The Hyundai Ioniq 6 Finds an Electric Sweet Spot

The well-received Hyundai Ioniq 5 crossover has been followed up by.. a sedan? Sure enough, the new Ioniq 6 electric car is a sedan rather than another crossover-SUV. Yet somehow it fits perfectly and is one of the best cars we’ve driven so far this year.

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a midsize sedan. Designed to be an EV from the get-go, the Ioniq 6 performs in the everyday like a standard car and just so happens to be electric instead of being an EV for EV’s sake. That’s part of what makes it so appealing.

There is a single-motor, rear-wheel drive model with a 53 kWh battery pack. This one outputs 149 horsepower and has an EPA-estimated range of 240 miles per charge. An all-wheel drive version has a 77.4 kWh battery, boosting output to 320 horsepower and EPA-estimated range to 316 miles per charge. This is the version we drove for a week. Our miles-per-charge average was slightly better than the EPA’s number, so most people will probably beat the EPA’s number; especially in city-heavy mixes. There is also a 77.4 kWh battery option with rear-wheel drive, which boost mileage estimates to 361 per charge.

The starting price for the 2024 Ioniq 6 is $39,000, which is pretty expensive for a midsize non-luxury model. Our test model, which had most of the bells and whistles, was $51,000 and change before delivery charges. That’s squarely in the luxury vehicle arena, price-wise. But it’s worth noting that other than the marque, the Ioniq 6 at that price is basically a luxury car. It has most of the things expected of a luxury vehicle at that price point and size.

The Ioniq 6 has a curvy, beautiful look that’s clearly inspired by Porsche. Those curves do have a downside, as rear headroom is a bit short if you’re over six feet in height. But if you’re in the habit of hauling around six footers in the rear of the car, you probably don’t want a sedan anyway. The Ioniq 5 is a better choice in that case.

One very high point for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is its drive quality. It feels and handles like a well-done sports sedan. Thanks to the battery placement and AWD motor setup, the Ioniq 6 is very well balanced. Electric drive, of course, means it’s quick. This isn’t a track car, of course, but as a weekend road carver or a daily drive with panache, it’s a great one. Sharp handling and a tuned, but not stiff ride finish off that appeal.

We really like the 2024 Ioniq 6. It’s not perfect for everyone, but it’s definitely a contender for many.

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