This drag race is a close one!
Even if you’re not a fan of electric cars, one of their best-known traits is relatively massive and instantaneous power. In fact, we have two great examples of that premise in today’s drag race: The updated Tesla Model 3 Performance and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. The Tesla, as a historical benchmark for quick-as-hell EVs, throws down the gauntlet with 510 horsepower on top. Honestly, not bad for an all-wheel drive compact sedan. The Hyundai, for its part, churns out a remarkable (especially for a hot hatch) 601 horsepower. So, you think the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N would be quicker in a drag race on principle, right?
Well, that’s why we’re taking these two cars to our usual airfield strip. Both cars have a few tricks up their sleeve to gain a performance edge and fire up their drivers — be it the Model 3’s track-focused drive mode and neck-snapping acceleration profile, or the Ioniq 5 N’s ‘N Grin Boost’, which temporarily bumps the power output even higher, to 641 horsepower.
It’s not quite as simple as sheer power, though. Since we’re talking about EVs here, at least we don’t have to worry about your typical power losses at a mile above sea level. These electric models will accelerate to the max as long as there is juice in their battery packs. (The Tesla Model 3 Performance has an 82-kWh pack, while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has an 84-kWh unit, by the way). That said, the Ioniq weighs in at 4,861 pounds…while Tesla’s sedan is a featherweight by comparison, at right around 4,050 pounds.
These are still fantastically heavy cars, don’t get me wrong, but in a straight line both have the guts to overcome that mass. Just by the seat of the pants, the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is staggeringly quick, and the Tesla Model 3 Performance equally so.
But which will actually win the drag race? Check out the video below to find out:
