2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Review: First Drive

Good news, actual car fans. Hyundai hasn’t forgotten about you in its march towards an electric future, as evidenced by this, the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

The fourth production model to use the shared E-GMP platform is the first that isn’t an SUV. It goes in a dramatically different direction from the much-loved Ioniq 5, with a focus on long range thanks to a slippery shape and lower weight.

Hyundai invited us to pretty British Columbia to spend the day driving the Ioniq 6 across all manner of roads—and, as it turned out, all manner of seasons, too. What we found was fascinating new member of the family that distinguishes itself, not just from its existing sibling, but also from the dominant Tesla Model 3.

While they might share a platform, the Ioniq 6 is definitely not just a sedanified Ioniq 5. Hyundai’s new four-door takes a much smoother design approach, with a super low-profile front-end complete with adaptive vents down in front. From head-on, it kinda looks like the straight-face emoji.

The simple headlight design features amber DRLs too; maybe Hyundai felt bad for Telluride fans, right? The Ioniq 6 does keep those divisive flush-fitting door handles, which are sure to frustrate in very cold climates. They also mess up the clean flanks when the car’s on, but as I learned while taking pics, they’ll go back in with a bit of pressure.

Is it pretty? I mean, that’s up to each person, but I think it’s distinctive and, much like the 5, unlike anything else on the road right now. The Ioniq 6 proves an aero-friendly design doesn’t need to be boring, either—cough, Merc, cough. It also looks better in person than pictures suggest, especially in red. The 6 is deceptively large, too: this sedan looks like a compact, but it’s less than two inches stubbier than a Sonata, with a four-inch longer wheelbase.

The Ioniq 6 interior is chock-full of clever, thoughtful design touches. You know that pixel pattern that’s all over the place outside the car? Well it’s all over the place inside the car too. You’ve got it right here on the steering wheel, which lights up and actually changes color when you shift from reverse to drive, just a nice thoughtful touch to keep you reminded.

The cabin isn’t just a carbon copy of the 5’s, either. It does have a pretty unique interior with a different steering wheel, a different centre console—actually it has a locked-in-place, dedicated centre console, no more sliding action like the Ioniq 5. I’m not entirely sure about these winged parts on the extremities of the dashboard—which house digital side mirrors in other markets—but beyond that, it’s cool, it’s funky, there’s a whole bunch of textures.

Pop quiz, what does the Ioniq 6 and a Jeep Wrangler have in common? No, I can’t actually take the roof off and all the doors, but all of the window switches are in the centre of the car, they’re not over on the door panels, which is a unique touch. In fact, almost nothing is on the door panels outside of my memory seat button and of course the door handles.

This is a really nice touch in the Ioniq 6 interior because having nothing on the door does make it more likely that I’m just going to rest my arm here, and guess what, it’s pretty comfortable, because it’s this nice gentle curve the whole way.

Underneath the skin the Ioniq 6 not really any different from the Ioniq 5. You’ve got the same 77.4-kWh battery pack, you’ve got the same single-motor rear-drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive setup. In that sense, no real surprises. However, this different body style with lower weight and a lower center of gravity, does make the Ioniq 6 both more engaging to drive, and more refined on the road.

So the Ioniq 5 can sometimes be just a little too firm, but this is really refined, really mature riding. It feels like a luxury car in that sense. But, there are some windy roads on this test route, and the Ioniq 6 holds its own. It’s a lot of fun. Again because low centre of gravity, instant-access power.

You’ve got 320 horsepower here in the top AWD model and that is more than enough. Zero to sixty is probably in the very low 5-second range, if not quicker. However, if you want the headline, super-long-range system, that means you’re going to have to go with the single-motor, 225-horsepower setup.

Officially, the Ioniq 6 is rated up to 361 miles in rear-drive form. For Canadians, that’s 581 kilometers. That’s of course with the 18-inch alloy wheels. Now if you move to the AWD setup but keep the 18s, you’re still looking at a little over 300 miles, or 509 km of range. Then you end up with the top trim which is this model right here with the 20-inch alloys, and that does knock off a fair amount of range. You’d end up looking at 435 km or 270 miles.

I really enjoy how the Ioniq 6 moves on the road, though. It’s very smooth, it’s composed, it’s calm, and it really makes you feel good while driving, because of this calmness. I’m not ever feeling like I need to rush, or panic.

The Ioniq 6 offers up five levels of regenerative braking, the most aggressive of which Hyundai calls i-Pedal. This one is capable of about a quarter g’s worth of braking, and a full one-pedal experience. It’s easy to get used to.

On the charging front, Hyundai says the Ioniq 6 is capable of a quick shot of 62 miles (100 km) in just five minutes, or about 18 minutes for the usual 10–80 charge. That’s if you can find a 350-kW charger, of course; the car itself will top out at about 235 kW. A 50-kW charger can do the full battery in about 75 minutes; a Level 2 can go from 10 to 100 percent SoC in a little over 7 hours.

Pricing for the Ioniq 6 is pretty aggressive. American buyers will see an SE Standard Range model with a smaller battery pack and just 149 horsepower, for $42,715. The range-champ rear-drive model with 225 hp begins from $46,615, while springing for AWD and 320 hp will cost US buyers just a hair over 50 grand, including destination. This top-end tester is the equivalent of the US Limited, which rings in at $57,215.

Canada has a simpler lineup: the Preferred is the equivalent of the SE Long Range in the US, and retails for $56,924. Next up is the AWD model for an additional three grand. At the top is the Ultimate Package (Limited in the US), at $65,924.

Strangely, that makes the 6 slightly more affordable than the 5 in the US, but pricier in Canada.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is another stand-out EV star from the Korean brand. It’s fresh, fun, and refined, and with the camel-like range that only a streamlined shape can provide. This is a reminder of what we’ve given up in our collective obsession with SUVs: with little more than a change in shape, Hyundai has unlocked huge range and better driving dynamics.

For those who want a genuine EV car—or even just a satisfying car, full stop—the Ioniq 6 is so very deserving of a place on every short list.