As the debate continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and consumer protection in the travel industry. While convenience and personalized service are certainly valuable, they should not come at the expense of consumers' trust and financial well-being. Flight Butler and other flight booking services would be wise to reevaluate their pricing strategies and prioritize honesty and fairness in their dealings with customers.
The Israeli airstrikes come in response to what the Israeli government claims to be an imminent threat posed by Iran and its allies in the region. According to Israeli officials, Iran has been seeking to establish a permanent military presence in Syria, which poses a direct threat to Israel's security. As a result, Israel has repeatedly conducted airstrikes in Syria to prevent the buildup of Iranian forces near its borders."Our journey is far from over, and the challenges that lie ahead will test our resolve and determination," Klopp said. "But I have faith in this team, in their abilities and their commitment to the cause. We will approach each game with the belief that we can win, and with the determination to give our all until the final whistle blows."Five Below stock surges on raised guidance, new CEO
"I play this game for one reason: to win a championship," Gobert affirms. "Every day, I step onto the court with that goal in mind, and I know that my teammates share the same drive and determination. Together, we will continue to push each other to new heights and leave everything we have on the court. Our journey is far from over, and I am excited to see what the future holds for this team."KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza , launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine . The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. Wednesday's strike in Muwasi — a desolate area with few public services that holds hundreds of thousands of displaced people — wounded at least 28 people, according to Atif al-Hout, the director of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. An Associated Press journalist at the hospital counted at least 15 bodies, but said reaching a precise number was difficult because many of the dead were dismembered, some without heads or badly burned. In the morgue, an infant's blackened hand and face peeked out from beneath a heavy blanket used to transport bodies to the hospital. “It was like doomsday,” said a wounded woman, Iman Jumaa, who held back tears as she described how the strike killed her father, her brothers and her brothers' children. Videos and photos of the strike shared widely on social media showed flames and a column of black smoke rising into the night sky, as well as twisted metal tent frames and shredded fabric. Palestinian men searched through the still-burning wreckage, shouting, “Over here guys!” Further away, civilians stood at a distance, observing the destruction. The military said the strikes had set off secondary blasts, indicating explosives present in the area had detonated. It was not possible to independently confirm the Israeli claims, and the strikes could also have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters or other materials in the camp. Shortly after the strike, Al-Awda Hospital said two people had been killed and 38 wounded in an attack on a residential block in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The military had no immediate comment on the strike, but said earlier strikes in central Gaza had hit “terrorist targets." Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths, saying the militants often operate in residential areas and are known to position tunnels, rocket launchers and other infrastructure near homes, schools and mosques. Previous Israeli strikes on tent camps in Gaza have drawn widespread international outrage, such as when a wounded student’s last moments were caught on video as he burned to death in a tent outside a hospital. In northern Gaza, dozens of Palestinian families said Israel's expanding offensive had forcibly displaced them from schools-turned-shelters. Associated Press footage showed people on the road Wednesday leaving Beit Lahia, many crowded onto donkey carts with their belongings in their arms. Others walked on foot. “This morning a quadcopter (drone) detonated four bombs at the school. There were people injured, human remains — we left with nothing,” said Sadeia al-Rahel. The 57-year-old said her family has been eating grass, leaves, and animal feed for two months due to the lack of food aid in the north. The amount of aid entering Gaza plunged in October, and hunger is widespread across the territory, even in central Gaza where aid groups have more access. Humanitarian organizations say Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order make it difficult to deliver assistance. Israel has said it is working to increase the flow of aid. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 people were abducted. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. On Wednesday, Israel said its forces recovered the body of a hostage who was captured alive during the Oct. 7 attack. Israel believes Itay Svirsky was killed by his captors. The families of hostages held in Gaza have grown increasingly concerned that their loved ones are at risk so long as the war continues. Israel’s military released on Wednesday the findings of a probe into the circumstances behind the deaths of six hostages whose bodies were recovered in August, determining they were probably shot by their captors after a nearby Israeli strike in February. Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/mideast-wars
By Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly. Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago. Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020. Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead. To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s economist What happened: In 2024, U.S. consumers have proven resilient following a period of high inflation and ongoing high interest rates. Wage growth has been strong, owing in part to rising productivity. This has driven robust spending throughout the year, which has kept the economy growing at a healthy pace. The labor market has remained steady, though cooler than 2023, and price growth continues to moderate towards the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation goal. What’s ahead: Barring significant changes to economic policy and significant shocks, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the coming year. Inflation will continue to moderate and the labor market will remain relatively healthy, all due in part to continued slow and deliberate rate cuts from the Fed. However, there are risks to this path. Higher tariffs and tighter immigration policies are likely, but the extent of these changes are yet unclear. The potential policy scenarios are many, and the economic outcomes complex. Increased tariffs are generally inflationary, and stricter immigration policies could impact the labor supply and economic growth. Consumers and small business owners with their eyes to the new year should focus on the things within their control. Margarette Burnette, consumer banking and savings writer What happened: High-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered elevated rates in 2024, rewarding savers with strong returns. Following the Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of the year, high-yield accounts had modest rate decreases, but they continued to outperform traditional savings accounts and CDs. What’s ahead: We’re watching for further Federal Reserve rate cuts, which could lead to more decreases in savings rates. Sara Rathner, credit cards writer What happened: Credit card debt levels hit record highs, with consumers turning to credit cards to pay for necessities. While the economy is doing well, many individuals have struggled to make ends meet, as incomes haven’t kept up with certain costs. What’s ahead: We may see some policy and regulation changes with the incoming administration that could affect folks when it comes to credit cards, debt and consumer protections. Ryan Brady, small business writer What happened : New businesses continued to blossom in 2024 as business applications remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Confidence in the future state of the U.S. economy also spiked after the presidential election, but that optimism was tempered by concerns over rising costs and labor quality. What’s ahead: All eyes are on the incoming administration as small-business owners brace for turbulence resulting from potential tariffs, tax policy changes and dismantled government regulations. We’re also watching the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2025 and small-business owners’ growing reliance on new technologies, such as AI. Holden Lewis, mortgages writer What happened: Home buyers struggled with elevated mortgage rates, rising house prices and a shortage of homes for sale. On top of that, a new rule required buyers to negotiate their agents’ commissions. What’s ahead: The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term interest rates, but mortgage rates might not necessarily fall by a similar amount. Buyers will probably have more properties to choose from, and the greater supply should keep prices from rising a lot. Interest rates on home equity loans and lines of credit should fall, making it less expensive to borrow to fix up homes — either to sell, or to make the home more comfortable and efficient. Sam Taube, investing writer What happened: The stock market had a great year. The S&P 500 is up more than 25% due to falling interest rates, fading recession fears, AI hype, and the possibility of lighter taxes and regulations under the new administration. Cryptocurrency also saw big gains in 2024; the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December. What’s ahead: A lot depends on how fast the Fed reduces rates in 2025. Another key unknown is Trump’s second term. Regulatory rollbacks, such as those he has proposed for the banking industry, could juice stock prices — but they also could create systemic risks in the economy. His proposed tariffs could also hurt economic growth (and therefore stock prices). Finally, it remains to be seen whether trendy AI stocks, such as NVIDIA, can continue their momentum into next year. It’s the same story with crypto: How long will this bull market last? Caitlin Constantine, assistant assigning editor, insurance What happened: Many people saw their home and auto insurance premiums skyrocket in 2024. In some states, homeowners are finding it harder to even find