Given the performance of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, affordability might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, it’s now cheaper to lease in the States than before, as Hyundai prepares for the 2026 model release and works to clear out existing inventory, even though no major changes are expected.

Read: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Owners Report Dangerous Acceleration After Software Fix

Leasing the Ioniq 5 N had previously been quite expensive, with monthly payments set at $899 for 36 months, plus a $3,999 down payment due at signing before taxes and delivery fees. This brought the effective cost to about $1,010 per month. That’s an eye-watering amount, and nearly double some of the lease deals we’ve seen for the Lucid Air in recent months.

Now, Hyundai has slashed the Ioniq 5 N lease to $699 per month for 36 months, keeping the $3,999 down payment at signing. This offer kicked in on May 9 and will run until June 2, so you’d better hurry if you’re interested.

From what we learned, Hyundai achieved this drop by cutting the Money Factor (the interest rate used to calculate the rent charge) to .00017 for 24-month/12,000-mile leases and .00016 for 36-month/10,000-mile leases, while also inflating the residual values (the car’s expected value at the end of the lease) to 52% and 45%, respectively.

For the 36-month/10,000-mile option with the down payment, the effective monthly lease comes out to $810 before taxes and delivery fees. If you opt for a zero down payment, the total rises to $848.17 due to the higher interest rate. Hyundai also offers a purchase option at the end of the lease for $32,484, plus an additional $300 fee.

Other Options

While this deal might be too good to refuse for some, it’s worth keeping in mind that Kia is gearing up to launch its facelifted EV6 GT, and it features many of the same features as the Ioniq 5 N. In addition to rocking the same basic dual-motor powertrain, it has been updated with the same Virtual Gear Shift function as the Hyundai and promises an ICE-inspired soundtrack, too.

If you’re looking to buy, the Ioniq 5 N starts at $67,675. On one hand, that’s fairly reasonable for an electric vehicle that offers practicality alongside supercar-level performance. On the other hand, it’s still significantly more expensive than the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which starts at $54,990.

Review: What’s It Like Living With The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

Plus, if you go for colors like Stealth Grey, Pearl White, or Deep Blue metallic, the flagship Model 3 qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, bringing the price down to $47,490 before taxes and fees. Something to keep in mind.

That said, for those looking for an EV that prioritizes driver involvement in a way no other competitor currently does, the Ioniq 5 N remains a solid choice. With up to 641 horsepower, it can go from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.4 seconds, and it even allows you to adjust the power split between the front and rear wheels for a truly customizable experience.

Sometimes your car just breaks. Other times, it breaks, sits for two months, gets stolen, wrecked, and leaves you holding the bag. This is the story of how one Hyundai Ioniq 5 owner’s unlucky repair turned into a cautionary tale about EV parts, dealership security, and what happens when everything goes wrong at once.

On March 16, nearly two months ago, Massachusetts resident Ethan Blount’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 abruptly stopped working. The culprit was the ICCU, a part already known for causing problems in the Ioniq 5 lineup. It failed, leaving Blount stranded, and he had the car towed to his local dealership.

More: Huge Study Shows EVs More Reliable Than ICE Cars With One Surprising Common Issue

At the time, he had no idea it would be the last time he’d see the vehicle in one piece. On May 2, the car was stolen from the dealership. When police eventually located it and gave chase, the situation ended with the Hyundai totaled and Blount left underwater.

A Part With a Pattern of Failure

But let’s rewind. The ICCU (Integrated Charging Control Unit) plays a central role in the Ioniq 5’s electrical system. It manages the bi-directional charging between the 12V battery and the main high-voltage battery, which is responsible for powering essential systems, external devices, and even other EVs.

When it fails, the result is a completely immobilized vehicle. Dozens of Ioniq 5 owners have reported similar failures. In Blount’s case, the delay in repair came down to a parts shortage, with replacements on back order. So his EV sat, unusable and unguarded, for almost two months.

He tells The Autopian that he knew about the ICCU and suspected it immediately when he heard a loud pop. “I got only a mile or so before power started dropping precipitously, and pulled off the main road just in time. I contacted Hyundai and they dispatched a tow truck, taking my car to the nearest dealer,” says Ethan.

A Strange Notification, Then Silence

Then, on May 1, he received a notification via his Hyundai mobile app that the car was left on and idling. Good news, he thought, since it couldn’t do that without being fixed. The next day, everything fell apart. The dealer called and confirmed that the car was fixed but, strangely, they couldn’t find it.

