First Drive: All-New 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Is Quick, Quiet, and Comfortable
The sleek sedan is yet another EV-gem from the Korean automaker
The all-new Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan is based on the same electric-car platform as the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60—all three of which performed admirably in our testing. The Ioniq 6 takes those core mechanical bits and applies them to a sleek sedan rather than the elevated hatchback design of the other three. That the Ioniq 6’s swoopy design gives it an upscale feel should only broaden the appeal of Hyundai’s EVs.
The Ioniq 6 is available in three trim levels, all of which come standard with rear-wheel drive but have all-wheel-drive optional. Rear-wheel-drive versions with the Long Range battery have a 225-horsepower electric motor, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive models produce 320 hp. A base rear-drive model with the smaller Standard Range battery and a 149-hp motor will be available later. The Ioniq 6 is EPA-rated for 270 to 361 miles of driving range, depending on the configuration (battery size, rear- vs. all-wheel drive, and wheel size).
We rented two preproduction Ioniq 6s from Hyundai to gather first impressions, ahead of buying one of our own for the Consumer Reports auto test program. So far we’ve found it to be quick, quiet, mostly comfortable, and reasonably fun to drive. It’s pretty easy to live with beyond a few quirky controls, and the curvy styling is certainly unique. It seems well prepared to compete with other EVs, such as the BMW i4, Polestar 2, and Tesla Model 3.
