By Veeno Dewan
The latest addition to Hyundai’s fully Electric Vehicle lineup is the Ioniq 6, a five- door sedan with a pure EV powertrain. Recently we got to have a look and experience the car at a Hyundai ride and drive event in Vancouver.
The Ioniq 6 is certainly a striking looking car with its dramatic elegant sweeping double curved side profile that makes the car so distinctive. A dynamic front fascia has air inlets and active grille shutters for improved aerodynamics The flush fitting door handles are touch operated and the rear is very unique two decked spoilers. Multiple pixel illumination is another cool design featured element both inside and outside the car.
The Ioniq 6 is as aerodynamic as they come with a super low drag coefficient of just 0.22 that helps with excellent driving range. The Ioniq 6 is the second Hyundai model to ride on Hyundai’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that allows for dual motors, optimized interior space, performance. The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 comes in a rear-wheel-drive base version with 18-inch wheels and 225 hp/ 258 lb-ft of torque from the 77-4-kWh battery pack paired with a 168-kW motor. Driving range on this model is a fantastic 581 km officially!
The AWD model has a 74-kW motor on the front axle and a 165-kW motor at the rear and delivers 509 km of driving with the 18-inch wheels. Opting for the larger 20-inch wheels drops range to 435 km, In fact, Natural Resources Canada (NRC) recently confirmed the Ioniq 6 now holds the national title of “Best-in-Class” when it comes to range versus power efficiency.
Pricing starts at MSRP $54,999 for Ioniq 6 Preferred RWD Long Range trim, while the AWD trim starts at $57,999.
The Ioniq 6 is equipped with up-to date technology and best-in-class ultra-fast 800-volt/350 kW charging that can charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes. It can gain up to 322 kilometres of range in 15 minutes of charging. There is also a battery pre-heater, and charge prep
function
The Ioniq 6 includes elevated levels of standard equipment such as: Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Heated front seats and steering wheel, Power trunk, Rear view camera with dynamic guidelines. There is also the super useful vehicle-to-load outlet and a V2L port capable of an 110V, 15-amp output at 1.9 kW to power external accessories. Another excellent feature is Hyundai’s BlueLink+ digital key, which allows you to unlock and start the IONIQ 6 with your smartphone. Hyundai offers its Bluelink Connected Car Services for a period of three years with Over-the-Air update capability.
Safety is also high with: Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Highway Drive Assist, full airbags complement and much more.
The Ioniq 6 cabin is not as radical as the exterior design, with a neat, minimalist look and feel. Multicolor adjustable ambient lighting can adjust the mood and tone in the car. Interior as standard features include Leather-wrapped steering wheel with interactive pixel lights, 12.3” LCD cluster display, Highlights include premium materials and a roomy cabin. There is a full digital dash dual-display enclosure with twin 12.3-inch screens, one for driver data and the other a multimedia touchscreen. However, there are ,physical shortcut buttons for the infotainment system and capacitive touch climate controls. Other items include Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, Front, center, and dual rear multiple format USB input/charging. The front and rear seats were amazingly comfortable and there is ample legroom front and rear. Rear headroom is tad compromised by the fastback roofline, but the cabin feels light and airy. the trunk can hold 11.2 cubic feet, with a nice low and wide opening. Meanwhile the “frunk” (front trunk), is more for storing chare cables with its shallow plastic tray
On the test drive, the Ioniq 6 is supremely smooth effortless and relaxing to drive. And made easier by the autonomous Highway drive assist system that allows for keeping a set distance from the vehicle in front, assists in lane changes. There is decent handling, and strong acceleration, while road feel, handling traction and braking are all faultless. there are multiple drive modes and an i-Pedal, for one touch driving.
The Ioniq 6 has already won numerous prestigious awards during the past few months as it has been named “‘Saloon of the Year” at the 2023 GQ Car Awards and “New Car of the Year” by Le Guide de l’auto. Plus, it achieved a five-star safety rating and “Best in Class” selection in the ‘Large Family Car’ category from Euro NCAP. The Ioniq 6 is available in Hyundai Dealerships across Canada Starting this Spring. Watch out for full drive soon. Th verdict is in and its good! Highly recommended.
