CAN HYUNDAI'S IONIQ 5N EV HOLD UP AGAINST FORD'S RANGE-TOPPING DARK MUSTANG?
The Mustang Dark Horse is the first Mustang performance series in 21 years, the last nameplate used for this was Bullitt in 2001. The Dark Horse is a meatier incarnation that sees attention paid to all the right bits in all the right places resulting in a street-legal Mustang that will easily double as a weekend track toy, especially when the Handling Package is optioned. The Mustang Dark Horse features improved aerodynamics, upgraded hardware, new software as well as some comprehensive tuning and an optional 6-speed manual transmission. The 373 kW 5.0-litre Coyote V8 uses uprated conrods sourced from the Shelby GT500. Changes also include a dual throttle-body intake design. The 6-speed manual is standard with a 10-speed auto available too, but the 3D-printed titanium shift ball on the manual is reason enough to not option the auto. “It’s more than a new name. Dark Horse brings a new design language to Mustang that is refined yet perfectly suited to its dual purpose of street and track performance,” said Joel Piaskowski, global director, of Ford Design. “The visual changes, both inside and out, message that Dark Horse has a directed performance focus. The mechanical changes reinforce the purpose of Dark Horse, providing the driver with increased confidence and competence.” The Dark Horse also has unique chassis tuning featuring larger rear sway bars and heavy-duty front shocks and a new lightweight Ford Performance-designed strut tower brace and K-brace. Braking comes from some large 19-inch Brembo 6-pot calipers on 13.9-inch discs - it can stop as well as it goes forward. The Donut crew have done us a favour by showing us what the best-of-the-best series production mustangs will do up against the best-of-the-best Korean EV hatchbacks, the Hyundai IONIQ 5N. The former makes us happy, and the latter is the one EV we’d actually like to own.
The IONIQ 5 N ticks all the boxes, it has the right size to be called a hot hatch even though the hot part comes from an electric motor, well a pair of them. The IONIQ 5N is powered by two electric motors, one at each end of the car. Up front, the smaller electric motor is rated at 166 kW, while the electric motor at the rear is rated at a more powerful 282 kW, which means this Korean EV has a total of 448 kW of power on tap. There’s more though, the IONIQ 5 N has a specific drive mode called N Grin Boost and when activated it takes the total power up to an unbelievable 478 kW, even though it’s only for a short burst and it looks like it can only be used from a full charge. The Donut crew pits this new technology up against the dead dinosaur juice-drinking Mustang to see which is better. It’s interesting to note that people seem to think that EVs can overheat quicker than an ICE-powered car but it was the Mustang that needed to cool down. The crew also rated the Mustang as being better at doing roundy-spinny things but we think the Mustang was only better because of the soundtrack. The IONIQ N5 can use the front and rear motors separately or they can be used in tandem and the software also has a proper drift mode that will have a complete newbie looking like Gitten Jnr in no time. What’s also interesting is that the best Mustang money can buy in stock form costs the same money as the electric hatchback. We’re not sure if that means the Mustang is a bargain and the 5N is cheap, or vice versa. Take a look at the video and let us know your thoughts. If we were serious high rollers, we’d definitely have the Mustang in our driveway, no matter the outcome of the testing. While the 5N is the EV we’d like to own, it’s still an EV and no matter what fake noises it makes, it’s still no high-revving V8.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows how the range-topping made for the road racecar holds up against the Hyundai IONIQ 5N Ev hot hatch. Which is your choice?: Is this Electric Hyundai Actually Good? | Donut
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!