Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs BMW IX2

What's the difference?

What is it about single letters and performance cars? 

BMW has M, Volkswagen has R, Lexus has F, and with only 23 choices left Hyundai opted for N - which stands for Namyang, site of the brand’s sprawling proving ground and development centre in South Korea, and Nurburgring, the famous German racing circuit where its performance cars are fine-tuned.

And like BMW M Sport, VW R-Line and Lexus F Sport, the Korean giant has N Line as a ‘lite’ option. Sporty models that add a little more punch and visual flair without crossing the line into hardcore hot-rod territory. 

And this is one its latest examples, the pure-electric Ioniq 5 SUV in top-spec Epiq AWD trim and equipped with the N Line Option Pack as well as the tricky Digital Mirror Pack.

In this configuration it slots into the $90K price band, which means it has a lot to live up to in terms of performance, safety, driving dynamics, value and more. 

So, stay with us to see if this premium five-seater is the kind of sporty EV SUV that gets your heart racing.

Following its global launch in February this year, the second-generation 'U10' 2024 BMW X2 and iX2 have landed in Australia.

The coupe SUV range comprises four variants with turbo-petrol and pure electric models sitting alongside each other in showrooms with precious few visual differences.

That'll either be a good or bad thing, depending on how much you want to parade your choice to go for current or combustion.

More clear cut is the X2's new – and more sensible – position in BMW's SUV line-up. Rather than a quirky curio that's smaller and less practical than the X1, the 20cm longer gen-two X2 finally makes sense in BMW's X line-up.

To see if the driving experience and build quality live up the shiny new exterior, we've been invited to Tasmania to sample the new car's attributes on typically testing (and picturesque) roads.