policies in the first place. Meanwhile, life insurance rates have started to decrease post-pandemic. We also saw more insurers offering online-only policies that don’t require a medical exam. What’s ahead: Auto and home insurance costs will likely continue to rise, although auto premiums may not rise as dramatically as they have over the past few years. And if you’re in the market for life insurance, expect to see competitive life insurance quotes and more customizable policies. Eliza Haverstock, student loans writer What happened: Borrowers received historic student loan relief, but lawsuits derailed an income-driven repayment plan used by 8 million whose payments are indefinitely paused. Uncertainty will carry into 2025 as a result of the presidential administration change. What’s ahead: Trump has pledged to overhaul higher education and rein in student loan relief. The fate of the SAVE repayment plan, student loan forgiveness options, FAFSA processing and more remain in the balance. Meghan Coyle, assistant assigning editor, travel What happened: People are willing to pay more for big and small luxuries while traveling, and airlines and hotels are taking note. Many airlines raised checked bag fees early in 2024, credit card issuers and airlines invested in renovated airport lounges, and major hotel companies continued to add luxury properties and brands to their loyalty programs. What’s ahead: Southwest will say goodbye to its open seating policy and introduce new extra-legroom seats, a major departure for the airline. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will unveil a unified loyalty program in 2025. Spirit Airlines may attempt to merge with another airline again after its 2024 bankruptcy filing and two failed mergers under President Biden’s administration. Travelers will find that they’ll have to pay a premium to enjoy most of the upgrades airlines and hotels are making. Laura McMullen, assistant assigning editor, personal finance What happened: This year, dynamic pricing expanded beyond concerts and travel to online retailers and even fast-food restaurants. This practice of prices changing based on real-time supply and demand received plenty of backlash from consumers and prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how companies use consumers’ data to set prices. What’s ahead: Beyond an expansion of dynamic pricing — perhaps with added oversight — expect subscription models to become more prevalent and demand for sustainable products to grow. Shannon Bradley, autos writer What happened: New-car prices held steady in 2024 but remained high after a few years of sharp increases — the average new car now sells for about $48,000, and for the first time ever the price gap between new and used cars surpassed $20,000 (average used-car prices are now slightly more than $25,000). Overall, the car market returned to being in the buyer’s favor, as new-car inventories reached pre-pandemic levels, manufacturer incentives began making a comeback and auto loan interest rates started to decline. What’s ahead: The future of the car market is uncertain and depends on policies implemented by the incoming administration. Questions surround the impact of possible tariffs on car prices, whether auto loan rates will continue to drop, and if federal tax credits will still be available for electric vehicle buyers. Jackie Veling, personal loans writer What happened: Buy now, pay later continued to be a popular payment choice for U.S. shoppers, even while facing headwinds, like an interpretive ruling from the CFPB (which determined BNPL should be regulated the same as credit cards) and Apple’s discontinuation of its popular Apple Pay Later product. Large players like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay continued to offer interest-free, pay-in-four plans at most major retailers, along with long-term plans for larger purchases. What’s ahead: Though more regulation had been widely anticipated in 2025, the change in administration suggests the CFPB will play a less active role in regulating BNPL products. For this reason, and its continued strength in the market, BNPL will likely keep growing. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Easing inflation was a bright spot in 2024. In June, the consumer price index fell below 3% for the first time in three years. Consumers saw prices level off or decline for many goods, including for groceries, gas and new and used vehicles. But prices haven’t fallen far enough or broadly enough to relieve the pinch many households feel. What’s ahead: The new and higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could reignite inflation on a wide range of goods. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Rent prices remain high, but annual rent inflation slowed significantly compared to recent years, staying around 3.5% for much of 2024, according to Zillow, a real estate website that tracks rents. A wave of newly constructed rental units on the market seems to be helping ease competition among renters and forcing landlords to offer better incentives for signing a lease. What’s ahead: If it continues, a softening rental market could work in renters’ favor. But construction is one of several industries that could see a shortage of workers if the Trump administration follows through on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. A shortage of workers would mean fewer houses and apartments could be built. