The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Lets You Discover Peace in a Chaotic World

It isn’t typically that an automaker will fully break the mildew with a brand new automobile. Certain, that’s been taking place a bit extra with the proliferation of electrical automobiles, however lots of instances these all really feel pretty comparable. For probably the most half, they’re rounded-off containers with a stubby nostril and a rear liftgate. Hyundai went a distinct route with the Ioniq 6, and it’s all the higher for it.

The 2023 Ioniq 6 is a automobile made for individuals who worth calm and serene driving somewhat than all-out efficiency. It’s for individuals who would somewhat sit on a snug sofa than at a racing sim. The automaker is aware of who this automobile is for, and constructed it only for them: people who worth good design, consolation and performance. The Ioniq 6 hits that mark terribly properly.

Full Disclosure: Hyundai flew me out to Phoenix, Arizona, put me up in a lodge and fed me for just a few days, all so I may drive the brand new Ioniq 6.

The Appears and Aero of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

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Proper off the bat, I’ll say this: The Ioniq 6’s seems to be aren’t for everyone, however they positive as hell are for me. I wholeheartedly imagine that is one the very best trying automobiles on sale proper now in any phase. The automobile seems to be like a combination between a futuristic egg and a cyberpunk 993 Porsche 911. It’s improbable.

Hak Soo Ha, Hyundai’s Vice President of Design, pointed to the truth that the Ioniq 5, 6 and upcoming Ioniq 7 all look “radically completely different” from each other. That’s on objective. Most different manufacturers determine to go for a company face or shared design language, however not Hyundai. I feel the model is healthier for it. All the vehicles have a really distinct model to them — apart from the light-up pixels within the headlights, taillights, and inside. All Ioniq automobiles have these.

The wheels are shoved to the corners of the automobile, and it makes for some somewhat small overhangs and a mighty lengthy 116.1-inch wheelbase. That’s three-ish inches longer than a Tesla Mannequin 3’s wheelbase, and the Ioniq 6 is 8.4 inches longer than the Tesla general at 191.1 inches, regardless that it doesn’t really feel like that large of a automobile from the surface.

The automaker says it pushed the firewall ahead, lowered the hood and gave the Ioniq 6 a cab-forward, nearly stretched look. The automaker desires you to consider the automobile as an “electrified streamliner,” and Ha even stated that the Stout Scarab – a Thirties-era idea automobile – served as inspiration.

Extra inspiration additionally got here from a few unlikely locations: airplanes and footballs. The Ioniq 6 is supposed to chop by the air as cleanly as doable, and people two issues do a very good job of that. Hyundai’s efforts labored: The Ioniq 6 has a drag coefficient of simply 0.22 — the bottom within the firm’s historical past, and 0.01 higher than the Tesla Mannequin 3.

The hunt for aerodynamics additionally led to 1 attention-grabbing impact: the again of the Ioniq 6 seems to be a hell of rather a lot like a 993-generation Porsche 911. Ha truly introduced this up himself, stating that no person asks who copied whom in relation to airplane makers like Boeing or Airbus. Everybody works with the identical fundamental shapes. Hyundai designers and engineers got here up with an environment friendly silhouette that simply occurs to look a bit like a classic 911.

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 on the Inside

The inside of the Ioniq 6 seems to be completely beautiful. The design could be very clear – nearly Scandinavian in a approach. A twin 12.3-inch display screen setup, which is normal throughout the entire lineup, dominates the house.

Beneath the middle display screen and air vents you’ll discover one thing very welcome in a contemporary EV: Actual, honest-to-goodness buttons. Hyundai not too long ago stated it will follow bodily controls in its vehicles for years to come back, bucking a development all through a lot of the auto business. The automaker says it discovered that, whereas the preliminary response to a buttonless touchscreen setup is often fairly sturdy, that rapidly goes away.

Sadly, the automaker should not have learn its personal memo. There are some bodily controls on the dashboard, for the radio and infotainment. Sadly, your entire HVAC system is operated by way of capacitive-touch buttons that convey up menus on the touchscreen. They aren’t the best to make use of, and so they smudge simply.

