We had the opportunity to try the Hyundai Ioniq 6. The new Korean sedan that promises excellent range with ultra-fast charging. This electric car could well overshadow the Tesla Model 3 thanks to its capabilities in long trips. Here is our complete and detailed review of this new queen of efficiency.
Our full review
Hyundai hit hard at the launch of its Ioniq 6. This new electric car has a lot of advantages for it on paper. In the first place, it is a sedan, and not yet another SUV. But above all, reading its technical sheet, what strikes the most is its efficiency. That is, its consumption. In theory, it does better than Tesla, yet champion in the field. Better,, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 announces a much shorter charging time than its American competitor.
We had the opportunity to drive about 250 km in the south-east of the France, between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. On the program: the city, departmental, national and of course the highway. Not to mention a short stop at an Ionity charging station to try the ultra-fast charging, which did not disappoint!
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DESIGN: FINALLY A NEW ELECTRIC SEDAN
Among electric cars, long sedans are rare. We are rather used to large SUVs or compact sedans. But the D-segment, in which the Tesla Model 3 is located, is not full of many options. We are therefore delighted with the choice made by Hyundai with its Ioniq 6. And designers didn’t just just design a sedan. No, they went much further.
The design does not leave indifferent, far from it. Hyundai was inspired by the streamlined artistic movement of the 30s. And it must be said that the result is very good. The sedan has the luxury of having a very sporty side, but also quite sober and chic. Take the front: this one is rather classic for a sedan, with some elements a little more aggressive. We think in particular of the hood, with the Pixel LED headlights, or the bumper with a rather unprecedented signature.
At the back, we totally change the atmosphere. Do you feel like you’re seeing a Porsche at first glance? So are we! It is clearly double-edged, especially with the black diffuser that will contrast with the light colors. The huge LED strip adds modernity to the whole and the rear spoiler automatically ranks the Hyundai Ioniq 6 in the category of sports cars. At least, on paper.
But the job of engineers and designers was not to make a sports car. Far from it. The goal was to make it one of the most efficient cars on the market. The Ioniq 6 claims a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.20 with camera mirrors (which we did not have), or 0.21 with conventional mirrors. For comparison, the Tesla Model 3 announces 0.23 and the excellent Mercedes EQS is at 0.20.
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As a reminder, the lower this figure, the more aerodynamic the car. In other words, the higher this figure, the more energy the car consumes at high speeds. At least, that’s in theory and without taking into account the car’s total frontal area (sCx) on which manufacturers rarely communicate.
HABITABILITY: AN XXL SEDAN (OR ALMOST)
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 being in sedan format, one could expect a decent roominess. But the XXL wheelbase of the platform (2.95 m) provides a real feeling of space. In practice, there is room, a lot of room even. Whether at the front, where you do not feel at all narrow, but also at the back.
The space between the rear seat seats and the front seats is very generous. Even with big legs, you feel totally comfortable. However, with two small nuances to bring. From the top of my 1m84, my head brushed the roof because of the slightly cut side of the body. In addition, the front seats are almost glued to the floor, preventing the feet from being passed underneath. Too bad for the large sizes which will therefore be better installed at the front than at the rear.
There is some storage, including a floating center console, which allows you to store bulky objects underneath, but not much in the empty pockets. There is still room for a wireless charging slot for a smartphone and enough to store two small bottles of water in the middle.
And fortunately, because it is impossible to fit a bottle of water in the classic format or a gourd in the doors as space is limited. We are not in a sports sedan, and the position is more sitting than lying down.
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This habitability part could have ended well, if we did not have to mention the case of the trunk. Or rather, the small trunk. With 401 liters, it is one of the smallest in its segment. For comparison, its little sister, the Ioniq 5, claims 527 liters against 490 liters for the cousin Kia EV6 and 542 liters for the competitor, the Tesla Model 3.
INFOTAINMENT: CAN (LARGELY) DO BETTER
Are you a geek? Well, we’ll have to go back to infotainment. The base is there, with GPS, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, but the entertainment system is quite poorly thought out. There are (too) many menus with sub-menus, accessible from different places. It is difficult to understand the logic, even after several hours behind the wheel of the car.
We will then be in a hurry to make the settings once and for all, and no longer have to touch the entertainment system, and use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay on a daily basis.
In detail, there are two different screens: the instrument cluster and the touch infotainment screen. Both feature a 12-inch diagonal with excellent visibility.
Fortunately, Hyundai does not limit itself to these two screens to drive the infotainment system. Below the central screen are manual controls. What to adjust the volume, but also and especially the air conditioning, without going through the screen. However, these are touch controls, so difficult to manipulate without looking.
Physical buttons provide direct access to navigation and GPS, while two others can help you park: the first displays the cameras in 360 degrees while the second activates automatic maneuvers.
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DRIVING AIDS: LEVEL 2 SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING
With our Executive trial version, driving aids (ADAS) were numerous. We were of course entitled to the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping combo, which then offers level 2 autonomous driving. Its efficiency was good, whether on highway or national. We have never faulted its.
To complete the lap, the car gives the driver the opportunity to overtake on the motorway with active lane change assistance. All you have to do is activate the turn signal and leave your hands on the wheel. The car will overtake once it has judged that the safety conditions are met. And it works pretty well.
We couldn’t try the optional camera mirrors on the road at 1,200 euros. On the other hand, it was possible to climb into a stationary Ioniq 6, equipped with these little jewels of technology. The position of the control screens is quite good, even if the gaze does not naturally turn towards them. A habit to take, surely. The interest of these camera mirrors is to reduce consumption (about 10 to 15 km of additional autonomy) but also to reduce blind spots as much as possible.
ROUTE PLANNER: YES, BUT NO
When Hyundai told us that the Ioniq 6 had a route planner, we were happy and excited to try it out. It is indeed the first car of the manufacturer to be equipped with this function, unknown to the general public, but essential on electric cars brought to make long journeys.
We tested the planner to connect Avignon to Lille. The route proposed by the planner seems relevant, with 908 km (mostly on the motorway) and three breaks to recharge: at Ionity and at TotalEnergies. So far so good. But, there are several problems.
The first is that once the route is launched, we know what time we will arrive at the next terminal, but we have no idea of the autonomy that will remain. It is also not possible to ask the car to arrive with, for example, 10 or 20% battery at charging stops or at destination. It is then necessary to have blind confidence in the car.
DRIVING: A COMFORTABLE AND LIVELY MPV
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 weighs nearly 2 tons for our test model, but the ride is lively and comfortable. The power, on our rear-wheel drive model, of 229 hp with a torque of 350 Nm is more than enough for everyday use. The proof with the 0 to 100 km / h shot down in just 7.4 seconds. Those who like overtaking a little more vigorous on the highway will opt for the HTRAC version with its 325 hp and 605 Nm of torque that make it enter a slightly sportier category.
What strikes the most, when you start with the Ioniq 6, is the silence. Rolling noise is almost non-existent at low speeds, surely helped by the acoustic film affixed to the front and rear windows in Executive finish.
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In the city, the Ioniq 6 behaves very well, with a nice absorption of speed bumps and very open viewing angles. Except at the rear, because of the somewhat cut shape of the car, which decreases visibility. Fortunately, the excellent reversing camera assists us brilliantly during maneuvers. The turning radius at 11.82 m is not excellent and it is clearly not a one-size-fits-all car. It’s the equivalent of the Tesla Model 3.
