I cherished the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, however the Ioniq 6 N is an excellent higher enjoyable and quick EV

I believed the ferocious however enjoyable twin-motor Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was an actual hit once I first drove it again on the tail finish of 2023. Nevertheless, it’s nothing in comparison with the Ioniq 6 N. This high-performance electrical saloon takes all the finest bits of the Ioniq 5 N however provides in much more leisure and a really distinctive look. The top result’s really dazzling.

Hyundai’s naming conventions gave me a good suggestion what to anticipate lengthy earlier than my Ioniq 6 N 84 kWh 650 PS 4WD take a look at automotive turned up: a beefy battery, a lot of oomph and all-wheel drive. The one shock was the supply driver’s selection of radio station: Jazz FM. Not what I anticipated given the aggressive appears. The laid-back vibes coming from the audio system and the N Energetic Sound+ system (which emulates the sound of throaty V8s so convincingly that you simply’ll really feel such as you’re actually driving one) had been like chalk and cheese.

That was my Ioniq 6 N expertise in a nutshell: this EV has devoted observe day driving modes and once you open the trunk two chassis-stiffening purple strut braces stare proper again at you, but it’s tremendous straightforward to stay with each day and can handle over 300 miles of vary – when you can resist driving it too enthusiastically, that’s…

The styling

I nonetheless haven’t made up my thoughts as as to whether I like the form of the usual Ioniq 6: it’s cool from some angles and barely questionable from others. The a lot hotter N model’s beauty tweaks do a lot to set it aside, with a decrease stance, bespoke entrance and rear bumper sections, chunkier sills and a sizeable rear diffuser. The massive and butch rear wing actually helps break up the droopy rear finish and provides the N an altogether meaner look.

Distinctive N color coding pulls all of it collectively, mixing the physique panels, black accents and meaty 20in alloy wheels. Refined purple lining then immediately tells onlookers which a part of the Hyundai secure this automotive comes from.

The inside, in the meantime, carries simply sufficient elaborations over the common manufacturing providing, together with scrumptious N bucket-style seats up entrance. The cockpit nonetheless feels generously proportioned and because of the same old Korean ingenuity, cubby holes, cost ports and basic controls that every one fall at hand with out fuss.

The again seats are glorious, with oodles of legroom on supply, even with the sculpted entrance seats grabbing greater than their justifiable share. It’s comfortable too, with suede-like Alcantara seat coverings that really feel greater than accommodating.

The drive

Very similar to the Ioniq 5 N, the sensible factor concerning the Ioniq 6 N is that it nonetheless appears like a automotive that can be utilized to drop the youngsters off in school or enterprise to the grocery store. They sit on the identical 800V, E-GMP platform, in spite of everything.

There are three drive modes – Eco, Consolation and Sport, all accessed through buttons on the steering wheel. Consolation is completely suited to on a regular basis driving, with a clean energy supply. Right here the Ioniq 6 N burbled alongside in fuss-free vogue; that artificial engine sound was so good and so convincing that I actually did really feel as if I used to be driving a petrol-powered automotive. Anybody lamenting the demise of ICE actually ought to try this dream machine.

Driving the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N extra enthusiastically although unleashed a complete new dimension. Switching to Sport mode offers the digital cluster racier dials, turns the cabin ambient lighting purple, and turns the accelerator pedal right into a warp pace button. This doesn’t allow you to neglect that it’s a quick automotive, with the quantity of energy being delivered to the back and front wheels proven in actual time on the instrument panel.

The moment torque was wonderful and it’s straightforward to see that 0 to 62mph time of three.2 seconds being simply achievable. There was the NGB or ‘increase’ button too, which gave 10 seconds of as much as 641bhp from the twin motors if wanted for overtaking, distributed through an digital restricted slip differential. Fortunately, I discovered the large brakes all spherical to be substantial and reassuring in equal measure. I might even go round corners with out easing off the throttle a lot too. The Ioniq 6 N actually did really feel prefer it was on rails.

Being a efficiency automotive that rides on massive wheels and tyres, I did discover the suspension fairly stiff. Mixed with the strong, figure-hugging seats, the journey was subsequently slightly agency. That’s no criticism although as a result of it fits the automotive’s setup completely. Gong quick, or certainly very quick within the Ioniq 6 N requires stability – that wing is there for good cause, and I’d think about touching 160mph as this automotive can do will imply the ground-hugging firmness is a necessity. A crop of track-day options additionally come provided with this automotive, together with a customisable drift optimiser possibility and even race observe maps.

In the primary, the Ioniq 6 N was a simple automotive to drive, with glorious cameras aiding in tight reversing manoeuvres. Turning it round in tight spots wasn’t fairly nearly as good and the turning circle felt a bit restricted to me, and it was straightforward to really feel the majority of the chunky Pirelli P0 Zero tyres on these five-spoke rims throughout multi-point manoeuvres. That’s a minor grumble although, as a result of total, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N was an enormous quantity of enjoyable to pilot.

The expertise

I actually do just like the Hyundai vary for its inside tech choices, that are typically complete and work nicely. The beauty of the dashboard format is that it combines beneficiant ranges of contact controls together with display choices. This consisted of a 12.3in landscape-oriented touchscreen with an array of touch-style button controls under for core controls together with local weather adjustment. The mix labored extraordinarily nicely. A head-up show then added to the comfort issue.

A variety of the enjoyable stuff got here once I began taking part in round with the drive mode choices, which might change the dashboard and dial setup relying on how sporty I fancied being. The Ioniq 6 N is a superb factor to mess around with and exploring the totally different engine sound choices (which is also turned off fully if most popular) gave this automotive further novelty attraction.

There have been different neat inclusions, just like the heated and – crucially – ventilated seats that proved invaluable throughout a current scorching spell. In truth, they had been so good, it was attainable to outlive utilizing this as an alternative of the air con when eager to preserve battery energy. That stated, even when it was on, the A/C didn’t appear to sap energy in the identical means I’ve seen in different EVs. Elsewhere, the Ioniq 6 N had a bunch of the same old stuff together with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a Bose Premium Audio system, boosted by 8 audio system together with a chunky subwoofer.

One factor did grate: the Hyundai shutdown signature was actually loud in my automotive. Each time I thought of fixing it subsequent time I acquired in I by some means by no means acquired round to it.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N verdict

I’d have the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N over the Ioniq 5 N each time – just because whereas the latter is nice, the previous verges on brilliance. It’s such an entertaining automotive to drive, however on the identical time manages to supply loads of sensible attraction.

Positive, it’s slightly bit shouty with these garish styling touches, however that’s what this automotive is all about. Driving it on the street won’t ever actually untap its full potential both, therefore all these glorious observe day-focused choices on board. However, for all-round drive attraction, there’s little on the market fairly prefer it.