2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD (car review)
- by exhaustnotes
- Sep 30, 2024
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2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD
Striking in looks, spellbinding in speed, curious in character and fully electrified, the 2024 IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD might be Hyundai’s most magnificent progeny to date. It symbolises promising times ahead for the layman futurist and veteran car enthusiast alike.
For a car still very much in its infancy and already posturing at its Tesla, BYD, and Polestar rivals, the IONIQ 6 embodies the higher purpose all electric sedans aim for: a sustainable and enjoyable future for humanity.
Hence why EV overlord Elon Musk (or Electric Jesus if you prefer) keeps Tesla patents open source. Not only is this spirit visceral while driving the IONIQ 6 EPIQ, one must also view Hyundai’s electric flagship in terms of the breath taking innovation induced by competition.
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Casting aside price for a moment (we’ll get to that quandary), there’s a reason it bagged three World Car Awards last year, and why it presses its competition on passion, performance, and yes, on looks.
There’s no doubt its design is divisive, but let’s not kid ourselves, this car is endlessly seductive to look at. Regardless of your style persuasion, the IONIQ 6 must be objective beauty.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD
Arcing roof and doorlines, a long lateral concave and flush-fit door handles showcase design finesse straight out of the Genesis playbook. The rear rightfully attracts Porsche comparisons with wide hips, a slitted flush-mount spoiler and a ducktail.
Wrap around parametric pixel lighting, a diffuser-style bumper with functional aero vents, and a glimpse of the digital side mirrors combine futurism with tried-and-true performance design.
The nose, albeit slightly cutesy and self-effacing, evokes warm nostalgia of the 2000’s Hyundai Coupe. LED headlights and big aero channels hint sophistication and athleticism, and in Biophilic Ink, the car looks like an unearthed black opal in the Aussie sun.
Zoom out a little, and you’ll notice else something hiding in plain sight too. We have a short nose, a squat back, low centre of gravity, and big 20-inch alloys, wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tyres. And aerodynamics, real aerodynamics.
The latter is so real the IONIQ 6 EPIQ has the lowest drag coefficient of any Hyundai ever made. Both long-range variants (the DYNAMIQ is the other) use a dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration with electric motors mounted on the front and rear axles.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD
Both have a larger 77.4kWh battery pack, with the drivetrain pushing 239kW of power and 605Nm of torque, bringing 0-100km/h down to 5.1 seconds. That may be slower than the comparable Tesla Model 3, but it hardly feels it.
Acceleration from launch is comical, and enough to send you delirious. Still, the sensation of speed seems to have more to do with the seamless, fluid, effortless, delivery of power. But there’s more to it.
Even weight distribution from the dual motor configuration, instantaneous throttle response and continuous torque allow you to go for broke exiting corners, all with a total absence of roll.
With a single-speed automatic transmission you can catapult into corners and use the recuperation shifters to ‘downshift’ at the eleventh hour without annihilating your gearbox. Some old-world chaos can still be found in wet conditions too.
Allegedly, an AWD tail whip or power slide is reproduceable with the addition of some liquid horsepower. A more intimate driving experience is also possible by developing a custom drive mode, unlocked by holding in the Drive Mode button.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD
Custom settings give you full discretion over throttle response, steering and power availability. It’s a constant pleasure to drive around town, probably unlike any four-door saloon you’ve been in.
Even rolling over a speed hump is a strange experience, almost caterpillar-like as it suctions over without any harsh feedback. Kinetic energy harnessed by the regenerative braking system in the EPIQ is impressive too.
On the highest resistance it granted us a few consecutive charge-free days – but when it does come time to plug it in, you have multiple options. A Type 2 connector can be used with a home wall box (for overnight charging), for example.
A standard household outlet (for weekend-long charging), and public AC chargers are other choices, but the best option is a 350kW ultra-fast charging station, where you can get from 10 to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes.
Range sits at 519km (which is less than its rear-wheel drive siblings at 614km), but this is the performance variant. As an added bonus, Bluetooth connectivity gives you remote charge monitoring and personalised charge schedules.
Inside the 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD
Vehicle-to-load tech means you can charge external electronic devices in the IONIQ 6, which also doesn’t skimp on luxury, thanks to Hyundai’s sensory experience interior. Beautiful high resolution dual screens kick things off.
Both the digital instrument cluster and infotainment sport 12.3-inch screens that flow together. It certainly heightens the senses, and dynamic mood lighting incorporated in the trim sets the atmosphere at night.
Each end of the dash houses a display screen for the digital side mirrors. These do take some getting used to, a few days in fact, before which you’ll will be glancing out your window expecting a standard mirror.
The steering wheel is tactile and familiar, yet new and exciting with interactive pixel lights and an integrated charge status indicator. Hyundai’s approach to ergonomics was intended to create a travelling workspace, a trendy home office on wheels.
The centrepiece of the theme is the ‘bridge’ console, moulded as a table for devices. Less conspicuous changes include the relocation of door buttons to the console to make space for functional add-ons.
Inside the 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD
In fact, the optional extras catalogue tells the full story, exhibiting how the cabin works as canvas for custom office accessories. Whether you intend to use your EPIQ as a car office or a pleasurable experience away from it, it’s a curious space to be in.
It summons both old and new, with light and dark grey two-tone upholstery, though stylish, evoking 1980’s luxury saloon. You sit low, but the cabin is so welcoming of natural light it’s like the open privacy of a 19th century conservatory.
Benefits of a conventional four-door sedan remain, with sizeable boot space, and good rear leg room. But ultimately, this is a car of the times. Planet saving efforts extend beyond the powertrain and into the interior through the of use sustainable materials.
Wireless phone charging and heated and ventilated seats kick off the modern comforts before things get more advanced. The infotainment system displays dedicated data and information, including energy consumption and a charging point locator.
Hyundai’s Bluelink connectivity also supports remote operation of door locks, climate control and ignition through your smartphone. Software upgrades for the IONIQ 6 are updated using over-the-air. Now then, to that problem of price.
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 EPIQ AWD
With an $86,500 price tag (getting up into the mid-nineties after on-roads), this is big money. You’re also dumping an extra $5,000 on the top trim Model 3, more than $15,000 on the comparable BYD Seal and over $1,000 on the Polestar 2 Performance Pack.
Unlike its rivals that are everywhere, with some even filling paddocks, the IONIQ 6 is under-represented on Australian roads, but captivating when it appears. In this writer’s view, it’s the everyman EV of the moment.
Far more than a mere Tesla alternative, it’s something imbued with true character, to be taken seriously for its standalone magnificence. You can find out more on the Hyundai Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.
To get a low rate finance quote on your next vehicle purchase, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was supplied by Hyundai Australia for independent review purposes.
REVIEW OVERVIEW SUMMARY
Pros - sporting pedigree; beautiful power delivery, lots of technology; big battery; multiple charging options; head turner.
Cons - big outlay; less range than RWD options; divisive looks; you won't want anyone near it; digital side mirrors take adapting.
8.3
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