2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6

Silent running. One benefit of that banana-shaped body style is an incredibly low coefficient of drag of just 0.22. This not only benefits performance and range – of which more in a moment – but it allows the IONIQ 6 to slip through the air almost silently. Choose a model riding on 18-inch wheels, and you’ll be amazed at how peaceful it is even at speed. Don’t think it’s a sluggard, either – even the 53-kWh SE Standard Range model will hit 60 mph in nine seconds, while the single-motor 168-kW version fitted in most models generates 258 lb-ft of torque. If that’s still not enough, a dual-motor setup boosts torque to 446 lb-ft and dispatches the 0-60 sprint in just five seconds, with the added benefit of AWD stability. The 6 can also split its torque according to ambient road conditions, with five selectable modes from Eco to Snow. It’s no enthusiast’s car, but it’s certainly responsive.

Considering it shares much of its architecture with the IONIQ 5, it’s surprising how different the 6 feels. It’s lower and has a firmer ride, though it shares its sibling’s reluctance to take corners at speed. Tesla Model 3 drivers will relish its comfort, though they might find the handling somewhat woolly by comparison. Should things go awry, at least you can seek reassurance in the presence of automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and corner-mounted radar that helps to detect everything from turning vehicles to pedestrians.

Cheap to buy and run. With a starting price of $42,715 and eligibility for 50% of the $7,500 tax credit, even the most affordable IONIQ 6 is lavishly equipped. It receives twin 12.3-inch instrumentation and infotainment screens, heated front seats and outside mirrors, a power driver’s seat, and a digital key controlled via a smartphone app. Add in a five-year warranty and three years/36,000 miles of scheduled maintenance, and the economic case for ownership is a no-brainer even before you consider a 240-mile range and 18-minute fast charging from 10% to 80% of the battery’s capacity.

More expensive models lose a little in fuel efficiency due to larger 20-inch tires, but the SE Long Range can cover an EPA-estimated 361 miles between charges. The single-motor RWD configuration matches the Lucid Air as the most efficient vehicle on sale in America, returning an estimated 140 MPGe combined. Even the most expensive Limited AWD only costs $57,215, despite packing an eight-speaker Bose stereo, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. You can even charge another EV from the Limited’s Vehicle to Load connector, as well as camping equipment or appliances.

Inside job. Hyundai clearly knows how to screw a car together, but we’re surprised to see beige plastic on the dash. It looks like a 1990s PC tower has been recycled into the electronic parking brake and outside mirror controls. Then again, the interior is a total mishmash of styles – 1980s-style ruched door panels, a non-circular steering wheel, a transmission shifter hiding below the headlight stalk, and electric window switches near the center console armrest. You could set first-time occupants with a series of timed challenges to find specific controls.

Another challenge might involve finding objects small enough to fit in the tiny 0.4 cu ft frunk, while the 11.2 cube trunk is hobbled by the lack of a pass-through and a narrow external opening. Given the 6’s considerable length, it’s disappointing to discover this is really a four-seater, and even then ideally for two smaller rear passengers. There’s a lack of both headroom and toe room back here, though 39 inches of rear legroom is generous enough and the seats themselves are comfortable.

Final thoughts. Summing up the IONIQ 6 is difficult, though we could simply say it’s not as good as the comparably priced IONIQ 5. Its hatchback sibling is shorter and easier to park yet bigger and more practical inside. It’s more comfortable, more stylish, and just as quick to charge or accelerate.

For these reasons, we can’t wholeheartedly recommend the 6, even though it’s a fine car in isolation. It combines staggering fuel efficiency with rapid performance and a refined ride, while near-silent motion augments comfortable seats and a stylish cabin that’s generously equipped. The ownership package is superb thanks to comprehensive warranty and maintenance provision, and we have no qualms about Hyundai’s build quality despite its bizarre adoption of beige plastics. If you can live with the double-ended design and the lucky-dip switchgear positioning, the IONIQ 6 should provide safe and trouble-free motoring for many years.