When you think of an electric sedan, the Tesla Model 3 immediately comes to mind. But the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a great alternative to the Tesla. It’s available as a single motor or dual motor with up to 581 km (361 miles) of range and fast charging capabilities of up to 18 minutes from 10% to 80%.
Motor/Transmission
The single-motor version of the Ioniq 6 produces 225 hp & 258 lb-ft of torque. It gets its power from a 77.4 kWh battery pack that is in the floor. With the 18” wheels equipped, it can drive for up to 581 km (361 miles) but if you option the 20” wheels, the range drops to 491 km (305 miles). The dual-motor AWD version of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 produces 320 hp & 446 lb-ft of torque. It too is powered by the same 77.4 kWh battery pack and its driving range with the 18” wheels is 509 km (316 miles) & 435 km (270 miles) with the 20” wheels. The transmission for both variants is a single-speed reduction gear.
Recharging the battery can be completed from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes from a 350 kW charger. From a more common 50 kW charger, that time is 73 minutes according to Hyundai. From a level 2 charger, recharging the car from 10% to 100% can be done in as little as 7 hours & 10 minutes.
Handling/Performance
The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a quick EV with a 0-100km/h time of 7.4 seconds for the RWD version and 5.1 seconds for the AWD version. Like the Ioniq 5 that I previously reviewed, this Ioniq 6 also feels a lot faster from behind the steering wheel. In Sport mode, the instant torque from the motor pushes you to the back of the seat. It’s an exhilarating experience.
The I-pedal (one pedal mode) took some getting used to. At times, I found myself having to apply the brake pedal as the i-pedal wouldn’t provide enough regenerative braking to bring the car to a stop in the distance to the vehicle in front of me. But the slow down was always smooth. There are also different levels of regen braking when the i-pedal is switched off. These can be controlled through the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Comfort
The Ioniq 6 is a spacious EV. There is seating for 5 but 4 adults can comfortably sit in the 4 min seats. There is plenty of legroom in both the front and the rear seats. The driver receives an 8-way power adjustable seat while the passenger gets a manually adjustable seat unless you opt for the Ultimate package in which case, the passenger also receives the same power adjustable seat. The trunk is power operated and it is decently big enough for your weekly groceries. There’s also a small storage bin under the hood for something like the charging cable.
Interior
The interior of the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is much more interesting to look at than any Tesla Model 3. It has dual 12.3” screens and some physical controls along with some capacitive touch controls for the climate. There’s also an interesting looking gear selector that juts out from the side of the steering wheel column and it does remind me a bit of a girl’s “pleasure device”. The Ioniq 6 can be equipped with a lot of convenience features such as heated seats in the front and back, ventilated front seats, surround view cameras, wireless phone charging pad, Bose audio system, and Apple CarPlay & Android Auto but those are wired.
One thing that bugged me a bit was the placement of the window switch controls. They are on the center console and not on the doors. After years of driving vehicles and going through drive-thrus, I became used to hitting the window down switch on the door panel. But in the Ioniq 6, I kept having to remind myself that the switches are no longer on the door.
Exterior
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has a style unlike any other car, never mind an EV. Hyundai designed this Ioniq 6 to look like this for maximum efficiency while driving. Like the Ioniq 5, I really like the door handles that pop out as you approach the car. I also love the rear spoiler which has lights in it that light up whenever you press on the brake pedal. It reminds me a bit of a spoiler from an old Porsche 911.
Pros/Cons
Like many other electric vehicles, the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 has a starting price that is quite a bit higher than a similarly equipped gasoline car. It starts at $54,999 CAD ($42,450 USD) for the single motor and $58,299 CAD ($45,950 USD) for the dual motor. The great thing is, the single motor version is eligible for government rebates of up to $9,000 CAD for residents of BC, Canada. It may be different in your area.
The Ioniq 6 is a smooth driving EV with plenty of range if you go for the single motor with 18” wheels. It’s spacious, it has a lot of features, and it can charge pretty quickly. But the charge speed is limited by the charger infrastructure and usually you have to wait a while at charging stations while other users finish charging their vehicles. However, with a home charger, it can fully recharge overnight. It’s also not a car that looks as appealing to everyone with its unique design and I think the i-pedal could use a bit more tuning. But otherwise, the Ioniq 6 is an overall good EV and a great alternative to the Tesla Model 3.
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Gallery
