Vehicle Type: A four-door, five-seat all-electric midsized sedan.
Price Range: $42,715 - $53,715, including destination but before options.
Powertrain: The Ioniq 6 comes standard with a 149-horsepower electric motor powering the rear wheels only.
A single-motor rear-wheel-drive, the Long Range model comes with a larger battery and 225 horsepower.
Dual-motor all-wheel-drive is available at an extra charge and ups horsepower to 320.
What’s New for 2023?
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is all new for the 2023 model year, though it shares a platform with the existing Ioniq 5. The Ioniq 6 has an entry price that is achievable for many buyers and includes enough standard equipment to make it a value.
When properly equipped it also offers the longest range of any EV with a price tag under $90,000. The sedan has a sleeker, and more aerodynamic profile than its larger sibling, which leads to improved range.
Though its looks may be somewhat love it or hate it, the Ioniq 6 delivers a great combination of features and efficiency which make it a compelling, if not the leading, option in the electric vehicle market.
What’s Good?
- Long Range
- Approachable base MSRP
- Sporty but smooth driving dynamics
- Interesting looks
- Not a crossover
What’s Bad?
- Tiny frunk
- Below-average cargo space
Would we buy one? Yes! We think the Ioniq 6 is a compelling alternative to the ubiquitous Tesla Model 3, yet it's not a crossover like so many other vehicles on the road today.
More Photos:
See more 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Photos.
Overview:
The Ionic 6 continues with the momentum of Hyundai and Kia bringing electric cars into the mainstream. The Ioniq 6 was named Car and Driver EV of the Year, for its combination of long-range, tech features, driving dynamics, and relatively low price.
The Ioniq 6 is aimed at buyers making the jump to an EV, but looking for an offering from a long-standing brand. Hyundai has done a great job making a model that offers better quality than the Tesla Model 3, excellent range and features, and pricepoint that is within reach of many buyers.
The Ioniq 6 competes in a segment that is becoming more crowded and wide-ranging. Aside from the Tesla Model 3, buyers considering the Ioniq may be considering the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, BMW i4, Polestar 2, as well as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6.
Overall Score: 4/5 stars
Driving Experience: 4.5/5 stars
Despite having just 149 horsepower in base trim the Ioniq 6 has enough power for most daily driving needs, thanks to the allows available torque that electric cars have become famous for. In its quickest AWD trim the Ioniq 6 gallops to 60 MPH in around five seconds.
Handling is sprightly for a car this heavy. Thanks to the placement of the battery, the Ioniq 6 has a low center of gravity. Despite its engaging handling the Ionic 6 has a smooth ride, absorbing road imperfections without much jostling of passengers.
An area where the Ioniq 6 really stands out is regenerative braking. The brake pedal feel blends both braking systems seamlessly, and steering wheel-mounted paddles allow for easy adjustment of the system. Drivers can easily choose from true one-pedal driving or no regenerative braking at all, and everything in between.
For a modern sedan, the Ioniq 6 has average visibility. Thick c-pillars and a high beltline mean drivers will be glad to have blind spot monitoring.
Safety Features: 4/5 stars
The Ioniq 6 has yet to be rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) but did score well in European crash tests. The Ioniq 5, which shares the E-GMP platform also received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.
Even in base trim, the Ioniq 6 is packed with standard driver assistance technology. Equipment includes Highway Driving Assist, Lane Following Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic emergency braking, Safe Exit Warning, and blind-spot monitoring.
Most reviewers found the safety systems to be unobtrusive during normal driving, and easy to use. Additionally, a selection of physical knobs and buttons will help keep drivers’ eyes on the road, rather than digging through screens.
Value: 4/5 stars
With a relatively low starting price, the Ioniq 6 puts EV transport within reach of many new car buyers. With average new car prices over $45,000, the Ioniq 6 slots right into a normal car purchase budget.
Though starting at a slightly higher price than the Model 3, the Ioniq 6 offers better build quality and a better warranty for peace of mind.
Moving up through the trim levels and adding options to the Ioniq 6 does not upset the value proposition. Even top-tier trims offer a lot of performance and features for the overall cost.
Though the Ioniq 6 is an all-new model, the Ioniq 5 has been on the market for longer and is currently ranked as one of the most reliable EVs available. Again, Hyundai backs the Ioniq 6 with a standard 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty including coverage for the battery.
Tech Features: 3.5/5 stars
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 includes standard tech features like a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with onboard navigation. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is customizable and offers the driver all critical information.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as well as a Bluelink system which allows for control of many of the car’s features from a smartphone app. Multiple USB ports are included for charging devices.