Ethan whipped out his phone and tracked the car. It was in Boston, nowhere near the dealership. He called the police who tried to move in and secure the car, but clearly that didn’t work. The occupants sped off in it, ultimately lost control a short time later, hit a fire hydrant, and then smashed into a church. The impact was such that the Ioniq 5 was seriously damaged. The airbags all deployed, and the front is completely smashed in.

More: Kia EV6 Owner Fed Up After Multiple 12V Battery Failures

Boston police arrested three people at the scene, but they’ve left Blount in a tough spot. “Due to the rapid depreciation of the car I’m worried about what I will be offered by my insurance company since they declared it totaled today,” he said. “I fear I could end up still owing money and not even owning a car.”

In a positive turn though, Hyundai reached out to him two days ago, promising to help. Perhaps this entire saga will end up with the happy ending Blount clearly wants.

Credit: Ethan Blount

Battery degradation is a serious concern and one that can cost owners dearly. While pricing varies by model and capacity, a new battery pack can cost tens of thousands of dollars. That’s what makes Lee Young-Heum’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 so interesting. He worked as a traveling salesman and racked up some serious mileage. In 2 years and 9 months, he’d traveled 360,395 miles (580,000 km) in the EV.

More: Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owner Hits 414,000 Miles, Gets Free Battery Swap After 360,000 Miles

This caught the attention of the Hyundai-Kia Research Institute, which wanted to examine how the battery and powertrain were holding up. While Lee reportedly didn’t have any problems, the company replaced his battery and motor free of charge, so they could look at the used components.

This examination revealed that after traveling such a massive distance – more than what separates the earth from the moon – the battery’s state of health was 87.7%. That’s an impressive number, especially when you consider that Lee used rapid charging, which is “known to put a huge burden on electric vehicle batteries.”

As Hyundai’s Yoon Dal-Young explained, “When developing a battery, we need to create a prediction model for durability performance and check whether this model matches actual usage results. That’s why we have actually checked the batteries of customer vehicles with high cumulative mileage.” The automaker typically uses taxis for these examinations, but Lee’s car had the highest mileage they had seen on an Ioniq 5.

Maintenance And Fuel Savings Are Huge

Lee said that when he drove a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, he’d get the oil changed every 15 days due to driving so much. Despite this regular maintenance, he had to replace engine and powertrain components “continuously.”

He says that’s not the case with the Ioniq 5 as he’s only had to replace “the most basic consumables.” The automaker noted at 410,105 miles (660,000 km), he would have had to have 66 oil changes, 8 spark plug replacements, 13 brake fluid changes, and 11 transmission oil changes on a Tucson. That’s on top of wear and tear.

Hyundai estimates this maintenance would cost $8,612 to $9,330 (₩12 to ₩13 million). The estimated price tag for the Ioniq 5 is significantly less at $1,076 (₩1.5 million).

Lee also saved a boatload in refueling costs as Hyundai estimated a turbocharged 1.6-liter Tucson would have required around $57,412 (₩80 million) worth of fuel. That stands in stark contrast to an estimated charging cost of around $35,882 (₩50 million). We’ll do the math for you and note that’s a savings of $21,530 (₩30 million).

Besides saving a ton of money, the Ioniq 5 was largely trouble free. However, after 403,891 miles (650,000 km) the car stopped slow charging. This was reportedly because the on board charger had reached the end of its lifespan and “died a ‘natural death.’”

The car still appears to be going strong and has over 416,940 miles (671,000 km) on the odometer. However, it’s getting a much-needed break as Lee recently switched jobs and will now be driving less.

We may have just stumbled upon what could very well be the highest-mileage Hyundai Ioniq 5 in existence. Despite being a 2023 model, this Korean EV has racked up an astonishing 666,255 km (413,991 miles) — nearly enough to make the round trip to the Moon. Yes, you read that right. The Moon.

This Ioniq 5 popped up on a Facebook page where owners regularly share their mileage milestones, and this one has certainly earned a spot at the top. This particular Ioniq 5 lives in Korea, and the owner has driven it more than most people will in their entire lifetime. This is a car that’s seen some serious road time.

Read: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 Is Stealing Tons Of Buyers From Other Brands

The post doesn’t clarify the exact model of the Ioniq 5, but the car’s original battery reportedly held up until it reached 580,000 km (360,395 miles). When it finally gave up the ghost, Hyundai replaced it at no charge. Now, we’re left scratching our heads a little on this one.