The second factor you’re going to note is the door panels and the way neat they give the impression of being. They’re made from ribbed plastic for our pleasure. Add within the trick ambient lighting (64 colours to select from on the highest and backside), and also you’re cooking with fuel.

All through the inside there are an entire lot of plastics, however as an alternative of making an attempt to cover them away, Hyundai determined to spotlight them. The truth is, a Hyundai designer stated the automaker was making an attempt to “rejoice” plastics contained in the automobile. It largely works.

For probably the most half, they’re nice. However whereas the ribbed sample on the door might look cool, it feels horrible. I’m speaking early-2000s econo-car unhealthy. It feels low-cost and hole and does a disservice to the remainder of the great inside. It’s not sufficient to be a deal-breaker by any means, however it doesn’t really feel all that nice, particularly when the automobile I examined stickered at almost $59,000.

One different piece of plastic that doesn’t look or really feel too good sits on the decrease fringe of both entrance window. In different markets, the Ioniq 6 is on the market with video cameras as an alternative of old style side-view mirrors, feeding to a show on both finish of the dashboard. This know-how will not be allowed within the U.S., and with out the display screen there, it looks like one thing is lacking.

On the steering wheel are 4 little pixels in lieu of a Hyundai badge. The Ioniq 5 – the 6’s platform sibling – has them too, however on this software they really gentle up, altering shade for voice instructions, drive modes and throughout the startup sequence. It’s a bit element, however it’s cute nonetheless. The 4 dots truly signify the letter “H” in Morse code. The automaker says they had been put there so drivers may really feel a “connection” with their automobile.

Since that is an EV from the bottom up, Hyundai was capable of stretch out the scale in an enormous approach. Up entrance, there’s 42.3 inches of legroom, and out again there’s 39.2. Shoulder room is equally spacious at 55.2 inches up entrance and 51.1 inches within the again.

I’ve however one problem in relation to the Ioniq 6’s inside house: An absence of house for my large head. The automobile I drove was geared up with a sunroof. It’s a pleasant factor to have, however it positively stole some room. Up entrance, with a sunroof, there’s simply 36.8 inches of headroom. At 6’1”, I had about an inch of room left with my seat all the way in which on the ground. Out again, Hyundai says there may be 38.3 inches of headroom, however I couldn’t match except I slouched or bent my neck. Probably not superb.

Driving the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

It’s type of an attention-grabbing factor that has occurred within the automobile world. As increasingly more automobiles turn out to be crossovers and SUVs, I discover myself assuming {that a} common passenger sedan can have a little bit of a sporty edge. Once you take a look at the Ioniq 6’s design, you may suppose it has some sporty credentials, however that isn’t actually the case.

The Ioniq 6 has little or no in the way in which of a sporty feeling. This factor is all about consolation, and that’s what it does finest. I spent almost 200 miles within the automobile as each a driver and a passenger, and at no level did my completely ruined again begin performing up. That’s an achievement in itself. The Ioniq 6 makes use of MacPherson strut suspension up entrance and a multi-link rear setup, and whereas the journey is usually a bit busy at slower speeds round city, when you’re on the freeway it smooths out. It’s an actual mile muncher, the Ioniq 6.

The driving place is, frankly, a bit unusual. There’s nothing flawed with it, per se, however you get the sensation that you just’re sitting on prime of the Ioniq 6, somewhat than inside it. A whole lot of that has to do with the very thick battery pack beneath the cabin flooring. With the entrance seats as little as they will go, you continue to really feel such as you’re sitting fairly excessive for a sedan.

That being stated, the automobile doesn’t disintegrate within the twisties. The Ioniq 6 turns in rapidly with only a nudge of the steering wheel.. On prime of that, it’s in all probability the heaviest steering I’ve ever felt in an electrical automobile. Nevertheless, that heavy steering doesn’t translate to a lot really feel. Whereas going round corners, the motive force and passenger are positively going to note some important physique roll. That was truthfully a bit shocking, given the truth that a lot of this automobile’s weight is down low. However once more, attacking mountain roads isn’t what this automobile is for.

