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Next in Hyundai’s new line of EVs, the Ioniq 6 is an efficient, streamlined sedan for the masses.
A New Tesla Rival Unveiled
Earlier this month, Hyundai revealed their latest foray into electric vehicles, the Ioniq 6. The mid-size all-electric sedan features killer good looks and should, like its platform sibling the electric crossover Ioniq 5, offer a good mix of range and drivability. The Ioniq 6 will be taking on Tesla Model 3, and from the preliminaries thus far announced, it should make a potent rival indeed. Hyundai has gotten out to an early lead.
Speculative Specs
While many details have yet to be announced, we can look to the Ioniq 5 for a lot of clues about what to expect from the Ioniq 6. Like the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 will likely offer a choice of either a base single motor set up with rear-wheel drive or a dual-motor set up and all-wheel drive. In the Ioniq 5, that single motor produces 168 horsepower while the dual-motor version offers 321 horsepower. In the lighter Ioniq 6 sedan, you can expect a zero to sixty run in roughly 5 seconds in its dual-motor configuration.
The battery situation is similar, with the choice of a 55-kWh battery pack or a 77.4-kWh battery pack for maximum range. Hyundai has given final numbers but has said the Ioniq 6 will be one of the most energy efficient EVs on the market. Current range estimates come in around 350-370 miles on a single charge.
“Streamliner” Exterior, “Cozy” Interior
Rather than calling the Ioniq 6 a sedan, Hyundai pitches their latest EV as a “Streamliner” ostensibly in reference to one of its many distinctive design elements, a sloping coupe-like rake to the roof line finishing in a succession of two spoilers. The Ioniq 6 boasts a drag coefficient of .21, which is on par with the Lucid Air and just behind the Tesla Model S and Mercedes EQS. All that literal streamlining will help Ioniq 6 deliver on the pledge of segment-leading efficiency.
Like the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 features a pronounced pixel motif, notable on the headlights, taillights, back end spanning light bar, and the topmost spoiler. The front end owes a lot to designs of the Porsche Taycan and Lamborghini Urus, while softening those looks and deftly integrating them into the “digital” design of the Ioniq line. Hyundai says they will offer 12 distinct colors for the Ioniq 6, including matte options, as well as 18- or 20-inch wheels.
The interior of the Ioniq 6 is no less impressive. Like most modern EVs, the Ioniq 6 will prominently feature digital screens. In this case a pair of 12-inch screens, one dedicated to the digital gauge and the other housing the car’s infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will reportedly come standard. Those aren’t the only screens either. A pair of digital side mirror screens also flank each door, though this feature won’t, unless regulations change, be coming to the US version.
A Lot More to Come
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 will begin production late this calendar year with the first units hitting showrooms in 2023 as 2024 models. Hyundai said they are also planning high-performance N and N Line versions of the Ioniq 6. Pricing has yet to be announced but given the Ioniq 5’s starting price at around $40,000, we expect the Ioniq 6 to be prices similarly, with the dual-motor version and any later N or N Line versions reaching $50,000-$60,000. While it might not have the straight-line speed of a Model 3, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 looks like it beats the Tesla on both looks and interior sophistication.
