarded only to vehicles that demonstrate excellence across the board in its rigorous road test program. This year, just three vehicles met the standard—and the IONIQ 5 N is the first from Hyundai to make the list. Reviewers lauded its dual-motor, 641-horsepower configuration (with N Grin Boost), razor-sharp handling, and immersive N e-Shift technology that mimics the visceral feel of combustion engine dynamics.

More than just fast—3.4 seconds from 0 to 60 mph—the IONIQ 5 N delivers a deeply engaging drive while offering everyday usability, spacious comfort, and advanced features like vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. As the first EV from Hyundai’s N division, it sets a thrilling new benchmark for what electric performance can be.

Mark Tisshaw, Autocar Editor, 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.”

Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai & Genesis UK, said, “From the outset, the IONIQ 5 N has been a car that has demonstrated Hyundai’s technological leadership, helping to change perceptions about the brand thanks to its wonderful performance, precision handling and genuine emotional engagement. This is demonstrated yet again by the Five-Star Car award from Autocar — recognition of its success in one of the toughest and most revered road tests in the motor industry.”

EVinfo.net’s Take

If you are looking for a high-performance, capable EV that is also reasonably priced and great for everyday driving, the IONIQ 5 N is an excellent choice. The 5N has won a ton of awards.

In addition to the IONIQ 5 N, the 2026 IONIQ 9, the group’s first-ever three-row electric SUV, is a great family hauler. Its 2025 IONIQ 6 is a breakthrough electric sedan. If you prefer a little smaller and more economical, the group’s 2025 KONA Electric is an excellent choice. The group’s Kia division also offers a wide range of economical and exciting all-electric models. EVinfo.net highly recommends all Hyundai Group EVs. We proudly serve the EV industry with highly effective marketing services.

Hyundai Group is showing no signs of slowing down in June 2025 with a bold and compelling offering of great EVs for the American market. In March, Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) announced a groundbreaking investment of $21 billion in the United States, set to span from 2025 to 2028. This investment underscores the Group’s strategic focus on boosting its manufacturing capabilities, advancing innovative technologies, and strengthening energy infrastructure in the U.S. This commitment builds on HMG’s previous investment of approximately $20.5 billion since it entered the U.S. market in 1986, reflecting the Group’s long-term vision for growth in the region.

I had the opportunity to test drive the IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range, (the most affordable option) recently at Hyundai of Escondido, and was very impressed. I was in the market for a used EV recently and found many compelling offers on CarMax’s website for used IONIQ 5 and other models. I wrote recently about how CarMax announced a suite of new strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the used EV buying experience. The company has really stepped up its game to become one of the best used EV resources available nationwide today.