The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a force to be reckoned with. It’s luxurious, it’s gorgeous, and its V8 eats drag racing for breakfast. In the opposite corner, the quiet Hyundai Ioniq 5N is just 0.4 seconds slower than a 740-hp V12 Lamborghini Aventador SV, which is saying something. Man, this battle is as thrilling as it is close.
Before we get into the technical details and other such nonsense, let's take a look at how they performed.”round trip.” Why “round trip?” Well, because it's not a regular drag race; it's an Edmunds U-drag race, where you race for 1/4 mile, make a U-turn, and then race back to the starting point. In fairness, the drivers switch cars halfway.
So how did it go? In the first race, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N led the entire 1/4 mile race and maintained the lead even after the U-turn. The Caddy wasn't far behind, but you know what they say, “It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile.“
The second race was not any more forgiving to the Blackwing. Electric vehicle conquered every inch of asphalt and drove like a rocket full of determination. Even if the Cadillac V8 had caught the Hyundai towards the end, it still could not have won because of the Hyundai's N Grin Boost function, which injects 40 extra horsepower.
After securing the day, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N won the 0-60 mph segment of the road in 3.3 seconds, while the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing did it in 3.8 seconds. The 5 N also won the quarter mile with 11.2 ticks on the clock, going 123.7 mph or 199 kilometers per hour. The Blackwing was right behind it, taking 11.5 seconds at 127.4 mph or 205 km/h.
Finally, the U-Drag race results reveal that the Ioniq 5 N finished the entire race in 32.9 seconds at 135 mph or 217 km/h, while the high-performance CT5-V completed the course in 33.6 seconds, at a staggering speed of 137.5 mph or 221 km/h.
Photo: Edmunds Cars
Now, let’s consider the cost of these puppies to see if the 0.3-second difference in the quarter mile is worth the price. In the U.S., the non-track-focused 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range Edition starts at $41,800 (MSRP). The SE trim is $45,850, the balanced SEL version is $47,400, the premium Limited trim starts at $53,500, and the extremely limited top-of-the-line D100 Platinum Edition is $59,400.
The D100 celebrates Disney's 100th anniversary in October 2023 and features exclusive themed “goodies.” These include Disney100 Platinum Edition badging, exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels, exclusive carpet mats, and Disney100 Platinum Edition print on the front headrest and center console armrest.
THE All-wheel drive The Ioniq 5 N has a starting MSRP of $66,100. Its dual-motor setup makes 601 horsepower, but pressing the N Grin Boost button on the steering wheel gives you an extra 40 horsepower for up to 10 seconds. If you want a ICE Hyundai’s high-performance Elantra N starts at $33,700 and makes 276 horsepower from its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The 2024 Cadillac CT5-V with rear-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission starts at $98,065 (MSRP). Its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine produces 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft (893 Nm) of torque. The 6-speed manual version starts at $94,890.
If you want the same look on a tighter budget, there’s the $52,890 RWD V-series that packs the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission that can handle 360 hp and 405 lb-ft (549 Nm) of torque. Add another $2,000 and you can equip the all-wheel-drive system.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5N costs $32,000 less than the CT5-V Blackwing. It’s 0.5 seconds quicker to 60 mph and 0.3 ticks quicker to the quarter-mile mark. Mathematically, the EV beats the V8 Caddy, but comparisons like this are never 1:1. It’s a fantastic race, but the driving experience couldn’t be more different. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say, and so is the wonderful driving experience.