New 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 starts from £46,745

The new Hyundai Ioniq 6 is available to order now, with a new entry-level model bringing the price down to £46,745. The Ioniq 6 follows on from the Ioniq 5 as Hyundai’s second bespoke electric car and is nicknamed the ‘Electric Streamliner’ by the Korean brand.

Using much of the same technology as our 2021 Car of the Year, the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 sits on the E-GMP platform, which can be fitted with either a 58kWh or 77.4 kWh battery pack. However, by using the very latest technology and with its super-slippery shape (it has a drag coefficient of just 0.21Cd), the Ioniq 6 offers up to 338 miles of range compared to the Ioniq 5’s 315 miles. 

Every £54,995 First Edition model has been reserved according to Hyundai, so the range now comprises two models. Kicking off the Ioniq 6 range is Premium which utilises the same 77.4kWh battery as the more expensive Ultimate version. As with the Ultimate trim level, there’s a choice of rear or four-wheel drive. 

The rear-wheel drive comes with 225bhp and 350Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 115mph. The more powerful four-wheel drive model produces 321bhp and 605Nm of torque, lowering the 0-62mph time to 5.1 seconds. The top speed remains the same across all variants, while in the more powerful model, the maximum range drops to 322 miles. 

As standard the Ioniq 6 Premium gets 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lights front and rear, electronically adjustable and heated front seats, a wireless phone charger, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The four-wheel drive Premium starts from £50,245. 

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The Ioniq 6 Ultimate starts from £50,245 in rear-wheel drive guise and £53,745 with four-wheel drive. Ultimate models get driver seat memory function along with ventilated seats, an electric sunroof, blind-spot monitoring, a head-up display, remote parking assist and an upgraded sound system. 

All versions of the Ioniq 6 receive an 800v onboard charging system with 350kW ultra-fast charger compatibility. Hyundai says customers will get a free one-year subscription to the IONITY Premium package. 

Hyundai’s E-GMP architecture can support both 400V and 800V charging, with 800V charging as standard. Using a rapid charger, the Ioniq 6 can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.

The Ioniq 6 is pitched into battle against the likes of the Nissan Ariya, as well as Tesla’s Model 3 and the Polestar 2. However, the Ioniq has one ace up its sleeve: rear space.

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At 4,855mm it’s longer than its main rivals, including the Tesla, and with a wheelbase of 2,950mm it offers impressive rear space. A six-foot-tall rear passenger can sit behind a similarly sized driver with considerably more kneeroom than in rivals, while the sloping roofline doesn’t impinge on headroom, either.

However, unlike some rivals, the Ioniq 6 is a saloon only, with a narrow opening for luggage, while Hyundai hasn’t yet revealed details of the boot’s overall capacity.

The Ioniq 6’s dash follows a similar theme to the 5 with dual 12-inch infotainment and driver display screens on the dashboard. There are additional screens sitting in wings at each end of the dash, too, for the camera system that can replace traditional door mirrors – likely to be on top-spec models only in the UK.

The car's electric window switches are located in the centre console to provide a slim and clutter-free door panel that can be cleverly lit with reflected patterns in up to 64 colours. A Speed Sync Lighting mode can change the brightness of the interior lighting in the front of the cabin based on the car’s speed, too.

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Further gadgetry includes an EV Performance Tune-up system, which allows the driver to tweak steering effort, electric motor power, accelerator pedal sensitivity and driveline modes. And e-ASD, a sound technology, changes the spaceship-like sound inside the car based on the vehicle’s driving status

Auto Express expects an Ioniq 6 N model to join the line-up at some stage, too. Although Hyundai wouldn’t confirm a performance version, an Ioniq 6 N model could also link nicely to the Ioniq 6 replacing the Veloster N in the all-electric ETCR e-Touring Car World Cup racing series.

Now read our list of the best electric cars on sale right now...