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The automotive business could also be going by way of an electrical automotive revolution, however on the similar time, precise vehicles appear left behind. The shift to EVs has been heavy on electrical crossovers just like the Tesla Model Y, and pickups like Ford’s F-150 Lightning, whereas the normal sedan and hatchback form has been left by the wayside. Pickup vehicles, crossovers, and SUVs are shortly turning into the de facto alternative amongst most shoppers, no matter whether or not these automobiles are electrical or gas-powered. But fortunately, Hyundai has embraced the sedan and delivered an fascinating aero steampunk electrical four-door that doesn’t resemble the rest on the highway.
Hyundai’s newest and best EV, the Ioniq 6, is ultra-aerodynamic and chic, eschewing the practicality related to a hatchback or crossover form (and the simple cargo storage that comes with that configuration), however for good motive. The automobile’s focused clientele consists of the younger professionals and millennials who aren’t essentially targeted on outright practicality. Instead, these prospects need design, type, driving engagement, and vary; they’d slightly commerce off practicality to get these issues.
And thus, the Ioniq 6 is a really different-looking automobile from its sister mannequin, the Ioniq 5, regardless of sharing a platform. While the Ioniq 5 is a sensible crossover-shaped retro homage to Hyundai’s first automotive, the Pony, the Ioniq 6 takes a unique route. The Ioniq 6 looks like a pastiche of Nineteen Thirties-era aerodynamic streamlined vehicles just like the Chrysler Airflow or the Stout Scarab, however combined in with an obscure callback to Nineteen Nineties-era efforts from Hyundai itself. Add in a touch of sq. video-game-like pixel particulars within the taillights, and that’s the Ioniq 6.
Regardless of the way you may really feel concerning the execution, the Ioniq 6 is a visually placing automotive. From the aspect view, the very brief nostril shortly sweeps into the principle arch that includes a lot of the Ioniq 6’s cabin. Then, that arch gently flows into the rear trunk space, terminating in a rear overhang and decklid that visually seems to make the rear of the automotive look longer than the entrance.
The Ioniq 6 is natural in its kind—an odd, funky-looking design that someway works. The result’s a automotive that seems delicate, petite, and low-slung, with only a contact of retro; in the event you squint, the entrance fascia and general form really feel like a surprisingly modernized, ultra-sleek model of the 1996 Hyundai Elantra.
The Ioniq 6 is completely different from its siblings
It is straightforward to assume that with the shift to electrified transit, each EV will look, really feel, and drive the identical. After all, the Ioniq 6, Kia EV6, Genesis GV60, and Ioniq 5 all share a know-how platform: Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform, or E-GMP for short, kinds the idea of most new Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia EVs, together with the forthcoming EV9 seven-passenger crossover. That’s a really numerous vary of merchandise, they usually all share widespread motor, battery, and platform designs. So, does that imply they’ll be the identical automotive?
In a phrase, no. Hyundai’s engineering workforce went to work differentiating the Ioniq 6 from its platform kin. The Ioniq 6 goals for a extra participating driver-centric expertise, with out compromising a composed and clean trip. The engineers discovered from the Ioniq 5, they usually’ve tweaked and altered issues concerning the Ioniq 6, simply to make it that a lot completely different from the Ioniq 5, and in flip, different E-GMP platform automobiles. Hyundai likens this to chess items, the place every mannequin has a unique position, however they’re all a part of the identical cohesive lineup.
[Related: Hyundai’s new Ioniq 6 is a long-range EV with Art Deco vibes]
Inside, a lot of the Ioniq 6’s inside instrument panel and dashboard components are shared with the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. This means a twin-screen setup controls a lot of the interactions, for the radio and different common controls. A line of bodily buttons for HVAC controls and quantity sit beneath it. Most of the person interface screens and infotainment setups are the identical as different EV Hyundai and Kia merchandise, which implies that they’re good. Those programs are simple to make use of and nicely organized. If utilizing their programs is just too arduous, the Ioniq 6 comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
But, that’s the place the similarities between the Ioniq 6 and different Hyundai and Kia merchandise ends. The heart console sits near the motive force and passenger, coming as much as meet the dashboard. The door panels are easy and switchless. The switches for the home windows and locks have been moved to the middle console. It’s extra claustrophobic than the Ioniq 5, however right here, it feels distinctly sporty.
