Hyundai Ioniq 6, first impressions: much more than good consumption for a spectacular electric car

It was July 2022 and Hyundai presented the Ioniq 6, a saloon with a futuristic look that is powerfully reminiscent of Porsche, with such a marked roof drop from the B-pillar. The data was so promising that the expectation It didn’t take long for it to go off. Now, we have put ourselves at the controls of him.

We have done it in a first contact. In a journey of about 80 kilometers with sections of all kinds, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 has left us with very good feelings. A car that can put its competition in serious trouble and that does not hesitate to take risks to convince the undecided.

It’s an Ionic 6

“We are not premium but we believe that we can attract their customers”. Hyundai’s statement of intent was made clear during the press conference after our first contact. It is not surprising because, like it more or less, the Hyundai Ionic 6 does not leave indifferent.

I do not usually deal with the aesthetics of the cars that I analyze, because I understand that except on rare occasions, it is a matter that is highly subjective and is very technical and specific, if we want to go deep into it. But the truth is that you can not talk about the new Hyundai saloon without referring to this.

The presence is very powerful and risky. It is one of those cars with which people turn their heads, something difficult to achieve in a market where risks are limited and there is a tendency to standardize the product. But the Ioniq 6 has own personalitywith a rear end that is even more surprising in real life, with a brake light integrated into the upper spoiler and a small spoiler below.

The car has so much character that I even miss something even more risky. I could fearlessly dream of an N version, with more striking colors or a “ducktail”-shaped spoiler, understanding that the potential customer of this car would not opt ​​for such an option in the vast majority of cases.

Because, deep down, at Hyundai they know that they are aiming for Potential customers in our country for more than 50 years and with a high purchasing power. The brand confirmed this during the presentation, aware that in other European countries this audience can be younger.

Highway, highway and highway

A drag coefficient of 0.21 Cx. One of the best on the market. Right halfway between the Mercedes EQS (0.20 Cx) and EQE (0.22 Cx), the references up to now. The idea from the beginning has been to offer the most efficient car possible to position itself as one of the few electric sedans with which to travel with relative comfort in a price range that starts at 50,000 euros.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has not stood out for its consumption on the road. With an electric SUV already on the market, the company seems to have opted for the opposite, a model that will use its own body to scratch all the kilometers it can with a 77 kWh battery, a capacity that seems difficult to get off if, Right now, you want to travel hundreds of kilometers in an electric car in our country.

And the first tests are optimistic, although not conclusive (let’s be clear). On our journey of more than 80 kilometers, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 spent us 18 kWh/100 kilometers. We did most of these kilometers on a secondary road (including a series of curves where we put it to the test dynamically).

We also went on the road, but we did it always losing altitude, which undoubtedly helps to gain autonomy. We will have to wait for a longer test to get real consumption on the road. If this consumption is usual for day to day, the driver of a Hyundai Ioniq 6 will be able to do about 430 real kilometers. According to the WLTP approvals, the consumption of our unit is 14.3 kWh/100 kilometers and it shoots up to 16.9 kWh/100 km for the option of 325 CV and four-wheel drive, so the impact on the Autonomy of this version should be remarkable.

If we talk about charging, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 supports powers of up to 239 kW. With these figures we can go from 10 to 80% autonomy available in 15 minutes. With bidirectional charging, the car can power some items in the house, but it could also charge another car at 3.6 kW, that is, at the same power as a household socket.

at ease

But beyond consumption, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 stands out (and a lot) on the open road. It is very comfortable and the interior space is huge. He legroom in any of the seats it is outstanding and the seats are comfortable. In the chosen version, it also had heated seats also in the rear seats. These have the problem that the floor is too high and even if the legs are fully extended, it is easy for the knees to be too high. In my case, I am 1.68 meters tall and I had no problems with the ceiling but it may be too narrow for taller people.

It helps the enormous interior space that the car lacks a transmission tunnel and, above all, a very open control layout in the front seats. The frame that houses the two 12.3-inch screens and the layout of the controls, with their own space for the air conditioning and physical buttons that serve as a shortcut to reach the browser or the multimedia system favor this feeling. Even with the central drink space and wireless charging, the driver feels at ease.

The dashboard has two side ears that, in the top-of-the-range option, shelter the screen of the digital mirrors. Unfortunately, we were not able to verify their operation, since our unit did not have them, but the definition of the cameras while stationary (if we were able to sit in a unit equipped with digital mirrors) was good both in the mirrors and those located in the rear.

The biggest problem for the type of trip it is intended for is the trunk loading spout, a problem derived from the car’s own design. The space is narrow and the floor is high, which ends up limiting its size to 401 liters.

Regarding how the technology works in motion, due to the type of route, we were not able to do all the tests that we would have liked, but we did get the feeling that the semi-autonomous driving Level 2 works quite well. In the absence of more in-depth testing, the car always stayed in the center of the lane, cornered smoothly without touching (or approaching) the lines, and assisted lane changes were seamless.

Notable is the use of the cams, with five levels for the regenerative brake and the possibility of controlling the vehicle with single pedal. An interesting system to play depending on whether we are inside or outside the city or if we are moving on a curvy road and want to add an extra point of fun.

Although the 228 CV of the electric motor is enough to drive calmly, it is on secondary roads where it obviously suffers the most. The car is not agile enough and we miss more steering information (very filtered) and a slightly more direct feel. It also suffers from a too artificial brake feel, a common problem among electric cars and one that takes getting used to.

To all of the above we must add a clear intention to make the passenger feel like protagonist. The interior is full of details that increase the sensation of being before a vehicle that anticipates future designs. The ambient light changes depending on the speed at which we circulate, the steering wheel has four LEDs to warn of the remaining autonomy and the doors have a nice set of lights that, yes, hide the hard plastic that reigns in the doors.

If we talk about prices, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 starts at 49,620 euros without aid from the MOVES III Plan with a 151 hp engine and a 53 kWh battery that seems short for the purpose of this vehicle. The most rational option has been the one we have had in hand, with a 77 kWh battery, 228 hp engine and rear-wheel drive. This option is priced at 58,010 euros. The top of the range is represented by an Ioniq 6 with 335 hp, the same 77 kWh battery but all-wheel drive and a price of 66,360 euros.

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