The Ioniq 6 makes probably the most sense whenever you’re consuming up miles on the freeway, and it does that job in a really nice method. Efforts are helped by Hyundai’s glorious security and driver help suite, which incorporates all the pieces from Freeway Drive Help with Sensible Cruise Management – mainly radar cruise with some excellent lane holding – in addition to blind spot warnings. The entire system works splendidly to make the duty of driving as serene and chill as doable.

The Ioniq 6 additionally comes with 4 ranges of regenerative breaking which you can choose by way of paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Crank all of it the way in which up, and you’ll one pedal drive Hyundai’s little EV.

The automaker says the Ioniq 6 can get from 0-60 in beneath 5 seconds, and it feels each bit as quick as that. Then once more nearly all EVs have a tendency to try this. Even at 75 mph, there may be loads of oomph left for passing.

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Pricing and Battery Vary

Hyundai is using the “have it your approach” methodology in relation to the Ioniq 6’s trim ranges. We’ve acquired rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, little batteries, large batteries, and three completely different trim ranges: SE, SEL, and Restricted. All in all, there are seven doable variants of the Ioniq 6, however solely six can be out there at launch. The bottom SE RWD Normal Vary mannequin is alleged to be coming in the summertime.

Right here’s the way it breaks down: Absolutely the base mannequin SE RWD Normal Vary presents 149 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque, and 240 miles of vary for $41,600. Add the Lengthy Vary bundle for 225 hp, 258 lb-ft, and 361 miles of vary for $45,500. An all-wheel-drive SE provides you 320 hp, 446 lb-ft and 316 miles of vary for $49,000. The SEL is on the market in 225-hp rear-drive spec with 305 miles of vary for $47,700, or 320-hp all-wheel drive with 270 miles of vary for $51,200. The rear-drive Restricted has the 225-hp motor and 305 miles of vary for $52,600, whereas the top-spec Restricted AWD makes 320 hp and provides you 270 miles of vary for $51,600.

Sadly, no Ioniq 6 mannequin will qualify for the Inflation Discount Act automobile tax credit score, for the reason that automobile isn’t constructed within the U.S., and each model comes with a $1,115 vacation spot cost.

The automobile I examined was a top-of-the-line Restricted AWD Ioniq 6. It stickered at a fairly expensive $58,425. The one choices it had on prime of the Restricted AWD trim had been a $1,000 Gravity Gold matte paint job (which appeared nice) and $200 carpeted flooring mats.

I’ll be sincere, that sticker worth might be a bit an excessive amount of for this automobile. The candy spot might be within the excessive $40,000 to low $50,000 vary. At that worth, you is usually a little extra forgiving in regards to the cheap-feeling door playing cards and the shortage of luxurious options like computerized up and down rear home windows.

At launch, each Ioniq 6 will include a 77.4-kWh lithium-ion battery. Hyundai says that through the use of a Degree 2 charger, you’ll be able to cost as much as 80 % in a bit beneath seven hours. When you up the ante to a 50-kW charger, that point drops drastically to only 18 minutes. When you’re actually in a rush and also you occur to discover a 350-kW quick charger, you’ll be able to recharge the Ioniq 6 to 80 % in simply 18 minutes, says Hyundai.

Summing Up the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Manufacturing has already began on the Ioniq 6, and in reality, so have gross sales. The automaker says some deliveries are even happening as you learn this story, so don’t be too stunned in case you begin seeing Ioniq 6s popping up the place you reside. It’s a welcome addition to the automotive panorama.

It appears that virtually each passenger automobile as of late is constructed with some type of sporting intent. Hyundai’s newest providing bucks that development, and I personally love that. In a world the place even the Prius is turning into a sporty automobile, it’s good to have one thing that’s simply meant to be a cushty cruiser.

With the Ioniq 6, Hyundai is concentrating on the kind of one that doesn’t need their automobile to be a headache – somebody who simply desires a pleasant place to unwind on the finish of a busy day. From the place I’m sitting, few vehicles are higher fitted to that job.