Hyundai Ioniq 6 – world class

HYUNDAI calls it the electric streamliner, but whichever way you look at it, one thing’s certain – the new Ioniq 6 is a seriously cool piece of kit.

Nor is it a case of style without substance because this an electric car that ticks the boxes many EVs fail to achieve and addresses the concerns many potential owners harbour.

And to underscore those points, the newcomer has in the space of a few months already claimed a string of titles, notably World car of the Year 2023, World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year.

Let’s get straight to the point, the Ioniq 6 stands out in every car park because it’s unique – with a design all of its own. It also has a class-leading drive range, enjoyable dynamics, bags of space and, significantly, can be charged extremely fast.

Prices start at £46,475, though our tested Ultimate trim model added an extra £4.5k to that tab, and buyers have a choice of either a rear-wheel drive powertrain offering 228PS or all-wheel drive with a sprightly 325PS.

Both feature a long-range 77.4kWh battery, with the AWD option capable of some serious performance – pop that Sport button temptingly placed for a prod of your left thumb and the Ioniq 6 will scorch from 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds.

So it’s rapid, and head-turningly stylish too courtesy of a research and development initiative called EV ‘Prophecy’ which will see an all-electric large SUV called Ioniq 7 launched next year.

One of the areas in which the Ioniq 6 excels is that of its passenger space, something you wouldn’t normally expect from a low-slung vehicle dubbed a streamliner.

But the truth is that the Hyundai’s cabin is huge with loads of legroom front and rear – including when the rear seats are slid fully back – and even the centre rear position is level, comfortable and again offers ample legroom due to a completely flat floor.

Everything within the interior feels hi-tech and the driver benefits from a pair of 12.3-inch screens incorporated into one long horizontal panel across the dash.

The infotainment and driving functions are easily accessed, a pair of vast BOSE speakers occupy the lower part of eache front door panel and there’s ample stowage space in the shape of glovebox, door bins, two centrally-placed front cup holders a central stowage box plus a couple more cup holders in the rear armrest.

You also get a fair-sized 401-litre boot, though the load sill is a bit low, and there’s also a small storage area beneath the bonnet.

With the use of natural materials a priority, our tested variant also came with perforated eco-processed leather seats, fabric from renewable plant resources, bio paint from vegetable oils and carpet made from recycled fishing nets.

An £830 extra cost option was a pair of digital wing mirrors which operate by transmitting images onto screens at either end of an aircraft-style ‘wing’ that comprises the car’s main fascia. They are something you become accustomed to quite quickly but are nonetheless a bit of a gimmick.

Out on the road the Ioniq 6 is a real treat, with loads of kick – even in Eco mode – and feeling both comfortable and agile in equal measure.

Design elements like active air flaps at the front, wheel air curtains, an integrated rear spoiler plus wheel gap reducers all contribute to the car’s dynamic superiority. In fact the car’s drag coefficient of 0.21 is one of the lowest in the motor industry.

This also contributes to the Ioniq 6 having a driving range of 322 miles, a figure we were fairly close to matching over the course of a busy week that took in trips to the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and a congested city centre at rush hour.

Find a 350kw rapid charger and the Hyundai’s battery can reach 80 per cent in around 20 minutes, though the favoured – and far cheaper – option is to get a home wallbox.

So there’s much to recommend the Ioniq 6, especially when you add attributes like its comprehensive safety features and 10-year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery. You can even choose from an ambient lighting spectrum of 64 colours and six pre-selected themes to help occupants feel relaxed and comfortable.