Anthony on Autos: 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited AWD

by   Anthony Fongaro - - 09/24/2023

Hyundai is on a roll with their EVs! The wheel-spinning Kona Electric is a great SUV, but the Ioniq 5 is a game-changer. Hyundai created an SUV with retro looks, a very spacious interior, tons of tech, and a great powertrain. That was act one. Act two focuses on another retro vehicle, but this time, it’s a car. The IONIQ 6’s body looks more steampunk thanks to the quirky IONIQ 5. If the IONIQ 5 has to fight the Tesla Model Y, the 6’s challenge is the ever-popular Model 3. I can’t compare the two since I’ve never driven a Model 3, but I can see how it is as an EV. Let’s get into the exterior. 

That rear-end definitely had some compliments and complaints. While a few of my friends think that the IONIQ 6 was ugly, they’re wrong. I love the dual spoilers and the thin strip of pixelated lights for the taillights. IONIQ 6 is written on the trunk, and the Limited model has a solar panel on the upper spoiler. This IONIQ 6 was in Curated Silver and 20-inch wheels. Hyundai concentrated on aerodynamics, so the silhouette sharply curves into the rear. Door handles pop out when the car is unlocked and blend in when they’re closed. The front continues the retro theme with pixelated headlights. I think the IONIQ 6 is quite the striking car.

Jump inside, and things get a little strange. I understand that Hyundai wanted a clean-looking door, but the switches for the windows are by the center console. Even odder, they moved the buttons to adjust to mirrors to the left of the steering wheel. You get used to it, but I found myself constantly trying to find the window buttons on the door. Just an observation. The interior is called Dark Green/Gray H-Tex. Because it’s an EV, it’s fake leather, but it works. The seats are comfortable and the heating/ventilation is quite strong. In front of the driver is a steering wheel with four squares on it, a nice touch. 

Speaking of the steering wheel, I love that Hyundai has paddle shifters to alter the regenerative braking. A little circle sticks out called Boost Mode. You can guess what that means, but I’ll tell you later. There is a lot of customizability for the digital display and a clear display for the infotainment system. It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I like how Hyundai moved the shifter for its vehicles to the steering column, freeing up more space. Climate control functions are capacitive, but not difficult to use. I love some ambient lighting, and there are plenty of colors. The front has plenty of space, but that sloping roofline and panoramic roof eat into the rear seats. 

The IONIQ 6’s powertrain is similar to the IONIQ 5’s. This AWD model uses a 77.4 kWh battery, with the motors producing 320 horsepower/239 kW and 446 lb-ft/604 Nm. With everything combined, the IONIQ 6 gets from 0-60 MPH in around 4.5 seconds. There are a few driving modes including Eco (don’t use it dulls the car too much), Normal, and Sport. That Boost Mode button gives you a brief increase in performance, but pressing it too much will affect your range. Driving around the town, the IONIQ was obviously silent, but quite pleasant. It may not be a sports car, but it can handle its own. You also get Smart Park, a feature in which you use buttons on the keyfob to move it back and forth for tight parking spaces. 

It has plenty of power and overtaking is simple. When I drive an EV, I don’t have any gimmicky noises activated. The IONIQ 6 has three: a futuristic sound, an annoying fake engine sound, and a more enhanced EV sound. Tried them out, and quickly turned them off. I like my EVs quiet. The IONIQ 6 has Hyundai’s full safety suite including adaptive cruise control with lane change assist, blind spot monitoring built into the dials, and a 360-degree camera. I averaged about 3.5 miles/kwH which means the range was about 271 miles. Not terrible, and I never felt any range anxiety or the need to put it into Eco Mode. If you can find a place to charge at maximum speeds, the 800-volt architecture and over 150+ kwH charging speed means you’ll spend less than 20 minutes filling the battery up.

A top-of-the-line IONIQ 6 is around $53,000. It has all the bells and whistles including upgraded wheels, heated and ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, and something called Vehicle to Load, or V2L. Using the charge part, you can use an accessory to power almost anything with a regular plug. Haven’t used it, but I’ve seen demonstrations and it should be on all EVs. Back to the IONIQ 6. The Limited is great, but getting an SEL can save about $5,000. The wheels will be a little smaller, but the range should increase. 

Is the IONIQ 6 good? Absolutely. This is one of my favorite sedans and EVs on the market. I love that steampunk look and interior. Yes, the switches for the doors are odd, but everything else just works. There’s plenty of power (a more powerful version is coming with over 580 horsepower!) with great technology. Sure, the rear passengers have less headroom due to the design, but it was in the name of aerodynamics. If you can find one, the IONIQ 6 is a top-notch vehicle. I’d get mine in red.