How the Hyundai Ioniq 6 drives
The Ioniq 6 doesn’t drive like its E-GMP siblings, both. Piloting the Ioniq 6 across the curvy roads of Scottsdale, Arizona was a delight. The automotive silently and precisely slinks round curves, with the precision of sci-fi cyberpunk killer snake murderer. Whereas the Ioniq 5 feels comfortable virtually to the purpose of wallowy, the Ioniq 6 is dialed in. The less-upright seats and decrease heart of gravity make the Ioniq 6 really feel extra participating on curvy roads, in contrast to the Ioniq 5.
The Ioniq 6 doesn’t weigh that a lot lower than the Ioniq 5, and but, the Ioniq 6’s character is lighter and extra jovial, in comparison with the intense and utilitarian Ioniq 5. The steering is extra participating than the Ioniq 5, though it’s not fairly as sharp because the Tesla Model 3. Driving the Ioniq 6 in opposition to its platform-mates gives the look that Hyundai’s engineers took the command to make the Ioniq 6 a sharp-handling sedan very critically.
The motivating energy for the Ioniq 6 is available in certainly one of two kinds. In rear-wheel-drive fashions, a single rear-mounted motor fed by both a 53 kWh battery (for normal vary) or 77.4 kWh battery (for lengthy vary) turns the rear wheels. It’s good for a wholesome 225 horsepower (149 horsepower in the usual vary), and 258 ft/lbs of torque. The higher-equipped, dual-motor, AWD trims can produce 340 horsepower and 448 ft/lbs of torque. That will shunt the automotive from 0-60 in below 4 seconds. Both trims are greater than sufficient on the road, permitting for brisk efficiency irrespective of which motor and battery mixture.
The Ioniq 6’s standard-range 53 kWh battery pack is smaller than the Ioniq 5 normal vary’s 58 kWh battery. Yet, the Ioniq 6 can go additional on a smaller battery pack. Even within the smallest mannequin, Hyundai claims a variety of 240 miles. The Nissan Leaf can’t go so far as the Ioniq 6, and the Bolt can crest 258 miles (or 247 miles in EUV kind). The range-leading SE trim in single motor, rear-wheel kind can obtain 361 miles on a single cost, which could be very spectacular for a comparatively small 77.4 kWh battery. This is a part of how optimized the Ioniq 6 is in comparison with its EV kin on the identical platform. Its wind-cheating form permits Hyundai to do extra with much less.
The Ioniq 6 is regular, but additionally not regular
The Ioniq 6 is unusual to have a look at, however good to drive. True, it isn’t with out its shortcomings; there isn’t a wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The entrance trunk may possible solely comfortably match one roll of low cost paper towels, and the aerodynamic form implies that headroom for rear passengers is compromised, particularly when outfitted with the elective sunroof.
But, for a lot of, these gripes will probably be pretty minor inconveniences and never outright deal breakers. The Ioniq 6’s direct competitors, the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2, look and feel as in the event that they’ve pushed out of the long run. However, these vehicles can have irritating person interfaces and Teslas have associated quality-of-build concerns. And each these vehicles are online-oriented shopping for experiences.
By comparability, the Ioniq 6 ought to be capable to be bought at any Hyundai vendor. Plus, the infotainment dials really feel identical to another Hyundai or Kia product. It has bodily buttons that don’t require pawing by way of sophisticated computerized screens to function. It’s a quite simple, uncomplicated automotive at its core. That’s an enormous asset for these keen on going electrical, however turned off by the convoluted techno-wizardry that’s inherent to new EV fashions.
Even the pricing of the Ioniq 6 is attractively regular. The base Ioniq 6 normal vary will begin at $42,715, together with the vacation spot payment. That’s about $2,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model 3, though it may possibly’t go fairly as far—it’ll journey a mere 240 miles in comparison with the 272 of the Model 3. But for $46,615, (about $2,000 greater than the bottom Model 3 long-range RWD), the Ioniq 6 can go practically 100 miles additional. That’s a extremely enticing deal.
That’s sort of the ethos of the Ioniq 6; it’s unconventional to have a look at, however every thing else is satisfyingly standard and has a powerful worth. For drivers who need an attention grabbing EV that may go the space, the Ioniq 6 is price a glance.
