Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ford Mustang GT don’t have much in common. The Ford Mustang GT is a proper V8 muscle car. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a family hatchback that thinks it’s a race car. Both are built for fun, but they go about it in very different ways, so here’s how they compare. You can also watch our video comparison below.
The Ford Mustang GT: sound over everything
The Mustang keeps things old school. It has a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 making 347kW and 550Nm, rear-wheel drive, and a choice of six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic. It starts at around $85,000 to $88,000 before on-road costs (October 2026).
The numbers matter less than the noise, though. A naturally aspirated V8 has a raw, deep sound that you simply can’t replicate in an electric car, and it’s the thing most enthusiasts love about the Mustang. It’s the main reason to buy one.
It does come with a fuel bill. Ford claims 12.9 to 13.6L/100km, so expect to visit the servo often. For plenty of buyers that’s a fair price for the grin you get every time you start it.
Read more: One-off Ford Mustang ute concept revealed as a heritage build
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N: quick, with a bit of theatre
The Hyundai takes a different route. It’s an all-wheel-drive electric car with 448kW (478kW with N Grin Boost) and a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds. It starts at $111,000 before on-road costs.
It also does a decent impression of a petrol car. N e-shift simulates gear changes, and N Active Sound+ adds engine noise, with profiles including Evolution, Space Age and Supersonic. The Space Age setting is a bit sci-fi, and it won’t suit everyone. If you’d rather skip the theatre, you can change it or turn it off.
Underneath all that, the Ioniq 5 N is seriously quick. You get instant electric punch, all-wheel-drive grip and acceleration that the Mustang can’t match. The simulated sound is better than you might expect, too.
It also uses no petrol, which is hard to argue with after reading about the Mustang’s fuel bill.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N vs Ford Mustang GT at a glance
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 N | Ford Mustang GT | |
| Powertrain | Dual-motor electric | 5.0-litre V8 |
| Drive | All-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Power | 448kW (478kW with N Grin Boost) | 347kW |
| 0-100km/h | 3.4 seconds (claimed) | About 5.0 seconds (auto, as tested) |
| Price from | $111,000 | Around $85,000 to $88,000 |
| Seats | Five | Four |
Prices are before on-road costs, as of October 2026.
How close is it really?
Closer than the spec sheet suggests. The Mustang can’t match the Hyundai for speed, and the Hyundai can’t match the Mustang for sound. The Ioniq 5 N wins on acceleration and running costs. The Mustang wins on price and character.
Which one suits you?
If you want the car with most of the answers, it’s the Ioniq 5 N. It’s quicker, it uses no petrol and it seats five, which suits the family hatchback side of its personality. You’ll pay for that though, roughly $23,000 to $26,000 more than the Mustang.
The Mustang GT costs less and has a lot more attitude. You’ll put up with a big fuel bill and a tighter back seat, but you get a V8 that an electric car can’t match.
Cars24 Australia’s verdict
Our head says Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but our heart says Ford Mustang GT. The Hyundai makes a really strong case for electric performance, and its theatre is better than you’d think. But that V8 sound is something the Mustang has and the Hyundai can’t copy.
We can only pick one though, so over to you. Which one would you take, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N or the Ford Mustang GT?
User reviews for Hyundai Ioniq 5 N vs Ford Mustang GT: Electric Performance or V8 Muscle?
New Review
