Futuristic electric four-door coupé touches down, but does it deserve your time and space? On sale Now Price from £47,040
Neil Winn neil.winn@haymarket.com
YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD people claim that car design is dead, with more and more models looking tediously similar, but we’re not convinced that’s true. Take the Hyundai Ioniq 6 for example. Inspired by concepts as disparate as the art-deco streamliners of the 1950s and nostalgic eight-bit video games from the 1980s (hence the distinctive pixel-look lighting), this electric four-door coupé looks quite unlike anything else currently on sale.
The Ioniq 6 is based on the same underpinnings as the Ioniq 5 (itself a striking design), but the two cars fulfil different roles. The 5 is aimed at those looking for a practical family car; the longer, sleeker 6 is angled towards anyone looking for something a little more sophisticated, indulgent and driver-focused.
This positioning might lead you to expect a big price difference between the two cars, but that isn’t the case. The Ioniq 6 lineup starts at £47,040, so the rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions are only around £100 pricier than an equivalent Ioniq 5.
A bigger difference lies in the way the cars drive. With firmer suspension and a lower profile than the 5 (the latter helping to lower the car’s centre of gravity), the 6 feels tauter and more agile. Turn in to a corner at whatever speed you choose and not only does it resist body lean in a similar manner to the hunkered-down Tesla Model 3, but it also hangs on doggedly to your chosen line. In other words, it is very capable, especially in four-wheel-drive form, in which its 321bhp and all-weather traction take it from 0-62mph in just 5.1sec.
However, we’d stop short of calling it fun. Whereas a BMW i4 M50 or entry-level Porsche Taycan involve you in the driving experience with their feelsome steering and playful nature, the Ioniq 6’s light and rather numb steering and brakes rob you of some engagement.
Until we can try the sportier N version that’s in the pipeline, we reckon the entry-level 225bhp rear-wheel-drive model is the sweet spot in the range. It’s more than quick enough (0-62mph takes 7.4sec), and while both it and the four-wheel-drive model have an official range of more than 300 miles, the rear-wheel-drive car is likely to be more efficient in the real world.
In terms of cruising manners, the Ioniq 6’s ride could afford to be a little more supple; it never quite settles down over broken urban surfaces,
