By the numbers, the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 electrical sedan outpaces the Tesla Mannequin 3, improves on the associated Hyundai Ioniq 5, and matches the Lucid Air as essentially the most environment friendly electrical automobile on sale within the U.S. Within the information age the place we’re dominated by algorithms, the favorable numeric information of the Ioniq 6 is spectacular. But Hyundai’s newest sedan is greater than only a quantity.
Its daring design elevates each kind and performance into one thing incalculably extra. It simply seems cool. There’s no quantity for that the majority subjective of takes. But its coolness serves the perform of creating it essentially the most aerodynamic manufacturing automobile within the model’s historical past. The curvaceous sedan’s super-low 0.22 coefficient of drag (0.21 in markets the place it makes use of camera-based facet mirrors) matches that of the Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan, which prices practically twice as a lot.
It additionally goes farther on a single cost. The Ioniq 6’s aerodynamics translate partially to 361 miles of vary, based mostly on EPA estimates, and an effectivity score of 4.2 miles per kwh for the SE Lengthy Vary rolling on 18-inch wheels. That matches the six-figure Lucid Air Touring AWD.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Extra related, it beats the Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary AWD with its 358-mile vary and effectivity of three.9 miles per kwh.
Extra spectacular is how the Ioniq 6 does it. Not solely does it look totally different than something within the Hyundai and Genesis portfolio, it seems nothing just like the homogenous crossover EV form that has dominated the previous couple years of EV introductions.
It shares its E-GMP underpinnings with the Ioniq 5 electrical hatchback that, in its best single-motor kind, has a spread of 303 miles and a score of three.3 miles per kwh. Aero issues.
The sedan stretches practically 9 inches longer than the Ioniq 5, but its 116.1-inch wheelbase is 2.0 inches shorter. It additionally sits greater than 4 inches decrease and has a half-inch decrease floor clearance. It makes use of the identical 77.4-kwh battery pack and everlasting magnet synchronous motors with both a rear-drive unit or a dual-motor setup for all-wheel drive. It weighs about 50 kilos much less too, relying on trim and drivetrain decisions. Later this summer time, Hyundai will provide a base SE Normal Vary with a 53-kwh battery pack and 240-mile vary for $42,715.
Aerodynamic design of the Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Ioniq 6 carries automotive evolution on its curves, from the Saab 92 to the EQE and even a little bit of the Porsche 911 Carrera and its ducktail spoiler.
Impressed by plane and modeled by the Prophecy idea that marked the tip of the Ioniq hybrid and plug-in hybrid line for the absolutely electrical Ioniq sequence, the Ioniq 6 wears a hood that dips down low. A flat entrance finish with energetic air flaps doesn’t name to any model design language or merely substitute a flat panel for a grille. In profile, it most channels the Prophecy with slender gaps in wheel arches that home distinct 18-inch and 20-inch wheel designs.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
The spherical theme continues over the coupe-like roofline to the rear, the place the Ioniq 6 splits the distinction between a whale tail and ducktail with an elliptical spoiler and a winglet above it.
Stamping all these curves collectively are over 700 parametric pixels, in accordance with Hyundai. These little squares flip the daytime working lights into mini ice dice trays. Identical out again, on the vertical reverse lights. They compose the lightbar spanning the rounded rear, the indicator lights on the facet mirrors, the garnish in the usual LED headlight housing, they usually’re stamped all around the inside— on the sprint trim, the door panels, even the lifeless pedal and the wi-fi smartphone charger.
Hyundai’s design crew is clearly placing the enjoyable in useful with the Ioniq 6. As a substitute of the Hyundai emblem on the steering wheel, there are 4 parametric pixels illuminated blue that quickly swap colours based mostly on the steering-wheel mounted drive mode swap, so Eco mode flashes inexperienced, and Sport mode flashes pink. It’s additionally Morse code for the letter H.
Other than the pixels, the Ioniq 6 has the identical steering wheel because the Ioniq 5 with an offset drive mode button beneath the steering controls and a column-mounted gear shifter on the other facet. The dual 12.3-inch cluster and infotainment screens curve towards the motive force, as within the 5, however the similarities largely finish there.
How spacious is the Ioniq 6 inside?
It’s a roomy and open inside, but it surely lacks the airiness of electrics with flat mounted glass roofs. A panoramic sunroof will be optioned, but it surely eats up valuable house within the again, the place the Ioniq 6 conceals its largest limitation attributable to aero. The roofline trims rear headroom sufficient so 6-foot passengers would wish to slouch to suit. The rear seats have distinctive legroom of 39.2 inches, however toeroom will be tight with the entrance seats of their lowest place.
The tapered rear additionally cramps the trunk, which has a slender opening and solely 11.2 cubic toes of house. The 60/40-split rear seats fold flat, however for taller, bulkier objects, the Ioniq 6 is forbidding. The frunk received’t assist a lot both, with its 0.4 cubic toes of house holding a cost wire at greatest.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
The doorways lack any controls, with Hyundai as an alternative placing the ability door locks and home windows on the middle console bridge. A touch panel close to the motive force’s left knee homes facet mirror controls, the traction management button, and the digital parking brake. The bridge connects to the centerstack, with a wi-fi telephone charger and USB ports beneath the local weather management panel, and a tray down low on the flat flooring.
