The all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan is Automobile and Driver’s 2023 EV of the Yr, following within the footsteps of its hatchback/crossover/SUV sibling, the Ioniq 5, which gained the identical award final 12 months.
That is removed from the primary award acquired by the South Korean zero-emissions, banana-shaped sedan: it beforehand gained the 2023 World Automobile of the Yr, 2023 World Electrical Automobile, and 2023 World Automobile Design awards, so Automobile and Driver’s prize comes to substantiate as soon as once more that Hyundai should be doing one thing proper in terms of EVs.
Among the many praises sung by the publication, the Korean automotive group’s E-GMP platform was proper and heart, with good phrases describing the ample energy figures that vary from 149 horsepower for the bottom rear-wheel-drive model to 320 hp for the dual-motor all-wheel drive variant.
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The driving vary can also be an essential a part of the award, with as much as 361 miles (EPA estimate) on a full cost supplied by the single-motor SE trim, though Automobile and Driver notes that it noticed solely 260 miles on its 75-mile-per-hour freeway take a look at. However even when the projected vary wasn’t so long as the official determine, the Ioniq 6 managed to hit an effectivity determine of 140 MPGe mixed, topping the rear-wheel-drive Tesla Mannequin 3’s 132 MPGe.
However specs are simply one of many speaking factors that satisfied the publication to provide its prize to the Hyundai sedan:
“The Ioniq 6’s strong construction is imperturbable, lending the automobile real composure over lumpy pavement on probably the most difficult sections of our take a look at loop,” Automobile and Driver says. “The experience is taut and effectively damped, and the automobile stays flat and safe throughout cornering. Hyundai has additionally mastered the “whoa,” with good brake-pedal really feel and straightforward customization of lift-off regen by way of steering-wheel paddles, together with the choice of none in any respect.”
It’s not all good, although, with C&D saying that Hyundai hasn’t mastered the EV soundtrack, which led its editors and testers to silence the substitute noise generator, which allowed the Ioniq 6 to point out off its sound isolation.
Right here is the publication’s conclusion relating to the all-electric Hyundai:
“The Ioniq 6 is each a well-executed electrical and a automobile we need to drive. This polished EV makes few missteps because it places Hyundai’s E-GMP platform within the winner’s circle. Once more.”
This 12 months, Automobile and Driver examined 14 contenders for its third EV of the Yr award. Moreover the Hyundai Ioniq 6, the opposite 13 autos examined have been the Audi This autumn e-tron, BMW i7, Cadillac Lyriq AWD, Genesis Electrified GV70, GMC Hummer EV SUV, Kia EV6 GT, Kia Niro EV, Lexus RZ450e, Lucid Air Pure AWD, Mercedes-Benz EQE350 4Matic+, Nissan Ariya, Toyota bZ4X, and VinFast VF8.
As you’ll be able to see, there aren’t any Tesla fashions on the record, however that’s as a result of C&D solely considers new or considerably up to date vehicles for its annual comparability take a look at of EVs, and Tesla doesn’t have an all-new car on sale for the 2023 mannequin 12 months. It additionally didn’t closely replace any of its fashions this 12 months, however is predicted to disclose the facelifted Mannequin 3 “Highland” and all-new Cybertruck towards the tip of the 12 months.
In the US, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 begins at $41,600 for the bottom SE Normal Vary trim that comes with a single rear-mounted 149-hp electrical motor and an EPA estimated vary of 240 miles. The costliest variant, the Restricted, goes from $52,600 and features a rear-mounted 225-hp electrical motor, in addition to an EPA-estimated vary of 305 miles. The all-wheel drive choice which will increase the ability output to 320 hp prices an additional $3,500.