Hyundai and sibling Kia have been killing it lately, from the sporty Elantra N sedan to the Kia Telluride 3-row SUV, each product has been impressive. But probably the most impressive to us, are the EV’s.
We’ve tested the Ioniq 5 and loved the combination of utility, quirky style and performance. And now have the Ioniq 6 with added quirky style and performance – but a loss in the utility department. Is it another home run? Let’s put it up to bat.
Meet the Streamliner
Wow, indeed.
We love that Hyundai dances to its own tune – the new Toyota Prius we recently tested has serious baby Tesla overtones – the Ioniq looks like nothing else, including its sibling Ioniq 5. Hyundai describes the look as an “Electrified Streamliner” aerodynamically sculpted and making innovative use of sustainable materials.
The front is aggressive and reminds us of one of those “How to Train Your Dragon” dragons, with sharp eyes, and a large toothy grin beneath the front bumper. Look under the LED headlights, and you’ll see little squares that Hyundai calls “Parametric Pixels”.
We hope you like them, because the Ioniq is slathered with over 700 Parametric Pixels in various places, such as headlamps, rear combination lamps, front lower sensors, air vent garnishes and center console indicator, to reinforce the IONIQ brand’s identity throughout the vehicle. It’s a little wacky, but we dig it. This car has personality.
The profile is sporty with a sharply angled A-pillar and equally swept-back C pillar and that helps it slice through the air with an impressive 0.21 coefficient of drag, there’s a luscious cut in the lower body lines, and we loved our tester’s 20-inch alloy wheels, that are a work of art in their own right.
At the rear, there’s a full-width lighting courtesy of plenty of parametric pixels, with two spoilers, I O N I Q 6 in cool block letters, and a blacked out lower fascia that adds some additional toughness. Finishing off our tester’s jaw-dropping design was the optional Gravity Gold paint, a matte finish that shimmers and just stands out.
Sporty Coupe Cabin
Inside, the futuristic theme continues. Compared to the Ioniq 5, Hyundai makes the 6 have a sportier feel. Open the door, and you’ll notice a two-tiered center console that separates the front seats and creates more of a driver’s cockpit. With a wide, horizontal set up and a flat floor the interior comes off as spacious and cozy at the same time.
Settle into the driver’s seat, and you’re greeted by a cool 2-spoke horizontal design steering wheel that includes 4 small squares on the airbag cover that change colors to help provide. How cool is that?
You also have dual 12-inch digital displays that create a seamless wall of information, and it works especially well, since you can call up all sorts of EV specific information from nearest charging stations to power flow info. The info-tainment screen is sharp and clear, and our WAZE looked great. Interestingly, although it’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, they are not wireless – but we understand that is coming soon. You do get wireless charging, plus easy to access USB ports, so we weren’t too deterred. And we are still thankful that Hyundai supplies a volume knob!
There’s some fun stuff, too, including Dual Color Ambient Lighting with your choice of 64 colors and six dual color themes, as well as the Sounds of Nature ambient presentation we’ve loved (although it is wacky) on other Hyundai and Kia products.
We do have one small beef, however. To keep the door panels swoopy and spacious, the 6 moves the window switches to the center console. (The 5 has them on the door panels). In the week we had our tester we’d constantly being looking for the switch on the door – where 99.9% of cars have them – we’re creatures of habit.
We’re also creatures of comfort, and we found the front seats to be excellent, and the rear seats are surprisingly adult friendly – we worried that the racy, coupe lines would impinge on rear headroom, but it’s quite good. And while the 6’s swoopy lines may make you think it’s a hatchback, it’s really a trunk. That said, the rear seats do fold down, and the pass-through is generous, giving you some nice flexibility. And hey, if you really need to haul stuff, there’s always the Ioniq 5.
Many who are into EV’s are deep into eco-friendliness, so it’s worth noting the IONIQ 6 offers up eco-process leather and recycled PET fabric on the seats depending on model. There’s also bio TPO skin skin on the dash, bio PET fabric on the headliner, bio paint derived from vegetable oils on the doors, and get this – recycled fishing net carpet!
Let’s Get Sporty!
The driving experience may be the best part of an already impressive vehicle.
There’s a variety of choices to suit your needs. For those who suffer severe range anxiety, the SE RWD Long Range tallies up an impressive 361 miles. Wow. Our tester was the Limited Long Range AWD 20” wheels and still does an impressive 270 miles estimated range. Go with rear wheel drive, and you’re looking at 225 horsepower, while All-Wheel Drive models like our tester get a substantial bump up to 320 electric horses. There’s also an entry-level trim, with 149 horsepower, that still turns up and excellent 240-mile range.
Charging in equally impressive – if you can find one of those 350kW DC fast chargers, you can go from 10 to 80% in about 18 minutes. Most public DC charging stations will take about 73 minutes for that same charge, still not bad. And with a level 2 charger at home, about 7 hours – perfect for the overnight. Remember though, that with the impressive range of the Ioniq 6 you probably won’t need to charge that often.
Well, except for the fact that this such a ball to drive, you might be piling on the miles! With the grip of AWD and 320 horsepower, the 6 is a rocket, with an estimate of 0-60 in just 4.5 seconds, this baby just hauls off the line, and pulls effortlessly, quietly and smoothly on the freeway as well. We also like the big drive mode button on the steering wheel – just a push gets you Sport mode and you have rocketship acceleration. And when you’re done, Normal or Eco mode, both of which still offer plenty of oomph are a tap away.
The handling is up to the wonderful power, with quick responsive steering, and the low center of gravity thanks to the batteries keeping the 6 flat in the corners. Toss it around and you are aware of the weight of the vehicle, but it’s still great fun, and notably sportier than the Ioniq 5.
The 6 is also an excellent commuter and cruiser with a super quiet ride, and a supple suspension. EV’s seem to always show off driver assistance features – you just kick back and let the future do the hard work. Like most Hyundai products, you get the whole enchilada of tech, including Forward and Blind Spot collision assist, Lane Keep and Following assist, Rear Cross Traffic and Parking Collision assist. You also get an excellent Smart Cruise Control, and our tester’s 360-view parking monitor to make you commute a piece of cake.
Can I Afford the Joy of 6?
Hyundai is making a strong play to get people into their EVs, so pricing is competitive.
Prices start at $41,600 and for a sleek looking fun vehicle with 240 miles of range, it’s a bargain. (Note: the Ioniq 5 starts at $41,450, so it’s not costing you much to have some style!)
Our Limited Long Range AWD tester was at the other end of the spectrum, starting at $56,100. Add in $1,000 for the Gravity Gold paint, $210 for floor mats, and $1,150 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $58,425.
Competitors would have to include the BMW i4, at $64,820. If you’re a BMW loyalist, it’s the way to go. For everyone else, the Ioniq 6 definitely deserves your attention. A Tesla Model 3 would be around $55,740. We like the Ioniq’s fresh looks, and the interior functionality and quality seem a step above.
Futuristic looks, superb quality, exceptional range and performance –the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the most impressive EV we’ve driven!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.