Test – Hyundai Ioniq 6: first opinion behind the wheel

We made our first laps at the wheel of the Korean maxi-sedan Hyundai Ioniq 6. Is it as efficient as advertised?

It is one of the most anticipated electric cars of the year 2023. With its bold look, its 800 volt system and its range close to 600 km, the large Korean sedan (4.85 m) has a priori several solid arguments against the competition.

Especially since we are trying this week the version most favorable to efficiency with its single permanent magnet synchronous motor located on the rear axle (229 hp), its 18-inch wheels and its Hankook tires typed electric. Only the camera mirrors are missing, losing about twenty kilometers of range compared to WLTP certification (614 km).

This Tuesday, we traveled our first kilometers on board. Sitting behind the wheel, we discover a slightly modified dashboard compared to its sister – the Ioniq 5. It retains the two horizontal screens of 12.3 inches (instrumentation and infotainment) but replaces the XXL space left empty between front passengers through a center console.

Surprisingly, the driving position is rather raised in a cabin offering a beautiful panoramic view, except for the rear. Ergonomics is more questionable with controls for opening the windows on the central console and very limited storage on the door side. Plastics – partially recycled – present more or less well depending on the area. The infotainment system is complete and fast. Only the crowd of menus can put off at first sight.

At the rear, the legroom is exceptional (the word is not too strong, with nearly 40 cm in front of our knees), but we were much less seduced by the seats. The rear passengers suffer from a seat that is a little too tilted towards the rear, while the low headroom can disturb tall people. Or people who – like the author of this article – have short legs and a big trunk. The 230 volt interior socket is located at the bottom of the bench seat.

The trunk disappoints. If its capacity limited to 401 liters already leaves something to be desired (a Tesla Model 3 offers more for a more contained template), access is restricted by the absence of a tailgate and a high-placed floor. The presence of the 40-litre “frunk” only partially corrects this defect.

Once the ignition is on, you find yourself driving a sedan with a serious temperament. Devoid of pneumatic damping and bordering on 2 tons, the Ioniq 6 is logically firm at low speed. On the other hand, the adjustment seems relevant to us beyond 50 km / h, with little roll in curves or parasitic body movements on degraded pavement.

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If the soundproofing of the glazing does not seem to us to be of the first order, rolling noise is remarkably controlled. The steering is very smooth in urban use, but lacks precision – even in Sport mode – when you want to explore the limits of the machine. On a winding road, the character of propulsion is felt if one exaggerates a tad. Acceleration – 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds – is more than enough for all road situations.

Our first test run at the wheel of 156 km (including a good half of the highway at 130 km/h) resulted in an average consumption of 17.8 kWh/100 km. If we take into account the 77.4 kWh of net battery capacity, this brings us to a range of around 450 kilometers in the cool and windy conditions encountered on Tuesday. Note: our vehicle in the Executive finish is fitted with a heat pump and has a Cd of 0.22.

The sedan logically does much better than the Ioniq 5 SUV, which is far from being a champion of efficiency. Its figures are therefore comparable with the Tesla Model 3, shorter (by 16 cm) and less expensive since the “sales” launched by Elon Musk than the streamline from Hyundai.

We still have many points to check, starting with the charging power on the fast terminal, announced at 239 kW announced by the manufacturer. See you in a few days for our complete video test.

The complete text and video test of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 with its technical analysis, its prices and the figures for autonomy over a longer route will be available at the end of the week on Automobile Propre.