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: After a contentious presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower inflation, cut taxes, enact tariffs, weaken the power of the Federal Reserve, deport undocumented immigrants and more. Many economists have said Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would likely be inflationary. In Congress, Republicans earned enough seats to control both houses. What’s ahead: It’s unclear which campaign promises Trump will fulfill on his own and with the support of the new Congress. He has promised a slew of “day one” actions that could lead to higher prices, including across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations. Most recently, Trump pledged to enact 20% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He has also promised to extend or make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; many of its provisions expire by the end of 2025. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: Fiscal year 2023-2024’s funding saga finally came to an end in March, then six months later, the battle to fund the fiscal year 2024-2025 began. The Biden Administration waged its own war against junk fees . Antitrust enforcers pushed back against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta; prevented the Kroger-Albertsons merger; nixed the Jet Blue-Spirit Airlines merger; and moved to ban noncompete agreements. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a challenge to abortion pill access. SCOTUS also overruled its landmark Chevron case, which means every federal regulatory agency’s power to set and enforce its own rules are now weaker. What’s ahead: The election’s red sweep means the GOP will control the executive and legislative branches of government. They’ll face the threat of at least one more potential government shutdown; a debt ceiling drama comeback; and the beginning of the debate over extending or making permanent provisions of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. More From NerdWallet Anna Helhoski writes for NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. The article What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? originally appeared on NerdWallet .Jessica Tisch officially became the 48th police commissioner in NYPD history on Monday, as Mayor Eric Adams swore in the second woman ever to hold the post during a ceremony at One Police Plaza. Tisch, previously the sanitation commissioner, arrived at police headquarters in Lower Manhattan on Nov. 25 with her children in hand and a round of applause from attendees that included NYPD brass and previous top cops such as Dermot Shea and Raymond Kelly. The new commissioner does not have uniformed police experience but has served in civilian roles within the NYPD over the years—something Mayor Adams addressed before the ceremony. “I push back on anyone who believes she had to wear a police uniform to take the Police Department to the next level. She can wear any uniform and accomplish the task,” Adams said. Tisch arrived at police headquarters in Lower Manhattan with her children in hand and a round of applause from attendees that included previous top cops such as Dermot Shea and Raymond Kelly and police brass. Photo by Dean Moses Tisch placed her hand on her grandmother’s Bible and took the oath as the city’s new top cop. “I solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the position of police commissioner of the city of New York to the very best of my abilities,” Tisch said. Both cops and sanitation workers filled the audience. Following the ceremony, the new police commissioner pledged to lead the city in a safe return to normalcy. “My greatest hope is that together, we will return this noble undertaking, this job of high moral purpose, to a time and a place where you want your children, your grandchildren, your nieces, your nephews, to follow in your footsteps and become police officers,” Tisch said. “The police exist to eliminate fear and disorder, your cops, like generations before them, nobly put their lives on the line each and every time they put on that uniform to protect you and your families, and they do a damn good job of it. We will continue to do that most important foundational work to make you safe.” Tisch was sworn in by placing her hand on her grandmother’s bible. Both cops and sanitation workers filled the audience. Following the ceremony, the new police commissioner pledged to lead the city in a safe return to normality. Photo by Dean Moses “My greatest hope is that together, we will return this noble undertaking, this job of high moral purpose, to a time and a place where you want your children, your grandchildren, your nieces, your nephews, to follow in your footsteps and become police officers,” Tisch said. Photo by Dean Moses Fourth new commish in three years While several of the aforementioned top cops were in attendance to witness the historic moment, several others were noticeably absent. Tisch’s forebear, Keechant Sewell, resigned from the position in 2023 after reported frustrations with Adams for allegedly micromanaging her and refusing to allow her to make her own calls. She was then followed by the first Latino top cop, Edward Caban, who only lasted about a