Hyundai Motor Company announced that its high-performance electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5 N, has been designated as the Five-Star Car at the Autocar Awards 2025, presented by the renowned British automotive magazine Autocar on Tuesday.
Autocar, the world’s oldest automotive publication, was first launched in 1895 and has been conducting its prestigious road test program for nearly a century.
The Five-Star Car designation is reserved for vehicles that set new benchmarks across all aspects during Autocar‘s rigorous road tests. The Ioniq 5 N made history as Hyundai’s first-ever Five-Star Car, sharing this prestigious honor with the Porsche 911 S/T and Skoda Superb Estate.
The Ioniq 5 N has garnered widespread acclaim for its cutting-edge stability control technology, exhilarating driving dynamics, and immersive driving experience—attributes that are seldom found in today’s high-performance electric vehicles.
Autocar hailed it as a game changer, praising its exceptional fun factor and dynamic responsiveness across various driving conditions. The magazine particularly commended the innovative N e-Shift feature, which simulates the gear shifts and engine braking characteristics of internal combustion vehicles, significantly enhancing driver engagement.
Mark Tisshaw, a journalist at Autocar, commented that the Ioniq 5 N emerges as a true game changer, delivering authentic driving pleasure in the electric age, an era of rapid transformation for the automotive industry. He further explained that it unquestionably merits the highest accolades in Autocar‘s road tests.
The Ioniq 5 N represents the pinnacle of Hyundai’s electric vehicle technology and marks the debut of a high-performance EV under the N brand. It boasts an impressive combined output of 478 kW (650 horsepower in boost mode) and a maximum torque of 770 Nm (78.5 kgf·m in boost mode). The vehicle features an advanced 84 kWh high-output battery and a specialized thermal management system, resulting in exceptional driving performance.
The Ioniq 5 N’s outstanding qualities have earned it numerous accolades, including the World Performance Car of the Year award at the 2024 World Car Awards. It has also clinched titles such as Car of the Year at the 2023 UK Top Gear.com Awards, Best EV Hot Hatch at the 2024 Top Gear.com Electric Car Awards, Performance Car of the Year at the 2025 China Car of the Year, and Electric Vehicle Utility of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Car of the Year.
Ashley Andrew, CEO of Hyundai Motor and Genesis UK, stated that the Ioniq 5 N exemplifies Hyundai’s technological leadership, reshaping perceptions of the brand through its remarkable performance, precise handling, and emotionally engaging driving experience. This Five-Star Car recognition from Autocar validates the vehicle’s excellence in one of the industry’s most demanding and respected evaluations.