For buyers needing more tech, higher-end trims offer extras like Bose premium audio, but no groundbreaking tech is available regardless of trim level.
Practicality: 3/5 stars
The Ioniq 6 has a comfortable interior with plenty of headroom and legroom for five passengers.
Storage space is smaller than many competitive offerings, especially for buyers cross-shopping the Ioniq 6 with all-electric crossover SUVs. The rear seats can be folded down to maximize cargo space, though that obviously limits passengers to the front seats.
Also disappointing is the front trunk, or frunk. Only the smallest of bags or other items would be possible to fit. Though for buyers coming from gas-powered cars, the minuscule front storage should not be an issue.
Styling & Design: 4.5/5 stars
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 brings a great balance of form and function both inside and out. The interior offers comfortable spacious seating for all passengers. The flat floor makes the space feel even roomier. Hyundai focused on creating a quiet cabin and the effort is apparent.
The Ioniq 6 does not wow with its overall interior materials, but the build quality makes up for the lack of premium surfaces, and even when fully equipped, the Ioniq 6 costs about half the price of offerings like the Porsche Taycan and Mercedes EQS.
The interior is smartly designed with just the right amount of physical buttons to make everything intuitive.
The streamliner-inspired shape is another area where form and function meld. The sloping aerodynamic roofline keeps the drag coefficient low and is more interesting to the eye than almost anything on the market.
Overall, the Ioniq 6 delivers the leading alternative in the electric sedan market that is efficient, high-quality, and comes from a more familiar automaker.
Fuel Efficiency: 5/5 stars
In base SE Standard Range trim, the Ioniq 6 gets a respectable 240 miles of range from its 53.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. In its longest-range SE Long Range RWD trim, the Ioniq 6 gets a larger 77.4-kWh battery pack and 361 miles of range according to EPA estimates. Adding AWD to the Long Range trim drops the range to 316 miles. Stepping up to higher-end trims further reduces the range to 305 miles for RWD models and 270 when equipped with AWD.
In Long Range RWD configuration the Ioniq 6 is among the top electric vehicles for overall range, slightly outperforming the Tesla Model 3.
The Ioniq 6 is also equipped with high-speed charging capability and when attached to a 350kW DC fast charger, the battery should charge from 10-80% in about 20 minutes.
Overall the Ioniq 6 offers impressive specs that make it a useable EV for almost any driver.
What’s it Going to Cost Me?
In base SE Standard Range trim the Hyundai Ioniq 6 starts at $42,715. For that price, the car comes equipped with a single 149-horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels. A 53.0-kWh battery pack is standard. Other standard exterior features include DC fast charging capability, an active grille shutter to balance aerodynamic efficiency with cooling needs, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Interior features include a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and five USB ports. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard as are rear seat vents. Cloth upholstery is standard with heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. A leather-wrapped steering wheel includes cruise control and audio controls. A long list of safety and driver assistance features including blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic collision avoidance, front and rear parking distance warning, forward collision avoidance, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, safe exit warning, highway driving assist, and rear occupant alert come standard.
The Ioniq 6 SE Long Range starts at $46,615 and upgrades propulsion via a larger 77.4-kWh battery pack and higher output of 225 horsepower from the electric motor. Rear-wheel drive is standard and gives the trim the highest range of the Ioniq 6 model at 361 miles. Adding dual-motor AWD costs an additional $3,500, raises power to 325 horsepower, and drops the range to 316 miles.
SEL trim starts at $48,815 and adds some higher-end interior and exterior appointments, though it loses some range, dropping to 305 miles with RWD or 270 for the all-wheel-drive version. Exterior upgrades include 20-inch wheels. Comfort and convenience upgrades include H-Tex leatherette upholstery, auto-up/down front windows, Hyundai Digital Key Touch 2, dual-color ambient interior lighting, and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink. Blind-spot collision avoidance and a more advanced forward collision avoidance system and highway driving assist are added to the list of safety features.
Moving up to Limited trim brings the MSRP to $53,715. Power folding mirrors, a power passenger seat with lumbar support, ventilated front seats, and a memory setting for the driver’s seat are added to the equipment list. A Bose premium audio system is also included, as well as a heated steering wheel, a vehicle-to-load power supply, and a sunroof. Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 is added and allows the vehicle to be controlled from outside, for parking in tight situations. A 360-degree camera and blind-spot cameras round out the additional driver assistance features. We’re a frugal bunch so if it were our money we would opt for the longest-range SE trim in RWD. In climates with slippery winter conditions, we would spring for AWD but probably shy away from pricier trims that add cost and lower range, though a heated steering wheel would be nice.