year in office after becoming embroiled in a federal investigation and accusations that his twin were using police resources to shake down nightclub owners. Thomas Donlon then became interim police commissioner before Adams announced last week that Tisch would step into the role. Bill Bratton, who served as NYPD commissioner during the Giuliani and de Blasio administrations, expressed enthusiasm that Tisch will make a lasting impact during her administration of the NYPD — provided that Mayor Adams gives her the leeway to do so. “I think she’s going to do a great, if the mayor lets her,” Bratton said, according to ABC Bews. “I think it’s quite important that the mayor make it quite clear what he wants and gets out of the way and lets her do it. I think that was the issue with his previous three commissioners... and that’s why he had three previous commissioners.” Tisch arrived at police headquarters in Lower Manhattan with her children in hand and a round of applause from attendees that included previous top cops such as Dermot Shea and Raymond Kelly and police brass. Photo by Dean Moses “I solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the position of police commissioner of the city of New York to the very best of my abilities,” Tisch said. Photo by Dean Moses
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N isn’t a normal electric car. While the standard Ioniq 5 is intended (and quite successful) at being a Tesla Model Y competitor, the 5 N employs a unique aesthetic that sets it apart from the rest of the range, making it feel . Its sporty aesthetic is matched by how fast and fun it is to drive. This is the most expensive car Hyundai has ever sold anywhere in the world ( ) and, perhaps surprisingly, it’s quite comfortable in the company of similar high-performance EVs, such as the . But the Ioniq 5 N is different to most EVs because, realistically, it’s a toy. As far as the 5 N is concerned, it’s not enough to be a simple start-and-stop EV – you need to bring the highs and lows of a combustion engine track toy to the electric world. And practicality be damned, Hyundai has actually aced this. Configuring the settings of the Ioniq 5 N will put the car into ‘N’ mode, allowing for a fake engine noise that revs up and down depending on acceleration. This mode reconfigures the paddle shifters (located behind the wheel and normally used for adjusting braking intensity) so that they can be employed for upshifting and downshifting an artificial gearing system. Does an EV need gears? Absolutely not, there’s no gearbox needed in an electric design. Is this system that mocks a combustion engine car useful in any way? Not in the slightest. Does it make the car even more of a joy to drive? Definitely – and when you’re driving a sports car, you can’t discount the fun element. Full speed ahead Electric cars aren’t known for being particularly amusing to drive. Very little motor noise is produced by the electric components inside an EV, though some models include artificial sounds for added flavor (there’s also a safety argument to be made for it). Without gears, EVs also lack an element of interactivity that traditional manual cars have by default. It’s part of why the insistence of many traditional car companies to resurrect old model names as EVs is so confusing – they’re typically not anything like their petroleum-powered forebears, spiritually or otherwise. But the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is, from the ground up, electric, without a petrol engine variant ever being released as a part of the Ioniq 5 model range. The Ioniq 5 N, with the ‘N’ added to indicate Hyundai’s performance car category, is the first electric sports car the South Korean company has put out, and it means business. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N reaches 100km/h from a full stop in just 3.4 seconds, an extremely competitive speed that puts it in competition with the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT (3.7 seconds) and the Tesla Model Y (also 3.7 seconds). The ‘NGB’ button on the steering wheel readies the motors for a rapid burst of acceleration, allowing for a quick takeoff at a set of lights or fast merging onto a highway. The 5 N is also immensely more powerful than its standard trim sibling, packing a total power of 478kW versus 239kW. The car feels brilliant on the road, going around corners or accelerating to full speed. The is fast and responsive, with Hyundai’s designers having successfully avoided the temptation to drop an overwhelming touchscreen in the middle, and integrating fairly strong and useful safety features such as lane assistance and a 360 birds-eye camera. The car splits its basic performance options into Eco, Normal and Sport (ascending based on speed and road feel, descending on projected battery range), but the Ioniq 5 N also includes ‘N’ mode. A dedicated button on the steering wheel enables N mode quickly, which can be used to enable track-specific settings, launch controls, lap tracking, and an assortment of other features (some of which come with safety warnings that they should be used on a track). It also changes the UI of the LCD instrument cluster to look more like the HUD from a racing game. Besides all of this, N mode also comes with two features that are intended to lasso in revheads. The first is the artificial