3 Reasons to Buy a Hyundai Ioniq 6, and 3 Reason Not To
The Ioniq 6 is Hyundai’s first all-electric sedan, and it’s a good one. Having driven it on several occasions, we’ve always come away impressed. There are plenty of good reasons to buy the all-electric sedan. But like any car, it’s not perfect and there are a few points that might keep buyers away.
To help potential shoppers, we’ve summarized three pros and cons of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 below. None of these are necessarily the only reasons to buy or not to buy the Ioniq 6, but they should help with the purchasing decision.
Reason to Buy – Styling:
The Ioniq 6 looks like nothing else on the road, and we’re big fans. The fastback styling resembles that of a European hatchback more than a sedan. There are some Saab 900 and Ford Sierra elements to the design.
We quite like the double-spoiler rear-end and the retro-futuristic elements. The rows of squares in the lighting and other trim pieces look straight out of a 1980s video game. It’s not over the top but looks unique and is attention grabbing.
Reason Not to Buy – Styling:
As much as we are fans of it, not everyone will like the fastback styling or retro-inspired lighting. Those that appreciate clean, simple designs might find the Ioniq 6’s exterior a bit too busy.
This Hyundai also features a long wheelbase that makes the car’s proportions look awkward at some angles. As well, despite being a car, it’s a large car with a roofline nearly as high as some crossovers.
Reason to Buy – Interior:
Inside the Ioniq 6 features a well laid out, stylish interior. There are a lot of interesting design elements, such as the grooves on the doors. This adds a bit of flair and presence to the lower-grade hard plastic materials.
All the controls inside and well laid out and easy to operate. The front seats are comfortable and can both be had with power, heat, and ventilation. Also optional are customizable ambient lighting, a surround view monitor, and Bose sound system.
Reason Not to Buy – Headroom:
As comfortable and stylish as the interior is, there is one area we would change if we could. That’s front seat headroom. Even with the power seat set to the lowest setting, drivers over six-feet tall may have issues.
Although Hyundai lists front row headroom at a decent 40.2-inches, our six-foot tester is just a hair away from rubbing his head off the roof liner while driving. Any prospective shoppers should try out the front seat for themselves to ensure there’s adequate space.
Reason to Buy – Chassis:
Hyundai’s engineers have done a fabulous job with the Ioniq 6’s chassis. It provides great ride comfort as well as straight line composer on the freeway. To top it off, there isn’t pronounce body roll or chassis flex when cornering.
Compared to the Ioniq’s closest rival, the Tesla Model 3, the Hyundai does a better job absorbing impacts and isolating occupants from noises and vibrations. It’s the less busy car to drive, delivering a more pleasant experience behind the wheel.
Reason Not to Buy – Pricing:
While on the topic of the Model 3 though, we must discuss the Ioniq 6’s price. The Hyundai is a better car to drive than the Tesla and easily has a nicer interior, but it comes at a cost of power, range, and price.
An entry level rear-wheel drive Model 3 costs about $1,400 less than an Ioniq 6 SE Standard range. What’s more, the Tesla also offers more range and much greater power. There is a long-range rear-wheel drive Ioniq 6 SE which trumps the Model 3’s range by quite a bit, but still comes up short in terms of power and is an additional $4,000.
When it comes to all-wheel drive versions, the Model 3 Long-Range AWD once again has a substantial power advantage as well as greater range than the Ioniq 6 SEL. The Model 3 also keeps a very slight price advantage here.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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when you are spending this much money, can you really put a price on comfort driving ergonomics?
thats like saying I'll take a chevy equinox vs a Cadilac XT$
I’m puzzled by your headroom comment. I am 6’ 2” and have a upper body of a person 3 inches taller. I am comfortable wearing a hat when driving !
As to the invidious comparison to the Tesla’s range my Ionic 6 SEL consistently shows range we’ll in excess of the stated 305 when fully charged