Highlights
- High-tech
- Spacious
- Fast charging
- Excellent range
Introduction
Hyundai calls it the electric streamliner, but whichever way you look at it, one thing’s certain – the new IONIQ 6 is a seriously cool piece of kit.
Nor is it a case of style without substance because this is an electric car that ticks the boxes many EVs fail to achieve and addresses the concerns many potential owners harbour.
And to underscore those points, the newcomer has in the space of a few months already claimed a string of titles, notably World car of the Year 2023, World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year.
The IONIQ 6 stands out in every car park because it’s unique – with a design all of its own. It also has a class-leading drive range, enjoyable dynamics, and plenty of technology in the Ultimate trim driven here.
Powertrain and Performance
Buyers have a choice of either a rear-wheel drive powertrain offering 225bhp or all-wheel drive with a sprightly 321bhp.
Both feature a long-range 77.4kWh battery, with the AWD option capable of some serious performance – pop that Sport button, and the IONIQ 6 will scorch from 0 to 62mph in 5.1 seconds.
Out on the road, the IONIQ 6 is a real treat, with loads of kick – even in Eco mode – and feeling both comfortable and agile in equal measure.
Mike Torpey
Design elements like active air flaps at the front, wheel air curtains, an integrated rear spoiler plus wheel gap reducers all contribute to the car’s dynamic superiority. In fact, the car’s drag coefficient of 0.21 is one of the lowest in the motor industry.
This also contributes to the IONIQ 6 having a driving range of 322 miles, a figure we were fairly close to matching over the course of a busy week that took in trips to the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and a congested city centre at rush hour.
Find a 350kw rapid charger and the Hyundai’s battery can reach 80 percent in around 20 minutes, though the favoured option is to get a home wallbox.
Design and Practicality
One of the areas in which the IONIQ 6 excels is that of its passenger space, something you wouldn’t normally expect from a low-slung vehicle dubbed a streamliner.
But the truth is that the Hyundai’s cabin is huge with loads of legroom front and rear – including when the rear seats are slid fully back – and even the centre rear position is level, comfortable, and offers ample legroom.
You also get a decent-sized 401-litre boot, though the load still is a bit low, and there’s also a small storage area beneath the bonnet.
With the use of natural materials a priority, our tested variant also came with perforated eco-processed leather seats, fabric from renewable plant resources, bio paint from vegetable oils and carpet made from recycled fishing nets.
Equipment and Technology
Everything within the interior feels hi-tech and in Ultimate models, the driver benefits from a pair of 12.3-inch screens incorporated into one long horizontal panel across the dash.
The infotainment and driving functions are easily accessed, a pair of vast BOSE speakers occupy the lower part of each front door panel and there’s ample storage space in the shape of glovebox, door bins, two centrally-placed front cupholders a central storage box plus a couple more cupholders in the rear armrest.
A pair of digital wing mirrors, are available at an extra cost, and they operate by transmitting images onto screens at either end of an aircraft-style ‘wing’ that comprises the car’s main fascia.
You can even choose from an ambient lighting spectrum of 64 colours and six pre-selected themes to help occupants feel relaxed and comfortable.
Summary
So there’s much to recommend the IONIQ 6, especially when you add attributes like its comprehensive safety features and 5-year warranty on the battery.
The Ultimate trim adds stylish design cues and lots of standard equipment, from infotainment to active safety features.
