2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N First Look: Still a Beast, Now $6,300 Cheaper

There’s nothing like getting your enthusiast fun fix for less, and Hyundai is obliging by offering prospective owners its amazing Ioniq 5 N for $6,300 off the price of the 2025 model. Even better, you get more than just a lower price tag, as new options and features have been added to the 5 N’s mix to further improve the high-performance compact EV SUV, one that offers near-Corvette-level performance for almost $12,000 less than the mid-engine American sports car.

That’s right, with the 2027 Corvette Stingray now priced at $73,495, you can get Hyundai’s EV SUV that nearly equals the Stingray's track pace for $61,500, a relative bargain considering everything that the 641-hp Ioniq 5 N delivers.

The Range Penalty Remains, but You’ll Have More Charger Options

Yes, you get a lot for that lower price, but the 5 N does come with a range penalty. The standard Ioniq 5 with 20-inch wheels and AWD can achieve around 269 miles of EPA rated miles from its extended-range battery pack. The N version, with its 21-inch wheels, can only muster 221 miles before its pack is depleted. And that’s when you’re driving it normally.

But there is good news, as the 2026 Ioniq 5 N now comes with an NACS port as standard and opens up to more charging options, namely the Tesla Supercharger network. For those who want to keep their J1772 AC Level 2 charger or run into a public charger with the J1772-CCS combo, Hyundai will include adapters for both systems. It also now includes a dual-voltage Level 1/2 combo charger cable for times when you don’t have access to your home charger but do have access to outdoor AC connections, like at your local racetrack.

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Get Slideways, Your Way

A new performance change was also made to the 5 N’s N Drift Optimizer, which will now offer 10 stages of tail-out performance. The 2025 model only came with a single setting, so it’s great to see Hyundai give owners the ability to really tailor their driving experience here. But what remains the same is the maximum 641 horsepower available when N Grin Boost mode is engaged. This is part of what made the Ioniq 5 N one of the quickest SUVs we’ve ever tested when it debuted, and that won’t change for 2026. When not in the too-much-fun mode, the standard combined motor output is 601 hp and is still nothing to sneeze at.

Also returning is Hyundai’s N e-Shift technology, which simulates the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission from its gas-powered Elantra N and works in conjunction with N Active Sound Plus to simulate the sound, too. It helps create a visceral driving experience, but maximum performance will always come when owners utilize the standard performance drive modes.

Updated Features and a New Performance Blue

A couple of other welcome updates for the 2026 Ioniq 5 N are a forward attention warning system that uses the in-cabin camera and rear windows that now feature auto up-and-down functionality, and the addition of a new Performance Blue Pearl paint as a $500 upgrade.

The 2025 Ioniq 5 N had a Performance Blue Matte, and it will remain a $1,000 option, but it’s a dulled finish as opposed to the shinier pearl that will help make it pop and glisten in the light. It will also be a much easier paint finish to deal with when it comes to cleaning. A matte finish can be accidentally polished if you don’t use the appropriate cleaners and techniques such a finish requires. You’ll also be able to take it through standard car washes without worrying about the consequences.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is available to order now, but it will hit dealer lots later this year.