The Ioniq 6 takes the core mechanical elements of the all-electric Ioniq 5 and wraps them up in a more aerodynamic sedan. The sleek 6 is aimed right at the Tesla Model 3, with the Hyundai surpassing it with its more comfortable ride, quieter interior and more intuitive controls. Quick acceleration and responsive handling make the Ioniq 6 fun to drive, while a competitive driving range and a relatively speedy at-home charging rate make it easy to live with.
The Ioniq 6, is available in three trim levels, all of which come standard with rear-wheel drive but have all-wheel-drive optional. Rear-wheel-drive versions with the Long Range battery have a 225-horsepower electric motor, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive models produce 320 hp. A base rear-drive model with the smaller Standard Range battery and a 149-hp motor is also available. The Ioniq 6 is EPA-rated for 240 to 361 miles of driving range, depending on the configuration--that is, models with all-wheel drive and larger wheels will both negatively impact range.
Our tested Ioniq 6 SEL AWD with the Long Range battery and 20-inch wheels has an EPA-rated driving range of 270 miles, which is competitive with similarly sized and priced EV sedans. The car’s 10.9-kilowatt onboard charger makes for quicker at-home replenishment than most EVs when using a 240-volt home charger installed on a 50-amp circuit. Expect to gain about 35 miles of range per hour, which is relatively speedy. On trips, the Ioniq 6’s 235-kW maximum acceptance rate allows for DC fast charging at public stations that’s on the quicker side; we were able to gain 180 miles of range during a 30-minute stop at an Electrify America station.
Acceleration is smooth and effortless. The Ioniq 6 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds if you floor it, making it quicker than the Tesla Model 3 we tested. A low-mounted battery pack and prompt steering contribute to a balanced, playful feel when you drive in a hurry on a twisty back road. The taut suspension soaks up bumps well, barring the occasional harsh impact transmitted by the large 20-inch tires. The feel of the brake pedal is firm and consistent—among the best of any EV we’ve tested—and we love how the steering wheel paddles make it easy to adjust the intensity of the car’s regenerative braking system.
The front seats are comfy and supportive with well-placed armrests, and we appreciate that the center console doesn’t intrude on knee room. The rear seat has plenty of legroom, but thanks in part to the unique shape of the car, headroom is tight and there’s minimal foot space underneath the front seats. The trunk is a little snug and the opening is narrow—one of the Ioniq 6’s true drawbacks.
Most controls, including the infotainment touchscreen, are easy to use. But several drivers found that they had to tilt the steering wheel up to an awkwardly high position to view the entire instrument panel. It’s also baffling why the window controls are on the center console, rather than on the door; Hyundai says they moved them to this unconventional spot to free up more space for the door pockets, but we don't see any appreciable difference compared to the Ioniq 5--which has its window switches on the door. Finally, the Ioniq 6 doesn’t have wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay—an odd omission for a high-tech car.
We don’t usually delve into styling critiques here at CR, especially because beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. But it’s hard not to stop and gawk at the Ioniq 6’s unique shape, especially the dramatically sloping rear window, which flows into a drooping trunk lid with dual spoilers and an array of square LED lights. Whether you like the styling or not, one thing isn’t up for debate: It makes the Ioniq 6 stand out from most other vehicles on the road.
Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane centering assistance, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams are standard.