Hyundai is placing loads of inventory on the Ioniq 6 as a banner electrical car for the corporate, suggesting it can roll off meeting strains as one of many business’s finest choices in 2023.
That might be true, although you may count on 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 every 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 obtained to check drive it myself in and round Vancouver, the place I used to be given the Most popular AWD trim with Final Package deal, that means I just about had all the trimmings the Ioniq 6 can supply. As backlogged as Hyundai already is to satisfy 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 primarily based on estimates coming from each Hyundai and Pure Sources 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 may theoretically cost the battery from 10-80 p.c in 18 minutes. If you happen to’ve obtained a 240V charger at dwelling, you may count on a full cost to take about seven hours. That’s fairly good when conserving it plugged in in a single day.
This will additionally rely on the trim as a result of the Most popular RWD mannequin is rear-wheel drive solely, that means it runs on one motor as an alternative 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 might go from zero-to-100 in 5.1 seconds.
Regenerative braking additionally applies right here, courtesy of the paddles flanking the steering wheel. You possibly can shift the paddles between 4 ranges, the final of which is i-Pedal, the place you may totally cease the car utilizing the accelerator pedal. Good Regenerative System (SRS) 2.0 makes use of the automobile’s radar detection to robotically modify the regen coasting itself, thus serving to draw again some energy in direction of the battery.
Whereas I discovered it simple to change between them, I wasn’t driving lengthy sufficient to get a superb really feel for a way properly they work.
- Most popular RWD Lengthy Vary (18-inch wheels) (581km vary): $54,999
- Most popular AWD lengthy Vary (18-inch wheels) (509km vary): $57,999
- Most popular 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 snug as a tall individual, albeit with just a few 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 further room for the motor, and provides the car a decrease centre of gravity for improved cornering and aerodynamics. Extra spectacular is the quantity of trunk area, 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 structure, although it’s not like that of a Tesla. Each the instrument cluster and infotainment display have similar 12.3-inch shows, with largely touch-sensitive buttons under for local weather management, and mercifully, there’s a knob to manage 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 respectable cargo area, together with an undercarriage that’s tremendous helpful for conserving issues protected and out of sight for a cleaner look inside. For me, it was odd to see window controls within the centre console as an alternative 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, apart from one large caveat — no wi-fi connectivity. I needed to plug in by way of USB to get both platform operating, and the explanation why is that Hyundai contains its personal manufacturing unit navigation. Reps advised 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 useful components.
I didn’t get the possibility to attempt the Bluelink app, nevertheless it serves the identical function 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), you understand it as a system that works to maintain a car centred in its lane. Adaptive cruise management (together with stop-and-go visitors) maintains velocity relative to an assigned distance from different automobiles in entrance. That is Degree 2 semi-autonomous know-how, and it typically works properly sufficient to actually belief it if you happen to’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 energetic. 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 gentle change midway for just a few seconds earlier than it strikes over. Sensors within the blind spot will look out for automobiles which can be too shut, and when it really works, the lane change is clean. Nonetheless, I needed to preserve my eyes open as a result of the sensors can’t at all times inform when one other car 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 automobiles are in entrance. I by no means obtained to see this in motion, so it’s unclear how efficient it’s.
Not like different comparable methods, Hyundai’s desires you to the touch the steering wheel always, with the intention to override it anytime you need. With out in-cabin cameras dealing with me as the driving force, I had nothing throughout the system to maintain me sincere on whether or not I used to be really wanting 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 the entire HDA 2 options disengaged and compelled me to take over.
Thoughts you, the steering wheel’s sensors don’t reply primarily based on the warmth from arms, however slightly the stress utilized by fingers or a palm. That’s why I fooled it when leaving my arms free and urgent my knee towards it as an alternative. I believe it might even be attainable to actually strap and tighten one thing round it to attain the identical end result. It was additionally somewhat jarring to see the automobile’s assisted driving work (with my arms on the wheel) after 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 title implies, is most helpful on highways. Onboard cameras will search for lane markings on all roads, however I discovered it may get simply confused with forks and no markings on facet roads the place there was just one line. It may well 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 circumstances. For instance, Eco mode solely drives in RWD, even when it is without doubt one of the AWD trims. In Regular mode, it can 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 properly the Ioniq 6 handles itself.
Easy, sturdy and quiet, it was simple to understand driving this automobile. Its degree of consolation and magnificence inside additionally suggests to me it received’t really feel as tiring on a street journey. The vary is actually adequate, give or take distance and climate situations. Driving it for under at some point is tough to attract lasting conclusions, however I preferred my expertise with the Ioniq 6.
Able to roll
The Ioniq 6 RWD trim is eligible for the federal authorities’s iZEV rebate program primarily based on the present $55,000 restrict, although the AWD fashions should qualify underneath a provision that raises the restrict to $65,000 for increased trims. That will reduce the worth down by $5,000 except you lease the automobile, which prorates the rebate primarily based on how lengthy the lease is.
If you happen to dwell in a province with its personal rebate program, you might additionally reduce the worth down additional that approach. Hyundai dealerships ought to obtain the primary models as early as April 2023, beginning with the AWD Most popular and Final Package deal. There will likely 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 latest value reduce from Tesla additionally made the Mannequin 3 eligible for a similar 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 the most effective accessible.
