My Thoughts Exactly: 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 is a sedan. A midsize sedan built on the battery-electric platform that has been the talk of the automotive industry.
Hyundai loves sedans.
They’re banking on them to continue their growth in every market possible – including our own. The Elantra and Sonata might not be selling as well as they used to, but you have to give credit for this brand to still offer these solid vehicles.
Perhaps there was an “in” when it came to offering another model off of the e-GMP battery-electric platform. The IONIQ 5 drew plenty of attention for its retro-futuristic design melding the old Pony and Excel onto a very practical crossover.
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 is a sedan. Following the footsteps of the Sonata. A midsize sedan built on the battery-electric platform that has been the talk of the automotive industry.
One thing I have to consider is how well it is executed. That starts with the exterior design.
There are plenty of references to the IONIQ 6’s shape. Think Citroen DS with some Porsche 911 influence. You can also tell there are some Art Deco references mixed with some of the NSU rotary sedan of the late 1960s. Perhaps some Mitsubishi influences from older Eclipses and the 3000 GT.
You can add the IONIQ 5 to the list of design references. The pixel lighting elements add to the IONIQ 6’s allure. Tere are some located on the “whale tail” attached to the trunk.
We digress, but one could say that the IONIQ 6 is very unique in our marketplace. The shape is swoopy and curvy, while utilizing modern EV elements. You call it compelling.
Our Limited tester came with 20-inch alloy wheels to compliment the overall design. Those add to the unique design loaded with past references on this top-of-the-range model.
Hyundai has been employing a new interior design language that had a few eyes dazzled over the details. The flat screen stretches across two-thirds of the instrument cluster gets a nice satin frame. Two 12.3-inch screens reside on this panel – one for the instrument cluster; the other for the infotainment system.
Controls are similar to the Hyundai models – in particular, the newest models. The transmission “stalk” us attached to the steering column uses a knob to change between drive and reverse. To put into park, just press the button at the end of the stalk. A Bose premium audio system is standard on the Limited model.
The front seats offer comfort and bolstering for support. The center console divides the front seats offering open space and storage options. Rear seat room is fine, for both leg and head room. There’s a generous under console stowage up front, as well.
Trunk space may measure up to 11.2 cubic feet, but it looks deceptive. You can fold down the rear seats for longer items. Up front, there is a small secure storage area – short of a cubic foot – that actually looks like an engine cover.
Our Limited tester is powered by two motors – one at each axle. Total output is 320 horsepower with 446 pound-feet of torque. The battery pack has a capacity of 77.4 kWh with an output of 277 kW. Hyundai claims that this tester has a range of 270 miles. In reality, we were able to get to 232 miles on a completely full battery.
The IONIQ 6 is a very smooth driving machine. It does handle the bumps well without transmitting them into the cabin, Handling is good – somewhere between soft and solid. Cornering is fine, but you do feel the extra weight of the battery pack, along with the lower center of gravity.
The steering is not as tight as you expect in a smaller vehicle. While there is an absence of feel, it manages will when you point the IONIQ 6 into a turn. On-center is soft, but also very manageable.
The brakes are an interesting story. If you apply them, they do respond with good normal and panic stops. Pedal feel is good. There is a one-pedal function called i-Pedal that can be enabled so you not have to use the pedal to intervene. A Smart Regenerative System is designed to maintain charge levels while slowing down, using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
There are four trim levels available on the 2024 IONIQ 6. Pricing starts at $37,500. Our Limited all-wheel drive tester came with a sticker price of $55,010.
Don’t get us wrong. We love the IONIQ 5 (actually, I do. Although, George prefers the Genesis GV60…but, anyway…). Hyundai captured the essence from its retro-futuristic crossover into another retro-futuristic sedan underpinned by the same e-GMP platform.
The problem with the IONIQ 6 is its competition. Most EV sedans are considered premium or luxury models. You also have internal combustion engine and hybrid gasoline-electric models that are also in the same competitive set. The perception is that Hyundai’s electrc sedan is truly an outlier.
Perhaps so. Or, not. Depending on your perspective, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 will give you a good glimpse at future that is arriving quickly.
DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Hyundai Motor America
All photos by Randy Stern