Driving the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for the first time was a revelation. The shifts were fake, it weighed too much, and yet, it was so much fun to drive that I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It cost more than my annual salary, so it was impossible to lease one, but if you were even a little closer to being able to afford it than I was, I’ve got great news. Hyundai cut the price of the 2026 Ioniq 5 N by $6,300, bringing the MSRP down to $59,900. Add in the $1,600 destination charge, and you’re looking at a base price of $61,500.
Typically, when an automaker lowers the base price of one of its cars, you get a lesser car. If that’s the case here, Hyundai hasn’t mentioned it in the press release. Officially, the price reduction is “in line with Hyundai’s broader strategy to extend N leadership by making track-ready performance and technology accessible to more driving enthusiasts.” The official EPA range is unchanged, still 221 miles, but Hyundai has swapped out the old CCS charging port for a NACS port and Tesla Supercharger access. You now also get a dual amperage Level 1/Level 2 combination charger, Driver Attention Monitoring, and a new Performance Blue Pearl paint option.
flow optimizer
Most of the updates look good, even if I have my doubts about how many road trips Ioniq 5 N owners take in their 221-mile EV. But while those new items are mostly about the ownership experience, there is one change for the 2026 model that was added with the driving experience in mind. Previously, the Ioniq 5 N’s Drift Optimizer software was either on or off. Now, Hyundai has given it 10 stages of drift adaptation that the driver can control. The Ioniq 5 N can already slide power pretty well, but having the option never hurts.
Otherwise that’s it. Other than that, we only got one press photo. Then again, it’s hard to complain about a 641-hp car being less expensive and running smoother without crashing. That’s the kind of thing we love to see around these parts. Really, my only complaint is that Hyundai has put the same powertrain in the Ioniq 6 N, but we haven’t got that powertrain yet. I know you have to deal with an administration that is trying its best to destroy every alternative to fossil fuel consumption, but one small thing aside, can’t you hurry up with the 641-hp sedan you promised me?
Yes, Hyundai, I know your website says the Ioniq 6 N is “coming in 2026 with extremely limited availability at select dealers,” but that’s vague, and I’m feeling impatient. Can you at least share pricing shortly? I think we’ll all appreciate that announcement. Until then, I think I can settle for not making less money than it would cost to buy a base 2026 Ioniq 5 N in a year.
