2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Review

Hyundai made a splash with the retro-inspired Ioniq 5, the automaker's first vehicle designed to be electric from its inception. Now Hyundai is following it up with another stylish EV: the 2023 Ioniq 6. The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is an ultra-sleek sedan built on the same Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that underpins the Ioniq 5. The small EV sedan market is occupied almost entirely by the Tesla Model 3 at the moment, so shoppers will finally have another option to consider.

The Ioniq 6 also uses some of the same design elements that give the Ioniq 5 its unique looks — namely the pixelated headlight and taillight clusters — before really going off in its own direction. The overall look isn't very cohesive to our eyes, but we suppose some sacrifices had to be made to achieve the Ioniq 6's ultra-low 0.21 drag coefficient. For reference, that would make the Ioniq 6 only slightly bulkier than the world's most aerodynamic production car, the Mercedes-Benz EQS. That gives the Ioniq 6 some very impressive range estimates from the EPA, and we can't wait to put them to the test when we get our hands on the sedan to run it on our standardized real-world range test.

Hyundai estimates the base Ioniq 6 SE Standard Range — the one with the small pack and modestly powered motor — can travel 240 miles on a single charge. That's an acceptable range for an EV at this price, but for our money, it's worth paying a little more to upgrade to the SE Long Range. Not only does it add the more powerful motor, but range increases to an eye-popping 361 miles. That puts it well ahead of the entry-level Tesla Model 3 (272 miles) and right in the mix with the Model 3 Long Range (358 miles).

These estimates are also better than the Ioniq 5 SUV. That vehicle's EPA-estimated range is 220 miles with the standard pack, 303 miles with rear-wheel drive and the long-range battery, and 256 miles with the AWD powertrain. The lowest range estimate for the Ioniq 6 is 270 miles, which is for the dual-motor SEL or Limited trim fitted with the 20-inch wheels.

As with its crossover counterpart, the Ioniq 6 sedan's 800-volt architecture allows it to use the speediest DC fast-charging equipment on the market. When plugged into one of the growing number of 350-kW ultrafast chargers, the Ioniq 6 can recharge from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes — just enough time to grab coffee from Starbucks at rush hour. A vehicle-to-load (or V2L) function means that you can use the car to power external devices, including other EVs.

We've spent time piloting two versions of the Ioniq 6: the single-motor rear-wheel-drive version with the long range battery and the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version. The dual-motor version offers noticeably quicker acceleration, both from a stop and as you get up to speed. That extra torque gives the AWD version that burst of speed that some people enjoy in EVs. The single-motor Ioniq 6 is by no means slow, but its power does build more gradually as it might in a conventionally powered sedan. You can also liven things up with the active sound profile to make fun spaceship noises when you press the go pedal.

But we would give the handling edge to the single-motor version. It's lighter and feels more agile around turns. This Ioniq 6 is an easy everyday driver and can also be fun to drive on twisty roads.

It doesn't take long to get nice and cozy in the Ioniq 6's leather-wrapped seats. They offer adequate support, and the material itself is plush to the touch. On the top Limited trim level, heating and ventilation are also along for the ride, making things even better. And there is plentiful legroom for both rows of passengers. 

Both versions of the Ioniq 6 we tested offered good ride quality and balance. Road imperfections are smoothed out well for the most part, keeping the cabin tranquil. With the smaller wheels, the Ioniq 6 is just a touch more composed thanks to the added sidewall of the tires. But we think that buyers of both wheel sizes will be happy with how the Ioniq rides and handles.

The Ioniq 6 also does a great job keeping exterior noise to a minimum. Even at highway speeds, the Ioniq 6 slips through the air and wind and tire noise is minimal. Conversations between passengers can be enjoyed across the cabin, or you can crank up the Bose premium audio system that comes on Limited models. The base stereo is a bit disappointing, however.

The Ioniq 6's cabin is more muted than the bodywork. In fact, it's not too dissimilar to the Ioniq 5's interior, albeit with more flair. The steering wheel looks essentially the same, as do the dual 12-inch digital instrument panel and central touchscreen that share a single housing. However, the Ioniq 6 features more dramatic ambient lighting and a fixed center console that is flat enough to be used as a tabletop.

A key change in the Ioniq 6 comes in the form of less rear headroom, an unavoidable consequence of its tapering roofline relative to the squared-off Ioniq 5. Legroom is fantastic, even for those well into the 6-foot range, but those same passengers will find the headroom to be very disappointing as the tops of their skulls get closely acquainted with the headliner. Hyundai uses sustainable materials throughout the cabin, though vegan-unfriendly leather does cover the seats in some models.

The Ioniq 6's new ambient lighting strips give the interior an elegant look. You can choose between 64 colors, and the system offers a dual-color split so you can tailor the cabin environment to your liking. There's even a Speed Sync Lighting mode that increases the brightness of the ambient lighting as you dig into the accelerator.

The advanced driver aids available on the Ioniq 5 are available here as well. Features like adaptive cruise control, lane centering assistance, front and rear cross-traffic warning with braking, and evasive steering assistance when changing lanes are all offered.

From a hardware perspective, things in the Ioniq 6 are very familiar. That means twin 12-inch displays, surrounded by a neat metal housing. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is available, though you'll have to plug in to use them. Thankfully, the car has both USB-A and USB-C ports to accommodate all of your phone cord needs. As in the Ioniq 5, the user interface is a mixture of physical buttons and intuitive touchscreen menus.

Hyundai made some exciting improvements to the Ioniq 6's tech suite. This is the first car in the brand's lineup to get over-the-air (OTA) updates. Enhancements can be made to not only the software but also to the car's hardware including the battery. In a segment founded by the Tesla Model 3, the OTA capabilities are impressive, to say the least.

Dig into the menus and there are some fun things to play with like the new EV tune-up feature. This customizable drive mode allows you to change things like the steering feel, acceleration sensitivity and even the horsepower output.