The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the saloon version of the Ioniq 5, which has been a tremendous value-for-money electric crossover from the South Korean giant. The former is set to enter the market as a 2024 model, with a bigger 77.4-kWh battery pack and a more streamlined body. These factors will enhance the overall range, which is said to be more than 380 miles per full charge. However, did Hyundai unleash a nightmare for its top rival: the Tesla Model 3? I think there is more than what meets the eye.

The Ioniq 6 Could be an Instant Winner

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, the first full-electric SUV from the sub-brand Ioniq, was launched in February 2021. Since then, it has gained a lot of attention for its out-of-the-box design cues and modern-looking interior, compared to other Hyundai cars with pretty conventional looks. If you didn't know, the Ioniq sub-brand will introduce more cars in the future with the positioning of a 1–9 scale. So the position of 5 has been taken, and now it is time for the sixth member to come forth.

The Ioniq 6 is officially out with all the technical specs you need to know. It rides on the same Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) as the Ioniq 5 crossover, the Genesis GV60, and the Kia EV6, which are its corporate cousins. However, compared to the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 has a shorter 116.1-inch wheelbase and a longer 191.1-inch body. The overall body curvature and the sleek profile of the Ioniq 6 contribute to a lower 0.21 drag coefficient. In fact, it is not far away from Mercedes-Benz EQXX’s drag coefficient of 0.17, but it is much better than its SUV brother.

E-GMP Platform for the Win!

As for the powertrain, the details will be very similar to the Ioniq 5 since they both share the same platform. You will be offered to either choose a single-motor RWD variant or a more powerful AWD variant with dual motors. Hyundai, however, did not disclose the power figures of the single-motor variant. Still, the dual-motor Ioniq 6 will put out 321 ponies and 446 pound-feet of torque, matching the power output of the Ioniq 5. All of this power will be generated from a 53.0-kWh standard battery pack, but there will be long-range variants based on a larger battery pack of 77.4-kWh.

The E-GMP platform architecture gives the Ioniq 6 a taste of a high-voltage charging system, which we have witnessed with its SUV brother. The 800-volt architecture allows up to 350 kW DC fast charging, which can top up the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 18 minutes. The Model 3 takes up to 45 minutes with its Supercharging tech.

Impressive Electric Range

The Ioniq 5 AWD’s 256 miles of overall range is not bad, but Hyundai promises better efficiency with the Ioniq 6. The new electric saloon is more efficient than the Ioniq 5 thanks to its slippery body and improved powertrain. With the bigger 77.4-kWh battery pack and RWD setup, the Ioniq 6 could deliver more than 380 miles. Compared to the Model 3 Long Range, the Ioniq 6 should deliver about 70 miles more.

Hyundai also disclosed that the smaller 53.0-kWh battery pack, with 18-inch wheels and the RWD setup, will consume as low as 14-kWh/62 miles, according to the WLTP. On the other hand, the Ioniq 5 consumes 34-kWh/100 miles, so we can predict that the saloon would drain about 10-kWh with the EPA testing.

Is the Ioniq 6 a direct threat to the Tesla regime?

Tesla’s Model 3 is the all-time best-selling EV sedan, with 500,000 examples sold globally as per 2021 records. Introduced in 2017, the Model 3 is still in its first generation and has stayed the same from the design perspective. So to our senses, we feel that the Model 3 is not the sportiest-looking EV saloon, and now that we have a worthy competitor, the shift in the market share will happen sooner than we thought.

Not to forget how unreliable Teslas are, the 2021 Model 3 has been recalled 11 times. The previous iterations faced even worse circumstances, with 12 recalls for the 2020 and 2019 model years. So when it is placed against the likes of Hyundai, which is known for its reliability, the Ioniq 6 may be the better choice.

If you are ready to take this argument to the next topic where technologies are involved, let me disappoint you by saying Ioniq 6 has all of it. There are two 12-inch displays whacked onto the dashboard. One is a fully digital instrument console, and the other is an infotainment display. Unlike the Model 3’s finicky user interface, the Ioniq 6 has a simple one. However, if you are not comfortable with either of them, Ioniq 6 has the support of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Here goes another point to the Hyundai side of things.

Hyundai's latest iteration of SmartSense safety tech, which is equivalent to Tesla’s Autopilot, will be incorporated into the Ioniq 6 sedan. This means all the semi-autonomous driving tech, including Highway Driver Assist 2, Smart Cruise Control, and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, will be a part of the newest member of the Ioniq sub-brand.

Final Thoughts

Hyundai Motor’s “Electrified Streamliner” Ioniq 6 redefines the limits of electric mobility, and it is expected to be priced somewhere between $40,000-45,000. The South Korean auto giant has confirmed that the Ioniq 6 will go into production sometime in August or September. However, the market launch date is not yet confirmed, but we expect it to be around mid-2023. With its retro-modern design cues, the Ioniq 5’s attention does not go unnoticed. Similarly, with the Ioniq 6, Hyundai has taken the design game to another level, along with better electric mileage and features. To put it right, Hyundai is devoting itself to making things difficult for non-EV enthusiasts with examples like the stunning Ioniq 6.