2024 HYUNDAI IONIQ 6

HYUNDAI HIT THE SWEET SPOT IN BRINGING OUT INAUGURAL IONIQ 6 EV LAST YEAR

Hyundai brought its Ioniq 6 all-electric sedan to market as a 2023 model and has made no significant changes to the 2024 version, which to me is an indication designers and engineers did it right the first time.

Extended range, a long list of standard features, user-friendly tech features, and distinctive but not overly funky looks are just some of the things working in the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6’s favor.

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 offers the choice of rear- or all-wheel driver, a standard or long-range battery, a smooth, quiet ride (depending on road surfaces), a generous driving range, and fairly fast charging times by today’s standards.

Like its predecessor, the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 comes in three trims with the base RWD SE Standard Range (240 miles) carrying the advantage of a starting price under $40,000. Its single electric motor checks out at 249 horsepower.

Upping the range and power on SE and SEL trims with RWD takes you into the mid-$40,000 range, but the all-wheel drive SE and SELs still stay under $50,000 as a starting price. The RWD SE with 18-inch wheels and long-range battery has an advertised ranage of 361 miles.

RWD SEL models with 18-inch wheels boast a range of 305 miles, and AWD SELs with 18-inch wheels are listed as delivering 316 miles of range.

The top-of-the-line Limited trim for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 ventures into the plus-$50,000 level for both RWD and AWD models. My test 2024 AWD Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited Long Range had a starting MSRP of $53,650.

The good news with such a long list of standard features the only extra cost was carpet mats and freight and handling, making the total $54,975.

Those features include 20-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, LED headlights and taillights, LED daytime running lights, proximity key and push-button start, a surround-view monitor, blind-spot alert, Smart (adaptive) cruise control, heated and ventilated front seats, Hyundai’s H-Tex synthetic seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual climate control, wireless device charging, rain-sensing windshield wipers, Bose Premium audio, Hyundai’s BlueLink services, and a 12-3-inch screen for infotainment features that include navigation.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Bluetooth services also are standard.

Standard safety features include forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, parking distance warning, and driver attention warning. Also included is a Blind Spot monitor in the instrument panel that when activated by your turn signal gives you a view of what is coming up behind you on the side  

Horsepower and torque numbers for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited with AWD and dual electric motors are 320 and a healthy 446,, respectively, but range for AWD models is trimmed to a more modest 270 miles.

Eco mode increases range a bit and Sport mode knocks off a couple of miles. Frankly I’m suspicious of the claim of 361 miles for the SE with RWD and 18-inch wheels, but my testimony wouldn’t hold up in court.

The display on my test Ioniq 6 Limited (AWD and 20-inch wheels) showed a range of 270 miles on a charge of just over 90 percent, which is impressive.

The Ioniq 6 went on sale just over a year ago, topped the 1,000 in sales last July and hit over 2,000 last December. But they have dropped to under 1,000 in each of the first two months of this year, so it might be a good time to act if you’re interested in a functional, good-looking, and top-performing EV.

What I liked about the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited: Styling hasn’t changed from the 2023 model and has a futuristic look without being overly funky. The red exterior color has a nice deep hue. Acceleration is smooth and throttle response immediate. Range on a full charge is impressive and recharging times are fairly quick. MSRP covers a wide range of standard feature on the Limited trim. 

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 storage space is a snug 11.2 cubic feet but a front space (frunk) offers another 0.5 cubic feet.

Would I buy the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited? Not until the infrastructure catches up and charging is more like a stop at a gas station instead of a long drawn hassle of seeking charging outlets that are working.