Photos by Paul Borden

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 25, 2023) A year after introducing the Ioniq 5, Hyundai has brought a sedan version of the all-electric SUV to market that has a sexier profile than the boxy crossover with the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6. The two share a platform and battery packs and have similar powertrains and comfortable, functional interiors filled with plentiful user-friendly technology.  Some analysts see it as competition for Tesla’s Model 3, pretty heady company for the South Korean automaker.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 doesn’t have quite the hauling capacity with only 11.6 cubic feet of rear storage space to the 27.2 cubic feet in the Ioniq 5 has with all seats in place. But the Ioniq 6 boasts increased driving range with three trim levels offering well over 300 miles between charges.

In fact, Hyundai claims of a range of 361 miles for the rear-wheel-drive SE trim and 316 for the all-wheel version trim. The best rating for the Ioniq 5 is 303 miles when equipped with the larger battery.

Standard range models for the Ioniq 6 and the Ioniq 5 are 240 and 220 miles, respectively, so it pays to go for the upgraded trims with the higher capacity batteries whichever trim you choose.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited trim that served as my ride for the week came with all-wheel drive, limiting range to a still generous 270 miles. You can coax a few more miles out of by driving in Eco mode and not suffer much in the way of performance.

Of course, the opposite applies as well. Selecting Sport mode for extended times is going to shave a few miles off maximum range.

Not that you are likely to spend a lot of time in Sport mode. With 320 horsepower and 448 pound-feet of torque at your right foot, the 2023 AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited seems quicker than the 5.1-second, zero-to-60 mph clocking the company claims. In fact, Edmunds.com caught it at 4.7 seconds so there you go.

Performance isn’t the only thing the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 has going for it. It also has a striking appearance. With four doors, it is considered a sedan but the sloping roofline gives it the seek profile of a sporty coupe.

All trims (SE, SEL, Limited) come with safety features like blind-spot collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention warning while Limited trims add a surround view monitor and blind-spot view monitor that is activated by your turn signals, flashing an image of what is coming up behind you in your instrument panel.

Other standard comfort and convenience features in the 2023 Hyundai Limited’s roomy cabin (42.3 inches of legroom up front, 39.2 in the second row) include a proximity key with push-button start, Smart cruise control and parking assist, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual automatic climate control with rear vents, wireless device charging, Bose premium audio, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, tilt-and-telescoping steering column, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited rides on 20-inch alloy wheels and features LED headlights, daytime running lights, and taillights, and a wide sunroof. Seating surfaces are covered by Hyundai’s H-Tex synthetic leather. Both front seats on the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited are power-adjustable 8 ways.

With such a long list of standard features, the only extra added to starting MSRP of $56,100 for the AWD Ioniq 6 Limited were $210 for floor mats and $1,115 for freight charges, bringing the final total to $57,425.

The SE with the Standard Range battery and single 111 kilowatt motor starts at $41,600. SE and SEL trims with RWD and the 168 kW battery pack start at  $45,500 and $47,700, respectively, with AWD adding $3,500.

The RWD Ioniq 6 Limited starts at $52,600.

What I liked about the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited: Styling overall has a futuristic look without being overly funky. Acceleration is smooth and immediate. You blink and you’re up to 40 mph before you realize it. Increased range also gives Ioniq 6 the edge over Ioniq 5.

What I didn’t like about the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited: The setup for selecting gears is a little weird. You turn a knob at the end of a stalk sticking out from the steering column. All-wheel drive models lose about 35 miles of range in comparable trims. Rear cargo space is coupe-like.

Would I buy the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited? As I said in my review on the Ioniq 5  I’m still waiting for infrastructure to catch up to the EV world before going all-in on an electric vehicle. The Ioniq 6 has good range, however, to ease fears in that department  and if you are looking for something with a sportier the profile than the Ioniq 5 it is a good choice.