In most markets, like the US and Australia, the Ioniq 5’s battery warranty typically covers 8-10 years, but with a cap of 100,000 miles (160,000 km). So, why Hyundai decided to cover the cost of the replacement is anyone’s guess. Maybe they were feeling generous? Or maybe this is just an extraordinary exception to the rule.

Regardless of the reason behind the free battery pack, let’s not overlook just how much driving this Ioniq 5 has seen in a relatively short amount of time. According to the post, the owner has had the Hyundai for 3 years and 4-5 months, covering an impressive 666,255 km or 413,991 miles.

If the Hyundai’s been in their hands for exactly 3 years and 4 months (or 40 months), that averages out to 16,656 km (10,349 miles) per month, or roughly 555 km (345 miles) a day. If it’s been 3 years and 5 months, that’s a monthly average of 16,250 km (10,097 miles), or 541 km (336 miles) per day. Either way, that’s a lot of road time.

To really drive the point home: the average distance between the Earth and the Moon is around 384,400 km (238,855 miles). So, this Ioniq 5’s owner has driven the equivalent of a one-way trip to the Moon and back, and then some. And did we mention the owner is a salesman? Yeah, this guy clearly spends more time behind the wheel of his Ioniq 5 than most of us spend staring at our phones. That is, of course, when he’s not waiting for it to charge.

After committing a hefty $21 billion investment into its US operations, including the construction of a new $5.8 billion steel plant, Hyundai has officially kicked off production at its Metaplant in Georgia. The site, which began construction over two and a half years ago, will focus on producing a range of electric and hybrid vehicles, boosting Hyundai’s push into the EV market.

The Grand Opening of the site was attended by Hyundai leaders, as well as Governor Brian P. Kemp, US Representative Buddy Carter, and the president and chief executive of the Kia Corporation, Ho Sung Song. The Metaplant has already started building the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and, perhaps most importantly, is now also building the Hyundai Ioniq 9.

Read: New Hyundai Ioniq 9 Lands With Three-Rows And Massive 110.3 kWh Battery

Hyundai’s Ioniq 9 is its first three-row electric SUV and serves as its alternative to the Kia EV9. Presented last November, the Ioniq 9 is underpinned by the group’s E-GMP architecture and fitted as standard with a 110.3 kWh battery. The brand has yet to announce US pricing for the SUV, but we know it will be offered in several different guises.

The base model has a 214 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) electric motor driving the rear wheels and a quoted range of 385 miles (620 km). Sitting above this version is the Long Range AWD, which adds a 94 hp motor up front. The flagship Ioniq 9 Performance has 214 hp motors at the front and rear, allowing it to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.2 seconds.

Initially, the Hyundai Motor Group planned to build 200,000 electric and hybrid vehicles at the Metaplant. However, as part of its increased commitment to the US market, it’s expanded annual production capacity up to 500,000 units.

“Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America not only represents the Group’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and commitment to innovation, but also our investment in relationships with our partners and communities right here in Georgia,” Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Euisun Chung said. “With the rich history of craftsmanship and manufacturing in this community, together with the talented workforce at HMGMA we are building the future of mobility with America, in America.”

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is equipped with a dizzying array of different driving modes and features designed to make it the ultimate all-electric hooligan. However, an issue with one of these features has forced the company to recall more than 1,500 Ioniq 5 Ns across the United States.

A recall notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) pinpoints the car’s Left-Foot Braking mode as being at fault. As the name of this mode implies, it allows drivers to use the brake and throttle pedals simultaneously and is aimed at high-performance driving on the racetrack.

Read: Hyundai’s New Ioniq 5 N DK Edition Proves EVs Can Shred Tires And Egos Alike

However, it has been revealed that, at certain times, the Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) control software can trigger a depressurization of the ABS system, reducing braking performance. This obviously increases the risk of a crash, particularly on the track where drivers need the most out of the braking system.

In total, 1,508 examples of the Ioniq 5 N are involved in the recall. These cars were manufactured between December 18, 2023, and December 10, 2024.

Hyundai plans to notify both dealers and owners of the recall on April 7 and is encouraging all owners to stop using the Left-Foot Braking feature. Dealers have been told to update the IEB and VCU software to rectify the fault.

While this appears to be the first recall specifically impacting the Ioniq 5 N in the US, the regular model has been recalled in the past. In November last year, the Hyundai Motor Group recalled over 145,000 Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Genesis G80 Electrified, Genesis GV70 Electrified, and Genesis GV60 models, because the integrated charging control unit could get damaged, preventing the 12-volt battery from charging and causing it to slowly drain.