Hyundai Ioniq 6 review

Hyundai Ioniq 6 verdict

For years, the saloon car market seemed to be dying as people turned to SUVs. But now, the electric revolution has brought with it a wave of plug-in saloons and the Ioniq 6 is right up there with the best in its class. With a premium-feeling interior and composed driving experience, the Ioniq 6 marks an improvement in certain areas over the already-fantastic Ioniq 5. Of course, there are some compromises when it comes to practicality and several competitors offer more range, but the Hyundai’s 338-mile maximum is nothing to scoff at – and with ultra-fast charging speeds, the Ioniq 6 is yet another strong weapon in the Korean brand’s growing arsenal of EVs.

Range details, specs and alternatives

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of our favourite electric cars on sale today as it combines sci-fi styling, a comfortable cabin and boatloads of technology to create an outstanding, practical family car. So naturally, Hyundai's answer to the BMW i4, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3 was one of the most hotly anticipated EVs when it launched in 2022.

Where the Ioniq 5 took design inspiration from the boxy hatchbacks of the 70s and 80s, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 looks to 1930s streamliner cars. Despite its uncanny resemblance to an Apple Magic Mouse, we happen to love the look of the Ioniq 6 and think elements such as its ducktail spoiler, short overhangs and 8-bit-style lights help the electric Hyundai differentiate itself from the comparatively bland Model 3.

Underneath the svelte bodywork are the E-GMP underpinnings we’re now familiar with from our time in the Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60. It’s also the platform that will be used for the seven-seater Ioniq 7 and Kia EV9, but all in good time. The platform’s 800V electrics mean the Ioniq 6 can charge at speeds of up to 220kW and perform a 10-80% top-up in 18 minutes.

We get two versions of the Ioniq 6 in the UK; entry-level models are fitted with a 77.4kWh battery and single electric motor producing 225bhp, which can propel it from 0-62mph in a relatively modest 7.4 seconds. According to Hyundai, this version can cover up to 338 miles on a single charge – a respectable figure, but way short of the 400-odd miles possible in the Polestar 2, as well as the Volkswagen ID.7.

Then there’s the all-wheel-drive model. It uses the same 77.4kWh battery, but adds another electric motor on the front axle for a combined 316bhp and 605Nm of torque. This slashes the 0-62mph time to just 5.1 seconds, although range takes a hit for a claimed maximum of just 322 miles. This is the most potent Ioniq 6 currently available, until a hot Ioniq 6 N inevitably arrives down the line.

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Beyond these powertrains are two equipment levels to choose from: Premium and Ultimate – the First Edition model is no longer available. Kicking off the lineup, Premium trim is our pick as it comes with an impressive level of standard equipment for what is supposedly a ‘base’ model. All Ioniq 6 Premium models get 20-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, a dual-screen infotainment and instrument cluster setup with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and myriad driver assistance and safety systems.

For an extra £3,500, Ultimate trim adds ventilated leather seats, a sliding electric sunroof and a Bose sound system. There’s only one free paint colour available – the near-luminous Byte Blue Solid – and all other shades are an additional charge. ‘Digital’ door mirror cameras can be added for around £1,000, but we think these are a bit of a gimmick, rather than providing any real safety benefit.

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