Video: is the 641bhp electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N engaging to drive?

This is the Hyundai N division’s take on the ridiculously good-looking Ioniq 5. A hatchback-shaped, medium crossover-sized, four-wheel drive EV, likely to cost between £65k and £70k and based on the same bits as the Kia EV6… with 600bhp. In fact, hit the embarrassingly named N Grin Boost mode button on the steering wheel and you have 641bhp for 10 second bursts.

But for once, it’s not all about the power – Hyundai has thrown the kitchen sink at the electronics in the 5 N. You can customise engine sounds to mimic a combustion engine, a fighter jet, or even a lightsaber. The N e-Shift mode simulates an eight-speed paddleshift gearbox, creating a more natural and engaging driving feel. There’s an N Drift Optimiser mode that sends all the torque to the rear axle and retains only the lightest electronic touch to allow big angles but limit excursions into the gravel. There's even torque kick drift, a fake clutch kick function that cuts power when you hold both paddles on the throttle, then dumps it all on the rear tyres when you release them to fling you sideways at the precise moment you choose.

The question is, are these all just gimmicks, or do they make the 5 N more engaging to drive? To find out, Top Gear magazine’s Jack Rix puts Hyundai’s hyper-hatch to the test.