Hyundai is placing numerous inventory on the Ioniq 6 as a banner electrical automobile for the corporate, suggesting it’ll roll off meeting strains as one of many business’s greatest choices in 2023.
That could possibly be true, although you may anticipate a sure exclusivity ensuing from the restricted provide of two,500 presently earmarked for the Canadian market. Aside from Tesla, Hyundai bought extra EVs in Canada in 2022 than some other automaker, largely spearheaded by the Ioniq 5 and Kona EV.
Certainly, the corporate sees the Tesla Mannequin 3 and Polestar 2 as the largest opponents for the Ioniq 6 going ahead.
I acquired to check drive it myself in and round Vancouver, the place I used to be given the Most well-liked AWD trim with Final Bundle, which means I just about had all the trimmings the Ioniq 6 can supply. As backlogged as Hyundai already is to meet orders for its predecessor, it says it’s committing to bringing the brand new EV to the Canadian market as of April 2023.
The small print
Hyundai will launch the Ioniq 6 in three trims. Right here’s the breakdown for vary based mostly on estimates coming from each Hyundai and Pure Assets Canada, in addition to confirmed pricing:
These ranges are purely estimates that don’t account for the variables concerned with EVs, like chilly climate and metropolis versus freeway driving, for instance. The Ioniq 6 can deal with 800V charging from 350 kW chargers, which might theoretically cost the battery from 10-80 % in 18 minutes. If you happen to’ve acquired a 240V charger at residence, you may anticipate a full cost to take about seven hours. That’s fairly good when retaining it plugged in in a single day.
This may increasingly additionally depend upon the trim as a result of the Most well-liked RWD mannequin is rear-wheel drive solely, which means it runs on one motor as a substitute of the 2 the AWD (all-wheel drive) fashions have as a part of Hyundai’s Electrical-International Modular Platform (E-GMP). Therefore, it has an extended vary than its dual-motor counterparts. Horsepower ranges from 225 to 320 relying on the trim, the quickest of which may go from zero-to-100 in 5.1 seconds.
Regenerative braking additionally applies right here, courtesy of the paddles flanking the steering wheel. You may shift the paddles between 4 ranges, the final of which is i-Pedal, the place you may totally cease the automobile utilizing the accelerator pedal. Good Regenerative System (SRS) 2.0 makes use of the automobile’s radar detection to robotically alter the regen coasting itself, thus serving to draw again some energy in the direction of the battery.
Whereas I discovered it straightforward to modify between them, I wasn’t driving lengthy sufficient to get an excellent really feel for a way nicely they work.
- Most well-liked RWD Lengthy Vary (18-inch wheels) (581km vary): $54,999
- Most well-liked AWD lengthy Vary (18-inch wheels) (509km vary): $57,999
- Most well-liked AWD Lengthy Vary Final Pkg (20-inch wheels) (435km vary): $63,999
- Freight and PDI: $1,925
Inside and connectivity
Being a sedan, the Ioniq 6’s chassis and structural design make some room within the inside that I personally discovered comfy as a tall individual, albeit with a couple of changes, like decreasing the seat as a result of the roof was a bit too near the highest of my head. I even sat within the again for a brief distance and located it roomier than I’d’ve anticipated. That is partly due to a barely longer physique, together with an extended overhang within the rear to additionally make additional room for the motor, and provides the automobile a decrease centre of gravity for improved cornering and aerodynamics. Extra spectacular is the quantity of trunk house, which is bigger than I anticipated, given the general design of the EV.
To some extent, Hyundai went with a reasonably minimalist strategy within the Ioniq 6’s format, although it’s not like that of a Tesla. Each the instrument cluster and infotainment display have similar 12.3-inch shows, with principally touch-sensitive buttons under for local weather management, and mercifully, there’s a knob to regulate audio quantity, much like the Ioniq 5. You’ll discover the bodily buttons on the steering wheel to entry numerous options.
The centre console features a Qi wi-fi charging pad, good-sized cup holders and first rate cargo house, together with an undercarriage that’s tremendous helpful for retaining issues secure and out of sight for a cleaner look inside. For me, it was odd to see window controls within the centre console as a substitute of on the door, particularly contemplating the speaker grilles are arguably bigger than they must be.
Each CarPlay and Android Auto can be found to make use of, aside from one huge caveat — no wi-fi connectivity. I needed to plug in through USB to get both platform operating, and the explanation why is that Hyundai contains its personal manufacturing unit navigation. Reps instructed me that Apple and Google have a tendency to not like that, and so, there’s no wi-fi CarPlay or Android Auto. Fortunately, there are workarounds.
The screens, infotainment system, charging pad, and indoor LED accent lights come customary throughout all trims. The place issues change between them is within the inside materials, sound system and different design or purposeful components.
