EV Review: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Photo CreditsTom’s Guide, EVTAK, CarandDriver.com

Even Better than before!

Overview

Performance: single motor, 168 horsepower; dual motor, 320 horsepower

Mileage estimate: 320 pure-electric miles, (BEV)

Price estimate: from $40,000

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Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles

Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles

Roadside Assistance: 5 years/unlimited

Corrosion Warranty: 12 years/unlimited

Battery: 10 years/100,000 miles

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Intro

Like many auto manufacturers, Hyundai is getting serious about producing electric vehicles.

For several years, it’s lone offering was the Ioniq. A compact five-door liftback, the Ioniq was introduced in 2017. It drew immediate notoriety because it came in three distinct models – and all three of them were appealing.

The Ioniq was the first vehicle worldwide that was available with three different types of electrified powertrains on the same platform – electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid.

Hyundai apparently has fallen in love with the Ioniq name. The South Korean automaker introduced the Ioniq 5 sport utility vehicle this year and next year has plans to unveil the 2023 Ioniq 6. On deck is the 2024 Ioniq 7, a luxury SUV.

Note that Hyundai also manufactures the Kona EV and plug-in hybrid versions of both the Tucson and the Santa Fe.

In producing the 2023 Ioniq 6, Hyundai wants to go head-to-head with the BMW i4 and the Tesla Model 3, an affordable sedan that has sales of a whopping 587,817 over the past four years. Obviously, competing with the Tesla 3 is a tall order for the Ioniq 6.

Kia and Hyundai Motor Group operate independently, but Hyundai is the parent company of Kia Motors. The company has plans to invest $7.4 billion, mainly to expand factories and start manufacturing EVs in the U.S. Last year, the Hyundai and Kia brands combined to outsell Honda for the first time.

Charging and Range

The new EV sedan reportedly will have a 77.4 kWh battery that will give it a range of up to 320 miles. It’s the same battery pack already available in the Kia EV6 crossover.

Employing a dedicated 800-volt electrical vehicle platform (E-GMP), charging the Ioniq 6 will be super fast. The modular designed E-GMP is the first electric-only dedicated platform by Hyundai. 

Performance

It’s believed the Ioniq 6 will share components with the Ioniq 5. That means the Ioniq sedan will feature both single and dual-motor configurations. The Ioniq 6 should deliver between 168 horsepower on the base model to 320 horsepower and all-wheel drive for the expanded model.

Expect the Ioniq 6 to provide an enjoyable ride and be capable of hustling around tight turns and maneuvering well in limited spaces. The regenerative braking will help slow down the vehicle in quick fashion, a bonus in traffic situations.

Exterior Style

The Ioniq 6 has a design that clearly emulates from the company’s Prophecy concept unveiled in 2020. It has a swoopy, panoramic roofline with an overall retro look. The exterior also has what’s been described as cat-like headlights.

Perhaps the most defining characteristic of the Ioniq 6 is being devoid of any traditional windows. It will have double-glazed windows that don’t open. Instead, it will have an air-filtration system that pumps clean air into and around the cabin.

Interior Space

The interior will be eco-friendly, utilizing recycled PET plastic, natural wool and faux leather. Overall, it will be a far more luxurious interior than Hyundai’s gas-powered Sonata and Elantra sedans.

The Ioniq 6 will use screens rather than buttons on its dashboard. Like the Ioniq 5, it will have a sliding center console and several other clever interior features.

The five-seat sedan will have a rear bench that accommodates three people. The trunk space will be less than the Ioniq 5 (27.2 cubic feet). However, the rear seats will fold to the floor, creating much more storage space.

Conclusion

Believing the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 can compete with the Tesla Model 3 is a tall order. Yet there are special features with the new sedan that should make it an appealing EV.

–  J.W.

Video Review: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6