For the past few decades, we’ve become accustomed to electric vehicles (EVs) showing off their speed when compared to internal combustion competition. Indeed, being able to generate maximum torque without revving your engine is helpful, making even the most basic EVs quick. The thing is: many EVs lack character and make performance driving a bore. EVs are heavier, usually lack feel, and tend to make the drive feel isolated.
Chevrolet
By the way, I know that the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and the Tesla Model Y Performance are also players in this field. I got to drive both the Blazer EV SS on the street and track, the same as the Ioniq 5 N. As such, I truly got a sense of the character and performance of these two vehicles.
Around a racetrack, or on the backroads, only a handful of EVs are capable of making their drivers feel like they are part of the experience. Both the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N are spiced-up versions of their daily driver brethren, and they both pack a punch. More importantly, they provide actual driving entertainment for the lucky dog behind the wheel. Which one is right for you?
Chevrolet Blazer EV SS: $62,095 MSRP
Chevrolet
There are two fun versions of the Chevrolet Blazer EV: the rear-drive RS and the new SS. For this post, I am focusing on the SS since, much like the Ioniq 5 N, it features all-wheel drive (AWD) and is the model’s fastest version. The AWD SS makes a combined 615 horsepower, and it’s rated at a hair over 300 miles of range. It packs the 102-kWh battery and an 11 kW on-board charger with DC fast charging rated at up to 190 kW. It can run from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds.
What makes this car so much fun is its ability to quickly turn into a capable canyon-carver from a daily driver. It provides good comfort, and has almost the exact same cargo volume as the Hyundai with 26 cu-ft behind the second row, and 59 cu-ft of maximum cargo space. The Blazer EV SS is a few inches longer, with a longer wheelbase, and it’s nearly 400 lbs heavier. Despite this, and thanks to its stiffer anti-roll bars and springs, monotube dampers, and sporty steering calibration, it holds fast, even on challenging tracks. GM beefed up the anti-roll bars by 60 percent and the springs by 30 percent, along with a quicker steering ratio.
Blazer EV SS interior and tech
From a driving standpoint, the symphonic noise GM programmed is kind of cool, but not as involving as others. I would like a few choices to liven up the feel a little bit more. The SS has a 17.7-inch infotainment screen, a touchscreen, and an 11-inch driver info screen. They are well placed and fairly easy to use, but they do not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. I adore the interior design, especially the turbine-like vent configuration. It’s retro-cool and works well.
Seating comfort is quite good, but some might find the bolsters to be a bit firm. I liked it, and my seating position was quite good. Rear-view vision is a bit of a compromise, but the cameras and sensors made up for any shortcomings. Overall, the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS is more like a sport wagon than an SUV, despite what it’s labeled as. I’m fine with that, as it’s a kick to drive.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: $66,200 MSRP
Hyundai
Like the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is based on a commuter EV that comes standard with AWD. It is smaller, lighter, and a lot sportier, providing enough grunt for real weekend track use. It is rated at 601 horsepower combined, but when you punch the “N Grin Boost” button, that figure briefly increases to 641 horsepower. That means it can zoom from 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds. The downside is that with its 84 kW battery, it’s rated at 221 miles of range. That’s not great, but at least it has rapid 238 kW DC fast charging capability and a 10.9 kW onboard charger.
Three things make the Ioniq 5 N a true standout: its driver involvement, driveability, and potential lunacy. It is not as settled as the Blazer EV SS during commuting, but it’s fine for a sports car. It can provide all sorts of ridiculous sounds to accompany and enhance the driving experience, drift, and be hammered around a racetrack like a proper sports car. There’s even a synthetic “gear change” that makes it feel like you’re driving a DCT. Nearly everything underneath has been enhanced or strengthened. Struts, springs, the multi-link rear suspension, and beefier brakes have all been improved for track work, and it shows. Steering is about as good as it gets for any electric vehicle, too.
Ioniq 5 N interior and tech
The front seats of the Ioniq 5 N are firm and well bolstered, great for track days and sporty driving. However, they can be a chore for some who prefer a mushy seat for commuting. Hyundai equipped the Ioniq 5 N with dual 12.3-inch screens, one for the driver’s info and the other as an infotainment screen. They work well and have more amenities than the Chevrolet, with many more settings and functions.
I find the seating position to be ideal, but I am on the taller side. Outward vision is pretty good too, and I like the way Hyundai sets up its mix of hard buttons and screen buttons. It’s a good mix, but it takes a bit to learn them all. It kind of reminds me of overseas sports cars from the 1980s, in a good way. More importantly, it all comes together in a package that truly involves and entertains the driver.
Hyundai
Final thoughts
I love both of these vehicles, and it is difficult to choose the better option. They are both pricy, but also extremely powerful. Both have “lesser” brethren, which are still enjoyable, and probably make more sense to buy. I like the look of both, too, as they impart a sporty image with good curbside swagger.
At the end of the day, I think I would lean towards the Ioniq 5 N as it is so ridiculous, fun, and rewarding that the more logical Blazer EV SS fades a bit from my view. At the same time, if my significant other were involved, the Chevy makes more sense, and I might be able to get away with it. Either way, you will be entertained by these EVs in a way that is unusual for their segment.