engine noise; with N mode activated, you can have the artificial engine noise emit a purr to match when your car is accelerating and decelerating. It’s a gimmick that’s delivered via the vehicle’s internal speakers (and can therefore only be heard on the inside of the car), and there are three sound options available (the first sounding like a petrol car and the other two sound much more akin to a futuristic car in a sci-fi movie). The sound can be turned up and down, or you can have it disabled completely if you so wish. The second N mode revhead feature is an artificial gearing system, dubbed e-shift, which will likely have auto enthusiasts and EV lovers equally puzzled, but I confess that it is fun. This setting is off by default but can be activated and deactivated anytime. When you enable the artificial gearing system, the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel will be reassigned. Previously they’d be used to adjust automatic braking intensity, but with gearing enabled, they’ll take the car up from first to eighth (fake) gear. On the road, it serves no practical purpose, but it’s such a thrill. Upshifting and downshifting on the winding roads to the west of Newcastle NSW, Australia was some of the most fun that I’ve ever had driving a car. That, mixed with Hyundai’s brilliant layout of buttons, dials and settings across the steering wheel and center console, absolutely made this the most exciting car I’ve ever driven at the luxury level. But it’s not all acceleration Waxing lyrical about the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N’s fake gearing will only get me so far. Sure, it’s got some fun but gimmicky features, but is it a good Despite the sportiness, it’s remarkably easy to drive – although there’s no huge surprise there, as most EVs are pleasantly simple. Vision in the front seat is satisfying, the moonroof is gorgeous and the customizable interior lighting adds a nice layer of personalization, though you’ll only really notice the RGB changes across the trim at night time. One of the criticisms that I have is that it’s strange to have a car without power-adjustable seats in the front. While it’s probably arguable that manual adjustments give the 5N a more sporty feeling, I feel like this is one area where the cost should have spoken for itself. The back seats can also be manually brought forward or back, which I liked about the original Ioniq 5. The criticism that the Ioniq 5 N is most deserving of is its range estimate. The car is rated at 448 km on the WLTP cycle, or 221 miles EPA. Those estimates for my mixed modes of use (going from inner-city driving to highway driving to suburban driving) seemed fairly accurate to me, but will likely be unsatisfying to somebody wanting to road trip. It’s certainly not the battery range estimation for a car this expensive, but when Ford, Tesla and Polestar are offering luxury sports cars that can best this range (but perhaps not the sporty feel), it’s a stat that might have some buyers turning away. Alleviating this is the phenomenal charging capacity that Hyundai’s high-end EVs are capable of. Newer members of the Ioniq family of cars can charge at a capacity of up to 350kW in the right conditions. That capacity is well above the maximum that most public EV chargers are capable of, so don’t worry about sticking around at a charger for too long (in my time with the 5 N, I only spent about 15 minutes max at a public charger). You’ll likely be doing most of your charging at home anyway, and I’m happy to report that the car does in fact come with an emergency wall plug charger; many of the cars I’ve reviewed recently have axed this feature entirely. You’ll want to consider installing a more powerful charger in your garage if you want a quicker top-up at home, but I know households that get by fine with included emergency chargers. Finally, the car is just gorgeous. I’m so happy that the Ioniq 5 body exists; it’s not really an SUV as it’s commonly designated, it’s more of a hot hatch. Slightly larger than your average hatchback, the Ioniq 5N adds three inches of length to the standard body and some additional details around the chassis, including air vents for the rear wheel trim. Aesthetically, N decals are pasted around the car, including orange-red tones to the underside of the panels and a red stripe on the grille. Color options for the Ioniq 5 N are vastly different to those available with the standard car, being much sportier and eye-catching. It’s not a car for everyone, but those who want it will love it Priced prohibitively for many ($66,100 / £65,000 / AU$111,000 + additional costs and on-roads) and equipped with features that may confuse most drivers, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is for a strange subsection of auto enthusiasts. I’m not confident that a market for track-loving EV drivers is too big, but this is for them. Fast, sporty and fun to fling around, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is an over-the-top mix of practicality and performance. Rivals to the Ioniq 5 N in most markets include the Tesla Model Y Performance and the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, but the 5N exists on its own terms. This car craves the track, and Hyundai has built a phenomenally fun EV here.
Bob Casey’s Departure Marks the End of an Era in Disability Advocacy