How does the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 drive?
Behind the wheel it makes for a barely sportier journey than the Ioniq 5, based mostly on testing in a loaded Restricted AWD mannequin that tops the itemizing at $57,215, together with vacation spot. The twin-motor setup makes use of a 75-kw motor up entrance and a 165-kw motor on the rear that mix to make 320 hp and 446 lb-ft, identical as within the Ioniq 5, besides the 6 goes from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds. It doesn’t leap off the road like another electrics, however there’s loads of punch to dash forward of site visitors and cross vacationers and trailers on single-lane highways within the mountain-ringed desert exterior of Scottsdale, Arizona, the place we did our testing.
The 168-kw single-motor model makes 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and it posts a 7.4-second time to 60 mph. I had restricted time in that mannequin, with an excessive amount of site visitors to share an sincere evaluation.
Both mannequin comes with an impartial suspension with MacPherson struts up entrance and a multilink rear. Rubber bushings substitute for hydraulic ones within the Ioniq 5 to attenuate highway vibrations to provide it a quietude that may’t be discovered within the Mannequin 3. Frequency-sensitive shocks with larger oil move are used for higher responsiveness to hurry and highway circumstances, but it surely’s additionally not as agile as a Mannequin 3.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
The grip on my take a look at automobile’s Pirelli P Zero tires was by no means examined to the restrict, however the sedan maintained its steadiness fairly properly. It leaned noticeably in turns, nevertheless, regardless of the decrease sedan stance.
5 drive modes, Eco, Regular, Sport, Snow, and Customized alter the torque distribution and steering enter. Sport adjusts the steering really feel from its default gentle really feel to extra resistance, and it routinely apportions torque between the axles for greatest traction based mostly on inputs. In Eco mode, the entrance motor can disengage so parasitic drag is eradicated and vary elevated. Snow mode splits the torque evenly, performing like a locking heart differential.
With an Ioniq 5 N mannequin launching this summer time, it’s affordable to count on an Ioniq 6 N mannequin that may ratchet up the efficiency with a lowered suspension, an digital limited-slip rear differential, and a Drift mode.
For now, the Ioniq 6 is extra spry than sporty, but it surely’s a peaceful, quiet automobile optimized for effectivity. Many electrical automobile house owners will prize that extra.
Ioniq 6 vary and charging
The Ioniq 6 is available in well-equipped SE grades, or SEL and prime Restricted trims. Just like the Ioniq 5, all Ioniq 6 fashions are constructed on an 800-volt structure that allows 350-kw DC quick charging from 10-80% in 18 minutes, briefly reaching a peak fee of about 235 kw. With an 10.9-kw board onboard charger, the Ioniq fees in a single day at dwelling on a 240-volt connector in about eight hours. A warmth pump and battery heating system come customary to assist attain peak cost charges faster in chilly climates. High Restricted fashions include a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that may output 1.9 kw for 120-volt charging of home equipment, instruments, tenting gear, or to gradual cost one other EV.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Ioniq 6 comes with 4 regenerative braking settings through steering paddles, together with a one-pedal driving mode that requires some modulation on the throttle to keep away from abrupt grabbiness. Over practically 100 desert miles with out the HVAC on, the Ioniq 6 Restricted with 20-inch wheels outpaced its EPA estimate of three.1 miles per kwh, for a mean of about 3.4 miles per kwh, based mostly on the journey laptop. Even with the bottom vary of Ioniq 6 variants, the 270-mile estimate by no means left me with vary nervousness, whilst I neared 200 miles on the day’s finish.
As in any automobile, wheel and tire sizes make a giant distinction. The SE AWD with 18-inch wheels and fewer content material has a 316-mile vary and a rated EPA mixed effectivity of three.6 mi/kwh.
The SEL and Restricted RWD fashions have a spread of 305 miles and three.5 miles per kwh.
Ioniq 6 makes a distinction
All through my time with the Ioniq 6, I questioned why an EV intender would select this sedan over the extra sensible Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the sportier, extra tech-forward bestseller often known as the Tesla Mannequin 3.
The additional three miles of vary is a advertising and marketing level greater than a promoting level, however the effectivity, which doesn’t get as a lot consideration as gasoline mileage within the EV house, is plain.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6
Furthermore, the Ioniq 6 is a loaded worth, even when it doesn’t qualify for the newest iteration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit score. It comes with customary driver-assist tech reminiscent of computerized emergency braking, blind-spot screens, energetic lane management, and adaptive cruise management right down to a cease. New entrance and rear nook radar sensors, in addition to new digital camera {hardware}, make the driver-assist tech extra complete in detecting cyclists, pedestrians, and turning vehicles. Along with the 12.3-inch screens (that also requires a wired smartphone connection), customary tools consists of heated entrance seats, an influence driver seat, 5 USB ports, and an up to date Digital Key smartphone controller that now not requires a subscription.
All of this stuff are compelling. However essentially the most compelling attribute of the Ioniq is that it seems totally different, and never simply to look totally different. It received’t be for everybody, however the marriage of kind and performance elevates it.
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Hyundai paid for lodging and airfare for Inexperienced Automotive Reviews to current this firsthand report.