2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is an electric sedan based on the same winning architecture as the Ioniq 5 SUV. The Ioniq 5 won Best New Model and Best Electric Vehicle in our 2023 Best Buy Awards, and the Ioniq 6 follows its lead in all the right ways. This EV has a unique, aerodynamic design that’s both stylish and functional, helping it achieve an impressive maximum range of 361 miles. The Ioniq 6 also boasts the latest tech features in its futuristic cabin, and it has the best warranty in its class. Its answer to the range anxiety question is an exceptionally quick charging time of 10% to 80% in only 18 minutes at a public DC fast charger.

Since most EVs in this price range are SUVs, the only direct competitor to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the Tesla Model 3, but the Limited trim is priced similarly to the Polestar 2.

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

A few standard features have been dropped from the SE Standard Range RWD model this year. A few include automatic swing-out door handles, heated front seats, steering wheel interactive pixel lights, and a 120V charging cable. Also, it now has a urethane steering wheel rather than leather.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is priced similarly to the Tesla Model 3. It’s a more budget-friendly alternative to electric luxury sedans like the BMW i4, Mercedes-EQ EQE Sedan, and Polestar 2.

Before buying an Ioniq 6, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Ioniq 6 resale values should be similar to those of the Ioniq 5, which are typical among electric vehicles in this price range.

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

We found the Hyundai Ioniq 6 a delight to drive with any powertrain. Most single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variants hit 60 mph from a standstill in seven seconds, and the dual-motor AWD 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. The weight of the heavy battery pack can give the Ioniq 6 a choppy ride on uneven pavement. 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 one-pedal driving, which feels like a novelty at first. Then, it becomes a game of how little you can use the brake pedal. Then, it’s simply a better way of operating a vehicle.

We love the modern and high-tech interior of the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Features like dual panoramic displays, Speed Sync ambient lighting, and interactive pixel lights on the steering wheel made us feel like we were driving a car from the future. The design is futuristic without being too weird, and the controls are still ergonomic and user-friendly.

What’s up with those “winglets” on either side of the dash, you may ask? In some markets, the Ioniq 6 has small exterior cameras instead of rearview mirrors to improve aerodynamics, and the image is displayed on monitors located in those winglets. Here in the land of the free and the home of the mandatory mirrors, they’re just a unique design element.

The window switches are located in the center console, and we like the resulting sleek door panels and long, user-friendly door pulls. The low profile and a roof that slopes quickly down to the rear bumper impact backseat accommodations and cargo volume relative to the Ioniq 5 SUV or even a traditionally shaped sedan, of course. But for drivers who don’t regularly host multiple adults or ferry big/bulky cargo loads, the Ioniq 6 can be plenty roomy.

Rear-seat passengers get 34.7 inches of legroom, and the trunk has 11.2 cubic feet of volume. Compared to the 2024 Tesla Model 3, that’s similar rear legroom (35.2 inches) and much less trunk space (15.0 cubic feet).

As its shape would suggest, the Ioniq 6 is among the most aerodynamic vehicles on the road. A drag co-efficient of 0.22 puts it in the same league as wind-cheating standouts like the Mercedes-EQ EQS, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S. This is achieved not just by what Hyundai calls a “Streamliner” design but also by underbody paneling, active air flaps at the front, and aerodynamically designed wheels. As well as optimizing energy use, an aerodynamic body helps keep wind noise to a minimum. And the more time we spend with it, the cooler it looks.

Reverse charging
With vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, the Ioniq 6 can be used to power a blender while camping or a fridge full of perishables in a power outage. It’s exclusive to the Limited trim.

Use your phone as your key
Hyundai’s handy phone-as-key capability finally works with the iPhone and Apple Watch. With Digital Key 2, you can unlock and start the Ioniq 6 with only your phone present, you can share that capability with three other users, and you can even “send” someone a temporary key.

Semi-autonomous driving
Take your feet off the pedals, keep a hand on the wheel, and the Ioniq 6 can pretty much drive itself down the highway. There are plenty of limitations, of course, but we’ve logged many hundreds of miles in this manner, and Hyundai’s system is among the best.

Hands-free smart trunk
With your hands full and the key in your pocket, just stand at the trunk for three seconds, and it’ll open automatically. No need for a balancing act waving your foot under the bumper.

Driverless parking
Useful for some but merely a fun party trick for most, you can pull the Ioniq 6 into an extremely tight parking space, for instance, while standing outside the vehicle and controlling it via the key fob.

Continuous improvement
The Ioniq 6 is the first Hyundai to offer over-the-air software updates. Like a smartphone, it’s capable of getting better with seamless and ongoing fixes and improvements.

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 boasts good range figures and outstanding charging times. While the lineup includes a version good for 361 miles and another rated for 240 miles, most units are rated for 305 miles or, when outfitted with two motors, more power, and AWD, 270 miles. The range gets a little worse when you opt for the SEL and Limited trims with 20-inch wheels.

These are solid figures, but where the Ioniq 6 separates itself from so many others in its price range is with fast charging speeds. With its cutting-edge 800-volt architecture, the Ioniq 6 can charge from 10% to 80% capacity — adding up to 200 miles of range — as quickly as 18 minutes at a public DC fast charger. That’s exceptional. With Level 2 charging at home, the Ioniq 6 can absorb a full charge in just over seven hours.

Efficient electric powertrains yield delightfully low fuel costs for the Ioniq 6. Even the least efficient version of this Hyundai has an estimated monthly fuel cost of only about $58.

The SE Standard Range model uses a 53 kWh battery, and every other trim uses a 77.4 kWh battery. The Long Range RWD powertrain gets 140 MPGe combined in the SE trim and 117 MPGe in the SEL and Limited trims. For the dual-motor AWD setup, this EV gets 121 MPGe in the SE trim and 103 MPGe in the SEL and Limited trims. The upper trims are less efficient because of their 20-inch wheels. The SE Standard Range RWD model gets 135 MPGe combined.

The higher the MPGe rating, the lower the fuel costs. Energy prices vary depending on where you live, but according to EPA estimates, the monthly fuel cost of the Ioniq 6 ranges from about $41-$58, depending on the configuration. More Ioniq 6 range and efficiency information is available at the EPA’s website.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Hyundai offers some of the best warranties in the industry. A 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty covers the Ioniq 6, and there is 10-year/100,000-mile protection for the powertrain and battery. It also comes with three years or 36,000 miles of no-charge scheduled maintenance and five years of roadside assistance with no mileage limit.

Safety

The Ioniq 6 earns the coveted Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It hasn’t been crash-tested yet by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It’s well-equipped with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more.