CHATHAM, Mass. – Hyundai decided to leave a good thing as is by carrying over unchanged the 2024 Ioniq 6 electric vehicle (EV) sedan from its multi-award-winning – including World Car of the Year, World Design of the Year and World Electric Car of the Year — first model year.
I drove the 2023 Ioniq 6 last summer and concluded: “It offers the best range of options, features and choices amongst the EV sedans and would be a solid choice for anyone looking in this arena.” After a week in the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited (long-range version with 20-inch wheels), nothing I have driven, seen or read about entering the EV market has changed my mind on this subject. There are other excellent EV passenger-car choices, like the Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt, but none offering the range of features like the Hyundai.
EV specific platform provides refined operation
A pair of Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM), the front producing 99 horsepower (74kW), the rear 221hp (165kW), result in a total all-wheel-drive (AWD) output of 320hp and 448 pounds-feet of torque. Energy comes from a 77.4kWh battery below the passenger compartment.
Car and Driver reported this combination accelerated the Ioniq 6 to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in 6.2 seconds, a performance-car-like number from the past overshadowed by today’s super-fast EVs, but still quite quick for America’s highways and byways.
EV performance also means what kind of range should you expect. The Ioniq 6 long-range model is rated at 320 miles of driving when the 77.4kWh battery is fully charged. I did not see more than 220 miles of range indicated on the cluster when the test vehicle’s charge was at 100% (due to an unusually high amount of highway driving during my review period), but thanks to the Autel MaxiCharger AC Wallbox Home Level-2 charger in my garage, range was never an issue for me.
If I on-the-road charging was required, all I needed was a Level-3 unit of 250kW and I could be at 80% within 18 minutes of plugging in. Not quite “fill-up-the-gas-tank” quick (four/five minutes), but supersonic when compared to the vast majority of EVs on the American market. At that power, a five-minute boost will return 65 miles of operation.
And public Level-3s are becoming more prevalent, even in places like Cape Cod where just a couple of years ago virtually none were in existence.
Aiding the acceleration figure as well as the EV’s range is the lozenge-shape which resulted in a (low) .22 coefficient of drag. That shape, five-person, four-door cabin-forward sloping at both ends, stands out from the crowd, but positive or negative reactions are very personal. Regardless of one’s feelings, the Ioniq 6’s distinctive futuristic look is unique.
Not unique to this vehicle is the Hyundai-family Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) which also provides the foundation for such stalwart EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, new Kia EV9 SUV and Genesis GV-60. This is a good thing. The powertrain, as discussed, provides silky smooth quiet motoring in a package not compromised by being an adaptation of a platform designed for an internal-combustion-engined vehicle.
The Ioniq 6 virtually glides over the surface of decently paved roads, with the suspension (MacPherson-type struts up front, multi-link setup in the rear, gas shocks all around) keeping the ride smooth and comfortable while allowing the driver to use the instant-on EV power to attack twisty sections with full confidence.
Multi-mode regenerative braking and the advanced driver-assistance systems
Said driver has a choice of how to slow down or bring the swoopy four-door to a halt. One choice is the traditional friction braking system with anti-lock (ABS) features 12.8-inch rotors all around, those in front ventilated and 1.2-inches thick, while those in the rear are solid and 0.5-inches thick.
Hyundai’s driver-adjustable, multi-mode regenerative braking systemv provides the other vehicle-retarding choice.
The first mode is a four-level coasting regen system engaged and adjusted by using the paddle shifts on either side of the steering column. One-pedal driving, i-Pedal in Hyundai terminology, allows for the regen to bring the Ioniq 6 to a full stop when the accelerator pedal is disengaged (thus eliminating the need to engage the brake pedal).
The Smart Regenerative System (SRS) 2.0 adjusts the amount of regen braking based upon the car’s radar sensors detecting a vehicle ahead of the Ioniq 6.
Regardless of how it is utilized, the regen system is another means of charging the battery.
As is the case with virtually all of Hyundai’s Limited-trim vehicles, this Ioniq 6 had a comprehensive list of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These included blind-spot collision warning; blind-spot collision avoidance assist; surround-view monitor; blind-spot-view monitor; rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist; parking distance warning front/rear; parking collision avoidance assist with car/pedestrian/cyclist; detection and junction turning; land-keeping assist/lane-following assist; intelligent speed-limit assist; Highway Driving Assist II and high-beam assist.
Limited means comfort, conveniences and features galore
The quiet of a well-engineered EV platform and body sets the tone for a peaceful cabin environment. Peaceful but not soft, as the powertrain and suspension virtually beg the driver to give in to the car’s desire to run and be exercised.
Dominating the interior is the now-familiar curved, dual-screen Hyundai display. The 12.3-inch customizable digital cluster sits on the left behind the tilt/telescoping/heated/leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The eye naturally follows the display to the right which is the domain of the 12.3-inch LCD touchscreen at the heart of the infotainment system with standard navigation as well as the command center for adjusting vehicle settings and controls. The sound produced by a variety of input sources like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio and streaming Bluetooth are pumped out through an eight-speaker Bose® Premium Audio System.
The seats, power adjustable up front (memory for the driver) have heat and ventilation while all occupants are cossetted by the dual-zone automatic climate control system.
Ioniq 6 a top EV
The Ioniq 6 family offers exemplary EV motoring beginning with the standard-range, rear-wheel-drive SE model at $37,500. Moving up through the next six steps brings longer range, more standard equipment and all-wheel drive, reaching its pinnacle at the Limited point with an MSRP of $53,650. The only options available, and present on the test Limited, were the Gravity Gold Paint for $1,000 and carpeted floor mats for $210. Adding these and the $1,150 inland freight & handling fee brought the as-tested price to $56,010.
The Ioniq 6 Limited may not be called a premium or luxury vehicle, but its ride, range, charging capabilities and list of standard equipment sure make it seem like one. It is not the least expensive EV car on the market, but it may just be the best value.
