The Rory Reid Award 2024 – Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Under Rory Reid’s direction, the Auto Trader YouTube channel has become host to some of the highest quality, most entertaining and just plain brilliant car content in the world. A veteran of the industry – including a stint as presenter on a niche little BBC car show – Rory has put thousands of cars through their paces, including some of the most exotic and rare stuff in existence. So, the car that he picks as his favourite of the year has to be something special.
This year Rory has picked the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, a 650 horsepower electric car that could genuinely be a game-changer for the future of hot hatchbacks. The effort that Hyundai put into making the 5 N a riveting driving experience is clear within 100 yards. It’s not just quick – there are plenty of quick electric cars – but it has a sense of driver involvement never before seen in an EV, at any price. Rory says: “With its aggressive styling, stunning performance and all the practicality you could ever need, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N really does cover all the bases. But its biggest achievement is that it’s a truly engaging driving experience that really brings the fun. I love this car’s hilarious synthetic engine noises and surprisingly realistic gear shifts that just make you smile when you drive it. It’s a serious car but, at the same time, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If there was ever a car to make hardcore petrolheads switch to electric, this is it.” Sensational job, Hyundai. Return to the Auto Trader New Car Awards Homepage