I didn’t get the possibility to strive the Bluelink app, nevertheless it serves the identical objective it already does on different Hyundai EVs, like seeing present battery standing, scheduled charging, distant local weather management and finding close by charging stations.
Don’t name it ‘autonomous’
Hyundai resists utilizing the phrase “autonomous” to explain its driver help system. If you happen to’ve pushed different Hyundai fashions, notably these with Freeway Driving Help (HDA), it as a system that works to maintain a automobile centred in its lane. Adaptive cruise management (together with stop-and-go visitors) maintains pace relative to an assigned distance from different autos in entrance. That is Degree 2 semi-autonomous expertise, and it typically works nicely sufficient to essentially belief it for those who’re not reckless.
The Ioniq 6 has HDA 2, which makes use of lane-keeping help with adaptive cruise management and collision avoidance. Inexperienced icons on the instrument cluster point out after they’re lively. If each the steering wheel and lane strains are inexperienced, the automobile will keep in its lane by itself. If the left and proper arrows subsequent to them additionally flip inexperienced, then lane change help can kick in by pulling the sign mild swap midway for a couple of seconds earlier than it strikes over. Sensors within the blind spot will look out for autos which might be too shut, and when it really works, the lane change is easy. Nonetheless, I needed to preserve my eyes open as a result of the sensors can’t at all times inform when one other automobile is arising quick till it’s inside vary of the sensors.
Hyundai additionally says machine studying will study a driver’s tendencies to adapt to how they sometimes speed up and coast when different autos are in entrance. I by no means acquired to see this in motion, so it’s unclear how efficient it’s.
In contrast to different comparable methods, Hyundai’s desires you to the touch the steering wheel always, in an effort to override it anytime you need. With out in-cabin cameras going through me as the motive force, I had nothing inside the system to maintain me trustworthy on whether or not I used to be really trying on the street. After 10 seconds with out touching the steering wheel, a warning appeared on the cluster, adopted by an audible tone that sounded for 60 seconds earlier than all the HDA 2 options disengaged and compelled me to take over.
Thoughts you, the steering wheel’s sensors don’t reply based mostly on the warmth from fingers, however fairly the strain utilized by fingers or a palm. That’s why I fooled it when leaving my fingers free and urgent my knee towards it as a substitute. I think it could even be doable to actually strap and tighten one thing round it to realize the identical consequence. It was additionally somewhat jarring to see the automobile’s assisted driving work (with my fingers on the wheel) once I averted my eyes from the street for greater than 10 seconds. It was a reminder of how GM’s Tremendous Cruise acts up underneath comparable circumstances.
HDA 2, very like its identify implies, is most helpful on highways. Onboard cameras will search for lane markings on all roads, however I discovered it might get simply confused with forks and no markings on aspect roads the place there was just one line. It will possibly solely kick in at 60 km/h, thus doing nothing when driving slower.
Driving round
Hyundai discovered methods to optimize efficiency whereas on the street, like disconnecting the entrance motor from the rear one in sure instances. For instance, Eco mode solely drives in RWD, even when it is among the AWD trims. In Regular mode, it’ll solely faucet into the entrance motor (on the AWD trims) upon acceleration, then disconnect it to let the rear motor run by itself. Sport mode makes use of each always, made all of the extra evident by the additional torque and tighter cornering when driving with it on. You lose extra battery life in Sport, however I discovered it one of the best ways to gauge how nicely the Ioniq 6 handles itself.
Easy, sturdy and quiet, it was straightforward to understand driving this automobile. Its stage of consolation and magnificence inside additionally suggests to me it gained’t really feel as tiring on a street journey. The vary is actually ok, give or take distance and climate situations. Driving it for under in the future is tough to attract lasting conclusions, however I favored my expertise with the Ioniq 6.
Able to roll
The Ioniq 6 RWD trim is eligible for the federal government’s iZEV rebate program based mostly on the present $55,000 restrict, although the AWD fashions should still qualify underneath a provision that raises the restrict to $65,000 for increased trims. That may lower the worth down by $5,000 until you lease the automobile, which prorates the rebate based mostly on how lengthy the lease is.
If you happen to dwell in a province with its personal rebate program, you would additionally lower the worth down additional that approach. Hyundai dealerships ought to obtain the primary items as early as April 2023, beginning with the AWD Most well-liked and Final Bundle. There shall be six colors to select from: final pink and nocturne gray in a metallic end, serenity white, transmission blue and abyss black in a pearl end, and digital inexperienced in a matte end.
A current value lower from Tesla additionally made the Model 3 eligible for the same rebate, making its pricing very aggressive relative to the higher-trim Ioniq 6 fashions. Both approach, it is a assertion EV for Hyundai, one that it’ll push arduous as among the best obtainable.
