Driven: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Is Sleek And Sexy Electric Power

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is part of Hyundai’s growing lineup of electric vehicles. This sleek sedan is unchanged this model year aside from dropping Digital Green from its range of exterior colors and adding a head-up display to the Limited trim. Otherwise, it’s the same uniquely styled EV that it was last year with peppy performance and plenty of range. We had the opportunity to spend a week with the Ioniq 6; here’s what we think about it.

Exterior Design: Pixels, Pixels, And More Pixels

The most distinctive part of the Ioniq 6 is its exterior style. Even within the Hyundai lineup, it’s a standout. There’s a coupe-like roofline that makes it look sleek and sporty, especially in profile. Up front, it makes a high-tech first impression that’s clean and clutter-free and gives off just a hint of Tesla Model 3 vibes. It’s an attractive sedan.

Where it really stands out, however, is when you get up close. The full Ioniq lineup of vehicles has a pixel design inside and out, which is completely unique. Outside, you see it in the lights on the side mirrors, in the front lights, and most dramatically on the rear spoiler. There are also pixels in the shark fin antenna. We love the look of this thing, but it’s not for everyone. If you want a traditionally styled sedan, then this is not going to appeal to you.

Inside: Minimal And Refined

Inside, that pixel design continues. They replace the badge on the center of the steering wheel and are even worked into a lit pattern to indicate when your smartphone is properly secured and charging on the wireless charging pad. It’s not quite as bold as it is on the exterior, but it is still a part of the theme.

Front seats are comfortable with good support and mild bolstering. The driver gets standard eight-way power adjustability with power lumbar while the passenger gets a six-way power assist that becomes eight-way with lumbar on the top Limited trim. The front seats are heated on all but the base, with the Limited once again getting a little extra with standard ventilated front seats.

Seating surfaces are either cloth or H-Tex, which is an artificial leather that looks good. Gone are the days when fake leather looked hideous. Today’s blends are truly attractive along with being a more environmentally friendly option. Though there’s plenty of room up front, the rear seats are a bit snugger. Three adults had best be good friends before you put them back there and if they’re tall, headroom could be an issue due to that sloped roof.

Cargo Room: Not A Cargo Champ

The rear seats split-fold 60/40 to allow for longer cargo to pass through from the trunk, but cargo room is still limited. There’s a 0.5 cubic-foot frunk with 11.2 cubic feet in the trunk, which is on the low side. If cargo is a priority, then you might want to consider the Ioniq 5. It has the versatility of a crossover with 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 59.3 cubic feet behind the front seats, and a 0.85 cubic-foot frunk. There’s also the all-new three-row Ioniq 9, which is set to go on sale this spring for families who need lots of seating and the cargo room to match.

Although room for larger cargo room isn’t impressive, the interior has great options for storing smaller stuff. The center console has a charging pad tucked forward toward the dashboard with a little spot in front of the cupholders that is perfect for your key. Beneath the console is a long storage space that’s great for larger items. It also has enough of a lip around that edge that items are unlikely to slide out and pose a hazard if you take a sharp corner or make a short stop.

Infotainment: Premium Across The Lineup

The Ioniq 6 offers a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, and a six-speaker audio system as standard features. There is no wireless smartphone connectivity offered, but there is Qi wireless charging on all but the base trim. The only upgrade is an eight-speaker Bose audio system that’s standard on the Limited.

We love the design of the charging pad because it’s out of the way, and it’s raised slightly, so your phone truly locks in and doesn’t constantly slide around. There’s a USB-A charging port up front with two USB-C ports in the center console and two more on the back of that console for rear passengers. Hyundai gets a gold star for providing enough charging ports for everyone.

Performance and Charging: Range That Won’t Cause Anxiety

The Ioniq 6 is available in three different configurations when it comes to its batteries and motors. The base setup is rear-wheel drive with a standard range battery. There’s also a larger battery for improved range that is available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The base SE trim is the only one available with the 53.0 kWh standard range battery. This single-motor rear-wheel drive setup delivers 149 horsepower with 258 lb-ft of torque and 240 miles of range. The rest of the lineup is only available with a 77.4 kWh battery. In rear-wheel drive trims, it delivers 255 horsepower with 258 lb-ft of torque and a range from 291 to 342 miles. The dual-motor all-wheel drive trims improve performance with 320 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque, but have lower range estimates of 270 to 316 miles per charge.

Charging time from 10 to 80 percent is just 18 minutes at a 350kW charger making short work of road trip stops. That number falls to 58 minutes with the standard range battery and 73 minutes for the extended range at a 50kw charger. Plug-in at home at a standard Level II 240V charger and you’re looking at 5 hours and 20 minutes or 6 hours and 55 minutes respectively. Don’t let those times make you nervous. You’re generally only charging at that rate when you’re home, where you’ll presumably be overnight. It’s that 18-minute fast charging time that should stick in your head as it means you won’t be spending all your time charging on a road trip.

Drive Impressions: A Peppy Sedan

Every EV has that instant torque delivery that makes it stupidly fun to just mash the accelerator. The Ioniq 6 is no exception. It’s responsive with plenty of power to get up to highway speeds. There’s no hesitation when you need an extra burst of speed for passing slower vehicles or maneuvering through congested traffic. It is not a sports sedan, but it delivers strong performance that driving enthusiasts will appreciate.

What every EV doesn’t deliver is handling that matches up with that power. Thankfully, the Ioniq 6 is a very well-mannered EV. Steering is responsive, so it’s easy to take the turns on country roads or make your way over on the highway to exit in heavy traffic. It’s a smooth, relaxing car to drive. There are also drive modes of eco, normal, sport, snow, and my mode. This lets you tailor the drive to your preferences and current road conditions.

Riding along in the Ioniq 6 is something of a treat. There’s the usual quiet that comes from driving an EV, but road and wind noise are also minimal. The ride itself is calm and unfussed with only the worst of rough pavement impacting the quality of the ride.

Pricing and Verdict: Affordable And Well-Equipped

As with the rest of the Hyundai lineup, the Ioniq 6 is something of a steal. It starts at just $37,750, which, although not the cheapest sedan you can buy, is a remarkably affordable price. Especially considering its robust array of standard features. It’s also one of the most efficient midsize electric sedans you can currently buy. The top Limited isn’t quite as enticing. Although it adds more features, that’s quite a price jump. We’d aim for the middle of the pack with the SEL trim.

*Excluding $1,150 destination charge.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 shows off the brand’s commitment to expanding its electric vehicle offerings while maintaining affordability. It looks sleek and upscale with unique styling and delivers a smooth, responsive ride that drivers and passengers alike will enjoy.