2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 – hyundainews.com | Shop 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 on Carsforsale.com
2023 kicks off the all-new model for Hyundai, the Ioniq 6, a sedan that compliments the Ioniq 5 in the lineup by offering a sleeker appearance, more range, and similar power. It’s available with two different battery pack sizes and the choice of rear or all-wheel drive.
It’s a sleek streamlined sedan with serious performance on the AWD models. Buyers will enjoy a slew of standard safety and tech features on every model including adaptive cruise control and Android Auto.
Funky styling
Great range capability
Quick AWD versions
Somewhat boring interior
Wired Android and Apple connectivity
Charging navigation can be better
A serious contender in this segment
When we first heard of the new Ioniq 6 we were hopeful that it would blend the personalities of the Kia EV6 with its sporty performance and the Ioniq 5 with its cushy ride. Thankfully, that’s exactly what this EV offers in its top-of-the-line Limited trim.
Racing from 0-60 mph takes right at 5 seconds and the Ioniq 5 feels pretty stable and predictable in the bends too. The brakes are good as well but we’re eager to see if Hyundai can add a bit more feel as they can be numb.
Lower trim levels like the SEL and SE offer basically the exact same driving experience though switching to rear-wheel drive only or the standard battery pack diminishes power. Nevertheless, we feel that the Ioniq 6 offers an above-average ride quality and handling package that most will enjoy. Hyundai tells us that an N version is coming in the future which should be even sharper.
Hyundai offers a number of range estimates based on the battery and motor combo one chooses. The least among the group is the base SE Standard Pack with just 240 miles of range. Above that, a large battery pack version gets an estimated range of 361 miles which is right up there with the best in the segment.
Thanks to 800-volt architecture, the Ioniq 6 can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes on a DC Fast Charger. Hyundai also offers some free charging at Electrify America stations for new customers.
Despite being a bit smaller than the Ioniq 5, the 6 is more than spacious enough to handle five adults. The front seats are comfortable despite being a bit plain looking and the dash and center console offer an ultra-modern but not overly-minimalistic design. In the same way that the Ioniq 5 set a cool retro bar for exterior styling, we think the Ioniq 6 does the same for interior styling.
The window switches are in the center console area, the steering wheel is funky, and the dash sort of has winglets on each side. It has a lot of character and hints at what future cars could look like. The ride is quiet and composed with very little hint of body roll or bounciness.
The rear seats are also a bit boring but very functional. They split to allow cargo from the rear into the cabin and there are two USB-C ports back there to boot. Cargo space itself is limited to 11.2 cubic feet in the trunk alone.
There’s a lot to love about the infotainment system in the Ioniq 6. The 12.3-inch screen is easy to see, bright, and features a menu that’s easy to navigate. Notably, the system is also quite quick with natural response times and useful notifications.
There are a few slight annoyances though. The navigation system isn’t as good at routing you to a charging station as we’d like and while Hyundai does enable the Ioniq 6 to precondition the battery before you arrive at a charger, you can’t force it to do that manually. That means that if you’re going to a charger that you haven’t pre-programmed into the navigation system you’ll have to wait to condition the battery once you’re there.
Finally, we don’t love the lack of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. That’s something that pretty much every other major manufacturer has figured out but Hyundai and Kia are lagging behind.
At the time of publication, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has released any safety data on the Hyundai Ioniq 6. However, this little sedan is packed with safety tech.
Every trim comes with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering technology, intersection collision mitigation, parking sensors, and a driver attention monitor.
On top of that excellent package, we’re happy to report that these systems work very seamlessly. Finally, buyers can add even more advanced safety aids in upper trims making this a comprehensive suite that few match for this money.
The base Ioniq 6 has a standard battery pack, 240 miles of range, 149 hp, 258 lb-ft of torque, and rear-wheel drive. It also gets 18-inch wheels, LED exterior lighting, DC fast-charging capability, a heat pump, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Infotainment is handled across the lineup with a 12.3-inch screen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, integrated navigation, and six speakers.
Step up to the Long Range version of the SE and the content stays the same but buyers get up to 361 miles of range with 225 hp and rear-wheel drive. Optionally, they can select an AWD version that has 316 miles of range and 320 hp.
The SEL adds 20-inch wheels, faux-leather upholstery, a wireless charging pad, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, blind-spot collision avoidance, cross-traffic side collision mitigation, and Highway Assist II, including enhanced adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist.
The top-of-the-line Ioniq 6 gets a sunroof, gloss-black exterior trim, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, driver’s seat memory functions, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, a household-style power outlet, remote park assist, a surround-view camera, low-speed braking when parking, and a blind-spot camera view.
Hyundai leads the market when it comes to warranty coverage. For the Ioniq 6, it covers the car bumper-to-bumper for five years or 60,000 miles. The powertrain and battery are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and Hyundai will also pick up the tab on all routine maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles. No other automaker in this segment beats that package.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 – hyundainews.com | Shop 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 on Carsforsale.com
Stack the Hyundai Ioniq 6 up against just about any other competitor whether it be from Tesla, BMW, or even Kia and it’ll do well. It’s available with great power, great range, excellent standard features, and a warranty package that puts others to shame.
Two main factors could disqualify it though from some searches. First, it’ll be important to consider new vehicle incentives and secondly, tax breaks might not be available if you buy the Ioniq 6 outright. For those dead set on it, leasing one will, at least at the time of this writing, qualify for a full $7,500 tax refund.