Help, I can’t stop thinking about the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

When I arrived to revise the Hyundai Ioniq 5N, I knew it would be quick. Having over 600 horsepower on hand tends to do that. I had also seen promises that it would perform much better on track than the Kia EV6GT, so I went in expecting it to be pretty good. Once behind the wheel, I quickly realized that it wasn’t just good. It was outstanding. The power made me want to do stupid and illegal things, and the brakes and handling encouraged it too. Since then, I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

Just so you understand, this driving program was the first time I can remember where I was legitimately excited to switch seats with my driving partner because I needed her to experience the pure joy of driving that is the Ioniq 5 N. It almost didn’t make me feel it was right to keep the driver’s seat to myself for the rest of the stage. She necessary feel the ridicule of the so-called rascal around Hyundai. And anyone who has driven one will tell you the same thing. The reason we all seem like a bunch of paid stooges is because the Ioniq 5 N is legitimately this good.

I mean, we talk so well that Matt Farah seriously considered buy one instead of the Porsche Macan EV which he had on order. Think about it a little. Hyundai has built an electric crossover so good that it’s directly compared to a Porsche by someone who can afford a Porsche. This is madness.

The Ioniq 5 N has infiltrated my brain and I honestly think it’s breaking me. Everything I’ve driven since has made me want to drive the Hyundai. All I can think about is how much better every drive would be if I was in an Ioniq 5 N. Now, granted, just about anything is nicer to drive than my dying 2008 Subaru Forester, but I talk about other cars. , including new ones that aren’t even vaguely competitive with the electric Hyundai.

Normally I’m not like that either. When I had my first test drive in a Porsche 911, it was a revelation, but I didn’t spend my week in a Mustang GT constantly thinking about the 911. And I certainly wasn’t thinking, “You know what would happen. make this Lexus LX so much better? If it was a 911.” That would have been absurd.

And yet, after driving the Hyundai, I feel like I might lose my mind. A car I drove for a few hours shouldn’t take up that space in my brain, and yet it does. It’s also not like my brain is a McMansion with a three-car garage and a swimming pool. At best we work here with a one bedroom apartment without an elevator. I need this brain space for things like remembering doctor appointments and where I put my keys. But no. I keep thinking about the Ioniq 5 N and I don’t know if there is anything I can do to fix it.

It might be too late for me, but at least I can warn everyone. Unless you are serious about buying this car, do not under any circumstances test drive a car. Turn around now. They’ll make you return the keys when you’re done, and then you’ll be stuck driving home in something that’s not an Ioniq 5 N, thinking the whole time about how you wish you could afford one. Trust me. You don’t want to do this to yourself. Once that line is crossed, there is no going back.