The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Is by Far the Best Sports EV I've Ever Driven

One of America’s greatest racetracks, if not its very greatest racetrack, faced a threat. Some believed capitalism would save it, as the track brings in hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the local economy, and if it comes between money and the law, money always seems to win. Some believed the legal system would be enough. But if the “Highway 68 Coalition” had its way, racing at Laguna Seca would become drastically more restricted, and therefore drastically more exclusive, and therefore drastically more expensive - and it is already the most expensive racetrack in California, and therefore the U.S. Citing, noise, traffic, and environmental concerns, the Coalition sued Monterey County and the “Friends of Laguna Seca” in order to restrict the track’s activities, already some of the most restrictive in the country.

As it turned out, Monterey County and the Friends of Laguna Seca reached a settlement with the Highway 68 Coalition, following through on an already-planned sound assessment and noise remediation policy. But let's take a step back. Let's take a wider view. What if uncorked exhausts and blaring race cars continue to provide a thematic threat to race tracks across the country? What if the law and the money both fail? You know what might save tracks like Laguna Seca? Electric sports cars. And we are almost there. No, wait, don’t leave. Hear me out.

Ask any gearhead to name a race track in North America, and you’re almost guaranteed to get Laguna Seca as a top-three answer. It’s iconic for a reason. For reasons. There’s the topography - 180 feet between the highest and lowest points, just about the biggest difference in North America. Elevation isn’t just great for driving; elevation makes for an awesome spectator experience, and Laguna Seca is a fantastic place to watch a race. Then there’s the location - racetracks are typically remote and surrounded by nothingness, whereas the Carmel Valley is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Wineries, world-class golf, and five-star lodging surround, just up the road. Homes abutting the track regularly sell for seven or eight figures - which explains, in part, why the neighbors sued. The rich and connected don’t like to be inconvenienced, and they have the resources to fight for their right to keep loud people out.

Sensationalism sells, but in the spirit of accuracy, let's dispatch with the notion that the Highway 68 Coalition wanted to shut down the track entirely - they have repeatedly said they did not. Lead Plaintiff Michael Weaver said he enjoys taking his sports cars to the track, and recognized the positive impact Laguna Seca has on the community and car culture at large. But the Coalition claimed that racing days and “loud” decibel days have increased in recent years, not to mention music festivals and other events that draw large crowds and clog the two-lane Highway 68 in both directions during event days. They wanted to find ways to reduce the environmental impact, the noise, and the traffic, and wanted to spend a year producing a study to figure out how to do that.

It almost sounded reasonable.

You don’t have to do much convincing to get me to do a track day at Laguna Seca. The track itself is such a treat that even if the car isn’t any good, I can still have a great time. And when I saw the press release for Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N, with its gimmicky, ICE-imitating sounds and fake gearing, I admittedly had half an eye roll. But when Hyundai invited me to Laguna to drive it, the pitch landed, and what if this thing works?

It took less than a lap to determine that: yes it works and this is by far the best sports EV I’ve ever driven.

There are other reasons the Ioniq 5 N is good. It’s very fast, with over 600 hp and 545 lb-ft of torque going to all four wheels. It has sharp steering, plenty of brakes, and endlessly customizable modes to fit the mood and style of nearly any kind of driver. It has tons of grip, sporty yet comfortable seats, and a decent ride (in one of the three suspension settings, anyway). It has good visibility, plenty of rear seat and trunk space, and comes only one way: loaded. And at just under $67,000 it’s a good value for something that will easily walk a BMW M3 Competition.

But up until this sunny morning at Laguna Seca, I have never driven any electric car, not even the $230,000-plus Taycan Turbo GT, that I would actually buy to use as a sports car, rather than as an appliance. I don’t want to take them to track days, because they are just not as fun as gasoline cars, with less feedback and less engagement, not to mention the inability to accurately judge corner entry speed without gears.