The all-new 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 made the biggest impression at the 2022 LA Auto Show, at least among production cars, and for good reason. Uniquely eye-catching with styling that defies conventional styling cues and befits Hyundai’s more “streamlined” description, the Ioniq 6 joins a growing line-up of promising and easy-to-use all-electric cars.
Other staff rave about the Ioniq 6’s exterior design, and while I like it and it’s growing on me, I’m even more lukewarm: the proportions don’t look quite right, and there’s probably one more rear spoiler than I like.
The Ioniq 6 rides on the same general platform as the Ioniq 5, but has a slightly shorter wheelbase. Despite this, the interior feels almost as spacious. The cabin feels more enclosed, with a center console that extends all the way to the dashboard (unlike the Ioniq 5’s expansive space), but there’s still plenty of storage space. In an interesting interface decision, Hyundai moved the window switches from the front doors to the center console to increase storage space; This doesn’t seem to add more space to it, but it does create a nicer door handle that runs almost the entire length of the front doors. The downside can be that this gap collects crumbs, dust, chips and other traditional car debris.
In the back, the sloping roofline eats into headroom, especially for taller passengers, but there’s enough legroom that even NBA-sized passengers should be able to squeeze their way inside. Nice position. A flat floor also increases the sense of volume.
There is plenty of storage space in the trunk, but the Ioniq 6 is no secret an affordable sedan or liftback; The trunk in the back is more than the trunk of a sedan. Based on a visual test at the show alone, the cargo bay seemed narrower, but we’ll have to measure it ourselves to see how the Ioniq 6 compares to other vehicles.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the Ioniq 6 is its reliance on outdated infotainment technology. There’s no wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and while there are four USB-C charging ports, the only Dataport is the USB-A format. This problem is consistent across the brand, equally confusing and frustrating at the same time. Hyundai says the Ioniq 6 can update its firmware wirelessly, a first for the brand.
We were impressed with the charging capabilities of the Ioniq 5’s electric powertrain, and since the Ioniq 6 shares the same EV architecture, it doesn’t look like it will disappoint. Hyundai also promises that the Ioniq 6 will have more range, though we’re still waiting for official EPA ratings.
Given how much we love the Ioniq 5, the sleeker and more driver-focused Ioniq 6 is full of promise that we can’t wait to test.
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