Automotive
The electric vehicle (EV) movement, while it has somewhat stalled a bit, remains to be very relevant in the massive scope of what Americans want in a new vehicle. Hyundai has kept with the EV movement’s pace and looks to not let off the throttle much in the coming years as vehicles like the Ioniq 6 that we have in this week continue to be impressive EV offerings.
While we already experienced the Ioniq 6 for a full review, getting our hands on one again this year reminds us of what we love about Hyundai’s approach to EVs, including having some of the quickest-charging EVs on the current market. For a mid-sized EV sedan, the Ioniq 6 takes what we loved in the Ioniq 5 and elevates its efficiency, which is afforded by its sleek body that’s mostly unique in its design. Such a design gives the Ioniq 6 slippery surfaces that, in turn, capture excellent EPA figures of around 111 MPGe city and 94 MPGe highway. Those figures are the real deal as I was able to get 3.3 mi/kWh on average with mixed driving conditions, which mostly equates to 111 MPGe.
Apart from the remarkable efficiency scores, the Ioniq 6 is unique in its own right with its clever curvaceous design proportions coupled with the 20-inch wheels and dot-matrix-styled lights everywhere. Such a theme is a neat play on its Ioniq 5 sibling making a special design statement. The slopping roof line does the trick to add a sporty style that also adds a unique character to the Ioniq 6 that turns many heads.
Powered by dual electric motors, the all-wheel-drive long-range Ioniq 6 Limited has a total of 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. That power feels much more than what’s stated on paper as the Ioniq 6 gets up to 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds. Power is mostly consistent until you utilize the Eco drive mode, where things become more relaxed, and 100% throttle isn’t 100% of what you can get out of the motors – something to be mindful of when utilizing such a mode. Otherwise, Normal and Sport drive modes give you the full beans upon full throttle applications. Where the Ioniq 6 really shines is its pleasant driving character, where it feels and adapts better than the Ioniq 5, in my opinion. There’s more of a cohesive drive and ride quality that nicely balances sport and comfort, even with the fixed-rate dampers. In fact, I don’t remember the Ioniq 6 riding this well when I first experienced it a couple of years ago. Maybe Hyundai did some retuning that I don’t know about. Either way, there’s a lot to like in how the Ioniq 6 behaves on the road to hide some of its typical EV mass and exhibit a very good ride quality and handling abilities. Moreover, the braking feel is pretty good for its class, and the transitions from regen braking to use of the friction brakes are excellent with no noticeable switch over.
For the latest model year, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 continues to impress with a range of powertrain options and standout efficiency. The base SE Standard Range trim offers 149 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque from a single rear motor, while stepping up to the SE or SEL Long Range RWD trims boosts output to 225 horsepower with the same torque, delivering up to 361 miles of range in the SE or 305 miles in the SEL.
Opting for all-wheel drive increases power to match the AWD Limited model’s performance but reduces range to 270 miles. In everyday driving, the AWD Limited model meets and often exceeds its 270-mile estimate in Normal mode, and with Eco mode around town, it’s possible to exceed 280 miles. Surprisingly, I saw as much as 292 miles of range in my 2025 Ioniq 6 Limited AWD test vehicle. Of course, as mentioned earlier, charging is among the fastest available on the market, taking just 18 minutes to go from 10% to 80% using a 350kW DC fast charger, or just over 7 hours to reach 100% from 10% on a 40-amp Level 2 charger. Hyundai doesn’t mess around for being the king of quick charging here in America, and for that, I thank them!
Inside of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited is an inviting cabin that has many premium attributes that potentially allow such a vehicle to punch above its class. There are plenty of useful feature sets and display real estate to appease most, including heated and ventilated front seats, a 12.3-inch dual-screen setup with a mostly user-friendly touchscreen infotainment system, color-selectable LED ambient lighting, cleverly placed soft touch surfaces, surprisingly spacious seating areas, and the unique dot-matrix theme elements throughout. The one headscratcher remains that there is no wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, only USB-connected integration of such. Lacking the wireless connectivity is strange as there is a convenient wireless smartphone charging pad. I suppose there is always next year to hope for wireless integration.
Remaining at the forefront of safety, the Ioniq 6 Limited combines all of the expected active safety features and takes the autonomous driving case up a small notch with its Highway Driving Assist (HAD) system, but still requires a hand on the steering wheel. Otherwise, there’s the welcoming, unique feature of having the blind-spot monitor that displays a live camera feed of the blind spot in the digital gauge cluster when you signal, along with a 360-degree camera setup for backing up or parking.
Hyundai continues to impress and with all of the uncertainty of pricing of goods these days, they have somehow managed to keep pricing respectable and not ever-so-increasing for vehicles like the new Ioniq 6. In fact, the pricing hasn’t increased over the few years of the Ioniq 6’s existence with my nearly loaded up test vehicle pricing out at $56,330, which includes a $1,150 inland freight and handling charge. Way to go, Hyundai! Now, let’s bring on that Ioniq 6 N!
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Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice in the automotive media world for over two decades. With 20+ years of hands-on experience covering the industry, Malcolm has built a reputation for delivering honest reviews, sharp insights, and in-depth coverage of everything from new car debuts to high-performance test drives. Passionate about the evolving car culture and staying ahead of the curve, Malcolm continues to lead Automotive Addicts as a go-to destination for enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.
