2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 was already a great electric sedan, and it’s getting even better for 2026. It features a sleek, refreshed design that maintains its unique shape while updating the wheels, light signature, and rear spoiler. A few of the things we love about the Hyundai Ioniq 6 are its near-class-leading efficiency (which gives it some of the lowest fuel costs of any new car), pleasant driving manners, long warranty coverage, and cutting-edge technology. The 2026 refresh also adds a sporty N-Line trim and a high-performance Ioniq 6 N to the lineup, which we’ll review separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric cars, including the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 just came out in 2023, and it’s already receiving an aesthetic refresh inside and out for 2026. It retains its distinct shape and gets a thinner, more horizontally oriented light signature, new wheel designs, and a sporty N-Line trim with unique front and rear fascias and more dark lower cladding. Inside, there’s a new 3-spoke steering wheel, more physical buttons and switches, and nicer materials on the door panels. Also, a hot new Ioniq 6 N sports sedan is on the way, which we’ll review separately.

On-Sale Date

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 will likely arrive in U.S. dealerships in late 2025 or early 2026.

We expect the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 to start at about $40,000 for the base SE model with the Standard Range battery. A loaded Limited model should kick off at around $53,000.

Before buying an Ioniq 6, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Hyundai Ioniq 6 resale value is average for an EV. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is powered by a 225-horsepower electric motor motivating the rear wheels. There’s also a 149-hp single-motor variant and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain with 320 hp.

We found the Hyundai Ioniq 6 a delight to drive with any powertrain. Most single-motor rear-wheel-drive variants hit 60 mph from a standstill in seven seconds, and the dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup gets there about two seconds quicker. Like many EVs, the experience of moving away from a stop so quickly is heightened by the smooth and quiet manner in which it happens.

Another common virtue of EVs like this one is a hushed cabin on the highway, which is a relaxed experience with Highway Driving Assist. Quietness has become something of a trademark of Hyundai EVs, and the Ioniq 6 is no exception. One of our gripes is that the weight of the heavy battery pack can give the Ioniq 6 a choppy ride on uneven pavement, especially with the available 20-inch wheels.

By virtue of being a sedan rather than an SUV, there’s an expectation for the Ioniq 6 to be more responsive and engaging than the Ioniq 5, but we’ve found them about equally enjoyable. Both offer a smooth one-pedal driving feature, which becomes a game of how little you can use the brake pedal to maximize efficiency. Then, it’s simply a better way of operating a vehicle.

Range and Charging

Using the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 as a measuring stick, we expect the 2026 Ioniq 6 to get a max range of about 342 miles with the bigger battery, rear-wheel drive, and 18-inch wheels. Its max range with all-wheel drive should be around 316 miles, and its Standard Range battery should manage about 240 miles. As is the case with all EVs, opting for all-wheel drive or bigger wheels hurts range and efficiency.

The Ioniq 6 boasts impressive charging speeds, with a peak rate of 350 kW (that’s high). With DC fast charging, it can replenish its battery from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes. With Level 2 charging at home, it reliably gets a full charge overnight.

Hyundai says the interior of the Ioniq 6 maintains a “Mindful Cocoon” concept. Whatever that means, we like this interior, which gets even better for 2026 with a new 3-spoke steering wheel and more premium materials on the door panels. The controls have a good balance of hard buttons and switches for things like seat climate controls and the parking camera, while infotainment duties are handled by a crisp screen with an intuitive interface.

Rear legroom is adequate at 34.7 inches. The sloping roofline will constrict rear headroom for taller types, but it’s less of an issue for the average adult. Trunk space measures 11.2 cubic feet, enough for a couple of golf bags, but pretty small for a sedan this size. For comparison, the Tesla Model 3 has about the same rear legroom, an extra inch of rear headroom, and 21 cubic feet of luggage area.

Depending on your taste, the exterior design of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 could be the reason you want it or the reason you won’t consider it. Love it or hate it, we always welcome something that looks different from anything else on the road. The dome-shaped Ioniq 6 certainly makes a statement, and it’s tweaked for 2026 with a more horizontal light signature, a reworked rear spoiler, new wheel designs, and a sporty-looking new N-Line trim.

Frugal efficiency
Yes, every electric vehicle is efficient compared to a similar gas-powered vehicle. However, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is stunningly efficient, even by EV standards. Its efficient motors and aerodynamic design get the most out of the electrons in the battery, which translates to cheap fuel costs.

Fast charging
Many EVs have DC fast charging, but the Ioniq 6 has an almost unbeatable max charging speed of 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes in ideal conditions. With Level 2 charging at home, it can reliably charge to 100% overnight.

Dual panoramic displays
The Hyundai Ioniq 6’s cabin features a large, rectangular display housing a digital gauge cluster and a central infotainment screen, which lends a high-tech look and feel. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.

Highway Driving Assist
Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist system isn’t hands-free, but it’s one of the most natural-feeling driving assist systems of its kind. It safely keeps you centered in your lane at a safe distance from the car in front of you while you keep a light hand on the wheel.

One-pedal driving
This is a common function with electric vehicles, where the brake regeneration is at its highest, allowing the driver to slow down and come to a complete stop just by lifting off the accelerator. This system is smooth and natural in the Ioniq 6. It’s an effective way to drive an electric car, and it soon becomes second nature.

Over-the-air updates
The Ioniq 6 can be improved after purchase with these remote software updates; no fussing around with flash drives or dealer appointments.

Most Hyundai Ioniq 6 models are equipped with a 77.4 kWh battery pack, but the base Standard Range rear-wheel-drive model uses a smaller 53 kWh battery. The longer-range battery is available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and the latter models get slightly worse efficiency and range than their front-wheel-drive counterparts.

Range isn’t everything when it comes to EVs; efficiency is what determines your fuel costs, i.e., how much your car adds to your electric bill. In this category, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is among the best EVs. If its efficiency ratings for the 2026 model are the same as the 2025 model, it will return as much as 135 combined MPGe with rear-wheel drive and 121 combined MPGe with all-wheel drive. According to EPA estimates, its monthly fuel costs can go as low as about $46.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

The Ioniq 6 enjoys class-leading warranties. Hyundai’s excellent coverage includes a 5-year/60,000-mile (whichever happens first) basic warranty, 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and battery warranties, five years of roadside assistance (with no mile limit), and a 3-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance plan.

Safety Ratings

The Ioniq 6 has earned the highest accolade of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-Star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, plus blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assistance.