On Tuesday, Hyundai announced important details about its sleek, new Ioniq 6 all-electric sedan. This slippery, wind-cheating four-door has just completed testing with the EPA, and the car’s range and efficiency numbers look pretty spectacular.
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In its most-efficient form, the Ioniq 6 is estimated by the EPA to return 140 MPGe, that’s about 4.2 miles per kilowatt-hour. That SE model with the long-range battery pack and 18-inch wheels also promises to offer 361 miles of range on a single charge, an astounding figure for a mass-market EV, one that is significantly better than the 340 Hyundai estimated when it unveiled this vehicle late last year. The all-wheel-drive version of the SE trim (also rolling on 18s) is still impressive, returning an estimated 121 MPGe (3.6 miles per kWh) and offering 316 miles of range.
Not surprisingly, opting for higher-trim models decreases both range and efficiency. The rear-drive SEL grade with 20-inch rollers is estimated at 305 miles and 117 MPGe (3.5 miles per kWh), while the same version with four driven wheels is rated at 270 and 103 (3.1 miles per kWh), respectively. Lastly, the highfalutin Ioniq 6 Limited in both rear- and all-wheel-drive forms should return the same numbers as the SEL variant.
How did Hyundai engineers deliver such impressive efficiency and range? Well, a major factor is the Ioniq 6’s slippery body, which reportedly has a 0.22 coefficient of drag. That performance is aided by the car’s nose-down front end, active aerodynamic components, rear spoiler with integral winglet, full underbody shielding and boat tail taper to the body, among many other things.
Ioniq 6 SE RWD Long Range (18-inch wheels)
361 miles, 140 MPGe, 4.2 mi/kWh
Ioniq 6 SE AWD Long Range (18-inch wheels)
316 miles, 121 MPGe, 3.6 mi/kWh
Ioniq 6 SEL RWD (20-inch wheels)
305 miles, 117 MPGe, 3.5 mi/kWh
Ioniq 6 SEL AWD (20-inch wheels)
270 miles, 103 MPGe, 3.1 mi/kWh
Ioniq 6 Limited RWD (20-inch wheels)
305 miles, 117 MPGe, 3.5 mi/kWh
Ioniq 6 Limited AWD (20-inch wheels)
270 miles, 103 MPGe, 3.1 mi/kWh
In a release announcing the Ioniq 6’s EPA range and efficiency estimates, Olabisi Boyle, vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor North America said improving vehicle efficiency is a “top priority” for the automaker, though there are many ways of doing this. “Instead of just adding a larger battery to increase the range, we chose to optimize [the] Ioniq 6’s aerodynamic performance and its Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) for efficiency to produce these long driving ranges,” Boyle added. This is a thoughtful and precise approach. It’s easy to increase the range of an EV by installing a larger battery; doing the same by focusing on bolstering a car’s overall efficiency is much more challenging, though Hyundai appears to have succeeded with the Ioniq 6.
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When it comes to performance, this Hyundai will offers customers several flavors from which to choose. The standard range rear-wheel-drive model should feature a 53-kilowatt-hour battery pack and provide 149 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Rear-drive versions with the larger, 77.4-kWh battery are appreciably more potent, delivering 225 hp and the same 258 lb-ft of twist. Finally, performance enthusiasts are sure to appreciate the all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6, which will deliver 320 hp and 446 lb-ft.
The 2023 Ioniq 6 offers distinctive styling and a premium interior, but if those attributes aren’t enough to sell you on this streamlined sedan, perhaps its stellar efficiency and excellent range will. This new Hyundai is expected to go on sale in the spring, so look for it at dealerships sooner than later.
