Hyundai Ioniq 6 imminent: what to expect

Hyundai’s eagerly-awaited, polarisingly-styled Ioniq 6 EV reaches Australia in a matter of weeks, so what can we expect from the all-new ultra-aero sedan?

For starters, we know it’s basically an Ioniq 5 under its skin and initially we’ll only be getting the highest-specification (and priciest) AWD version. That means 239kW, 605Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h time of 5.1-seconds.

Its price? North of $80,000 plus on-roads would seem reasonable considering Hyundai asks $77,500 for its current range-topping Ioniq 5 AWD Techniq.

As for range, well, that’s a bit more complex. In ultimate aero specification (RWD and on 18-inch wheels) the Ioniq 6 offers 614km (WLTP) from its 77.4kWh battery. Ioniq 5s now use this same larger battery, up from the previous 72.6kWh unit.

The Ioniq 6 we’ll get from launch has two motors, all-wheel-drive and arch-filing 20-inch rims, but electric range of this model is a less headline-grabbing 519km.

Showing the price of style, these big rims may look the business but are crippling to electric range. They bring an approximate 10 per cent drop in range versus one equipped with 18-inch wheels.

Read our pre-launch test drive of the Ioniq 6 AWD here.

Will there be stock?

The Ioniq 6’s availability – especially versus demand – is another key question.

Just look at the Ioniq 5. Its last Australian batch sold out in six minutes, and only roughly 900 have found homes here since its late 2021 launch, despite many thousands desperate to hand over money for one.

But will buyers have the same dramas getting hold of one of these ‘Electrified Streamliners?’ “We’re hoping for a greater volume than Ioniq 5, but we just don’t know,” said Hyundai Australia’s Bill Thomas. “But it’s going to be limited numbers.”

What specification for the Ioniq 6?

We sampled the range-topping AWD in South Korea and its inclusions were mighty. Will our market receive likewise? “It’ll be pretty close,” said Mr Thomas. “I believe the only thing we’re not getting that Korea does is the Highway Driving Assist 2 functionality with lane changing, but Australia’s final specification is still to be confirmed.”

That means our Ioniq 6’s get 800V ultra-fast charging (10 to 80 per cent in about 18 minutes at an ultra rapid charger), vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality to charge/power your electric devices, digital side mirrors, active air flaps in the lower bumper, 700 Parametric Pixels (all those cool lights) in and around the car, 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12-inch digital driver display and dual colour ambient lighting.

Other goodies include eco-process leather seats, recycled fishing net carpets, four type-C and one type-A USB ports, an EV Performance Tune-up function for adjusting the likes of motor power and accelerator sensitivity, spaceship-type sound (can be turned off), Bose audio, and Hyundai’s SmartSense driver assistance including semi-autonomous features.

While Hyundai Australia has been in talks with ChargeFox regarding membership – some prestige car brands give complimentary charging subscriptions when you buy the car – Mr Thomas said it’s not something they’d be introducing on Ioniq 6.

Who is going to buy the Ioniq 6?

While the Ioniq 5 is almost universally loved on the design front, the Ioniq 6 may struggle with its curves, ‘busy’ rear end and four-door coupe body – it’s not a liftback, incidentally.

That said, it’s certainly not boring. See one at night with its disco of lights and it’s rather spectacular. This ‘look at me’ styling will surely be of appeal to many.

“Beyond its range, I think it has so much appeal just as a car,” said Mr Thomas. “It’s an amazing looking thing; it’s fast, refined and well-equipped. And its range is probably beyond a lot of people’s concern.”

So who’d buy one over an Ioniq 5? “We’re not sure,” said Mr Thomas. “The general assumption is it’ll be a younger buyer, and maybe a buyer who doesn’t need quite as much space.”

How will people buy one and will they be able to?

Hyundai won’t be changing its current policy of online ordering on a first-come-first-served basis. In short, if you spec your Hyundai EV quickest and press ‘Go’ it seems you’re in with the best chance of landing one.

“I don’t fully understand the algorithms behind it, but it’s a fair first-come-first-served system,” said Mr Thomas. “You need to be ready with your configuration and launch into the site as soon as the window opens. It’s important for us to have the system as fair as possible: we don’t want speculators charging too much for cars.”

Lower specification and RWD Ioniq 6s will come to Australia after the full fat versions, but no set date has been announced. “We want to make sure we broaden the range,” said Mr Thomas.

But will those ready to buy actually be able to get an Ioniq 6 – or the over-subscribed Ioniq 5 – in coming months? “It’s difficult to be really positive about it because supply’s so limited,” explained Mr Thomas. “It’s frustration for us and of course for customers.

When asked when would Australia stop suffering shortages, Mr Thomas said they simply didn’t know. ‘We’ve got pretty good support from the factory and the parent company. The demand is there, but also demand is pretty high in other markets. Supply’s difficult no matter what car you’re building at the moment. It doesn’t need to be an EV; a lot of brands are struggling, but we’re hoping for it to improve.”

Translation? If the Ioniq 6 floats your boat, get ready when that window of opportunity opens and be quick on your keyboard.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 AWD Techniq

Price: Approx. $80,000 plus on-road costs

Basics: EV, 5 seats, 4 doors, ‘Electrified Streamliner’ sedan, AWD

Range: 519-583km (WLTP) – 2WD 18-inch wheel model will be 614km.

Battery capacity: 77.4kWh

Battery warranty: 8 years/160,000km

Energy consumption: 15.1kWh – 16.9kWh/100km

Motors: 1 front and 1 rear, total output 239kW/605Nm

AC charging: 10.5kW, Type 2 plug

DC charging: 230kW, CCS combo plug

0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds