Hyundai Ioniq 6 review: streamlined EV saloon

Hyundai really hit a sweet spot with the Ioniq 5, the jumbo-sized crossover EV that got regularly billed as an SUV. It certainly matched current market trends, whereas the Hyundai Ioniq6 is another kettle of fish. This is a straight-up saloon, or in Hyundai’s words, an ‘electrified streamliner’.

Whatever you want to call it, the car is a neat twist on the Ioniq 5, built on the very same E-GMP platform. The styling is really very different to that car though, with a much smoother and very aerodynamic feel in the design lines. In fact, viewed from most angles it’s pretty hard to see any connection at all with the Ioniq 5 in the looks department.

Aside from its unique design, the Ioniq 6 boasts up to 381 miles of range, lots of comfort and some cool tech too.

The styling

While SUVs are very much the vehicle of choice for today’s car buying majority, not everybody needs or wants one. The Ioniq 6 is much a more conventional saloon. Being built on the E-GMP platform, it has a considerable 2,950mm wheelbase and is 4,855mm long, 1,880 mm wide and 1,495 high, closely mirroring the Ioniq 5 in terms of overall size.

That’s where the similarity ends though. The Ioniq 5’s angular edginess looks far removed from the sleek styling of the Ioniq 6, which features a drag coefficient of just 0.21. That’s done wonders for its range capabilities, but the super smooth lines also make the car look pretty cool too. Best view has to come from the rear, thanks to the LED taillight array and integral spoiler. At quick glance, some say you could be looking at a Porsche 911.

The front end is less impactful, but a recessed Hyundai logo, active air flap and purposeful headlights work to good effect. Down the sides, the low-slung design has some neat little touches that designers have used to improve the car’s aerodynamic efficiency. These include wheel gap reducers and digital door mirrors, the latter being surprisingly angular given the sleek feel of the rest of the car. They’re connected to screens at each end of the dash, delivering a crisp and clear view of the road.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 delivers the goods inside the cabin, especially on the comfort front. While the seats do feel quite hard, they’re forgiving enough to make the car work on longer runs. There’s also the option of Relaxation Comfort Seats, which offer an extra touch of versatility for anyone wanting to really stretch out. One of the other ‘best bits’ is the ambient lighting, which actually changes the cockpit colour depending on how fast you’re going.

Aside from that, you’ll see many similarities with the Ioniq 5’s cabin, with the 12in digital cluster in front of the steering wheel displaying the same drive layout. There’s a 12in infotainment system too, which works well and doesn’t induce any tutting on a run compared to some rival models out there. Overall, the interior of the Ioniq 6 is a success and there are some interesting interior colour options, including a slightly retro pale brown. It looks better than it sounds.

The drive

Although the design and styling is markedly different to the Ioniq 5, there is much that will seem like familiar territory when you’re behind the wheel of the Ioniq 6. Naturally, much of the general setup is the same, and the view from the driver’s seat is similar too. The seats are comfy and very accommodating, and the view all round is pretty good – although the rear window outlook is a little compromised.

One of the first things to strike you as the car moves off is those digital door mirrors. The view into the passenger side screen is faultless, but the screen closest to the steering wheel takes some getting used to. The Ioniq 6 will also be sold with traditional mirrors, for those that prefer the old school approach and don’t mind sacrificing some aerodynamicism (or simply want to save some cash).

Unsurprisingly the drive is very much akin to that provided by the Ioniq 5. The car sits nicely on the road, feeling reassuringly planted, (helped by the sizeable 18 or 20in wheel options, depending on your choice of model). We drove an all-wheel drive car, with the 77.4kWh battery pack mated to twin electric motors. There’s a very sizeable slice of torque available, especially if you switch to Sport mode. Hyundai says the car will get from 0 – 60mph in 5.1 seconds and that seems plausible based on our experience.

Best of all though is that range, which is said to deliver up to 381 miles. You also get the benefit of Hyundai’s advanced charging technology, which can get the car from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. That said, you’ll need to find a 350 kW charger to do it.

The technology

Hyundai has furnished the interior of the Ioniq 6 with all of the expected accoutrements, so you get four type-C and one type-A USB ports along with the cracking 12in infotainment screen. You’ll want to spend some quality time getting to know this area of the car the most, not least because it’s where you can fine-tune the interior lighting. There’s much fun to be had from changing the cockpit lighting vibes, but it’s also good to use for creating a calming effect for longer drives after dark.

If you’ve got a car with the Relaxation Comfort Seats then it’s also possible to tweak these to deliver plenty of additional comfort on a run.

Driver aids come in the shape of Hyundai SmartSense and Advanced Driver Assistance, plus Highway Driving Assist 2 that features automatic lane changing. There’s also the EV Performance Tune-Up system, which effectively allows you to create a personalised user experience so the car is set up to suit the way you drive.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 verdict

There’s a lot to like about the Hyundai Ioniq 6, but it’s going to be especially appealing if you don’t feel the need to own a high and mighty SUV. The sleek saloon styling works really well from most angles, and especially so from the back. Drive an Ioniq 6 for any amount of time and it should garner some attention.

Equally, this is a car that works so well because it’s based on the same platform as the Ioniq 5. That means you get a rewarding drive, lots of range and oodles of space inside.

While the car buying trend, especially here in the UK, still seems to be primarily for SUVs, Hyundai’s newfound focus might seem a little risky. However, the car is likely to prove hugely popular in the firm’s domestic market, where saloons appear to be just as popular as SUVs. If Hyundai can convince buyers elsewhere to think carefully about what they really need from their next car, the Ioniq 6 could strike a real chord. And, if you’ve already been tempted by the Ioniq 5, this new EV should definitely be on your list of models to investigate.