While some car makers, including industry giant Toyota are yet to land a full battery electric vehicle on Australian shores, others like Hyundai are accelerating and expanding their range into new niches.

The Korean carmaker recently launched its latest electric vehicle (EV), the sveltely shaped Ioniq 6, which is touted as a Tesla Model 3 rival featuring game-changing tech packaged in its streamliner body style.

It’s the first sedan built on Hyundai’s Electrified-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which so far has given us the Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV70 and will eventually underpin up to 11 different models.  

The Ioniq 6’s styling is inspired by Hyundai’s 2020 Prophecy concept car and features clean, simple lines, with a single curve side profile and distinctive all-round contrasted lower body cladding.

Opinions vary on what other cars it resembles, but viewed at a distance from the rear there’s a more than passing resemblance to Volkswagen’s New Beetle, while others may see hints of the Porsche 911, or even BMW’s X6 SUV coupe.

Whatever the similarities, there’s no denying the Ioniq 6 is distinctive with its clean and aerodynamic front end punctuated by Parametric Pixel LED headlights, functional air curtains and active air flaps in the open grille section.

Other notable design elements include auto-flush door handles and futuristic digital side mirrors on the top-spec variant.

A continuous strip of LED taillights emphasises the car’s wide rear stance, while the double-deck rear spoiler is reminiscent of Porsche’s famous 911 Carrera ‘whale tail’.

The sleek body isn’t just a win for the designers either as it’s intended to help the Ioniq 6 move smoothly through the air, contributing to its remarkably low drag coefficient of 0.217 on the ‘slipperiest’ Dynamiq variant.

Less wind resistance equals more range, which is always a good thing in an EV. 

On the all-important subject of range, the headline numbers for the Ioniq 6 are impressive, with Hyundai claiming up to 614km for the most efficient single-motor version or a still-respectable 519km for the two dual-motor models.

By way of comparison, the Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive claims 491km, and the Model 3 Long Range 602km. 

All three Ioniq 6 variants feature the same 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery and  800V-architecture, enabling the use of super powerful 350kW DC fast chargers, which can charge the battery from 10–80% in as little as 18 minutes.

The Hyundai EV also features a vehicle to load (V2L) function which allows the vehicle to be used as a portable power station on wheels, delivering up to 3.6kW of power via a pair of adapter points, one located outside and the other accessible via the back seat.

Range and performance vary depending on whether it’s a single or dual motor model, with the entry-level Ioniq 6 Dynamiq costing $74,000 (MRLP) and featuring a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 168kW/350Nm, driving the rear wheels to achieve that impressive 614km on the WLTP cycle.

Despite being entry-level the Dynamiq is generously equipped, with standard features including 18-inch alloy wheels, head-up display, dual 12.3-inch display monitors, 10-way powered driver and front passenger seats, Matrix adaptive LED headlights, eight-speaker Bose audio, wired Apple Car Play/Android Auto, multi-Bluetooth connectivity, Blue Link Connected Car Services and a powered boot lid.  

Both the other models – the $83,500 Techniq and $88,000 Epiq – get all that plus more and feature twin electric motors, delivering 74kW/255Nm to the front wheels and 165kW/350Nm to the rears, for a combined 239kW/605Nm.

These models ride on more visually attractive but firmer-riding 20-inch wheels, with the extra motor shaving 2.2 seconds off the Dynamiq’s 7.3 second 0–100km/h time, while reducing range to a still-respectable 519km (WLTP).

The extra coin for the mid-range Techniq also buys kit like Pirelli P Zero tyres, a full-width glass sunroof, heated and ventilated fully reclining ‘relaxation’ front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

Stepping up again to the flagship Epiq brings the digital side mirrors – which project a high-resolution image onto small screens mounted at the outer edges of the dash – high-efficiency heat pump-based heating and a battery conditioning system that pre-warms the battery to maximise charging efficiency on ultra-rapid DC fast chargers.

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Whatever the variant, the interior design is impressively modern and high-tech looking, with a 12.3-inch digital virtual instrument cluster alongside a 12.3-inch multimedia navigation unit, featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility.

Other features include a quality BOSE premium audio system, wireless smartphone charging and a head-up display.

Weirdly, you still need a cable to use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The interior features extensive use of sustainable recycled materials, including the power-adjustable and heated driver and front passenger seats, which are trimmed in eco-processed leather, as is the leather-appointed steering wheel.

Other enviro-focused features include bio paint, recycled paint pigment in the outer body cladding, recycled fishing nets in the carpets and dash and head lining material made of recycled sugar cane waste.

The ambient lighting system offers a range of different palettes for artistically oriented drivers to play with, along with a quartet of multi-colour interactive pixel lights embedded in the steering wheel boss that provide a ‘meet and greet’ light show upon entry and startup, and change tone according to driving style and settings.

The interior is all well laid out and easy to navigate for the most part, although the column-mounted gear selector takes a little getting used to, as do the relocated window switches and door-lock functions, which are on the centre console to free up space on the doors.

There’s generous in-car storage, including beneath-the-bridge-style centre console and a drawer-like glovebox that slides out from the dash.

At 4,855mm long and riding on a 2,950mm wheelbase, the Ioniq 6 is a big car and offers a roomy, uncluttered interior which is notably cosier and more front-occupant focused than the roomy Ioniq 5.

The absence of a transmission tunnel ensures a flat floor, while the long wheelbase affords generous legroom front and rear.

It’s easy to get in and out of, too, thanks to wide opening doors, but the swooping roof design compromises rear-seat headroom for anyone taller than 184cm and there’s no room for toes beneath the front seats.

The boot opens electronically and offers a decent 401-litre luggage capacity, which can be extended by dropping the 60/40 split rear seats.

Don’t bother looking for a spare wheel as there isn’t one, just a mobility kit in the event of a flat.

The charging cable is stored in an under-bonnet ‘frunk’ – 45L in the 2WD model or a paltry 14.5L in the AWDs – which is smaller in both cases than the 88L offered by its rival the Tesla Model 3.

If you aren’t careful when folding and storing the charging cable in the AWD models, the bonnet won’t close properly.

On the safety front, every Ioniq 6 gets seven airbags and a range of driver assistance technologies, including an enhanced suite of SmartSense driver assistance systems that help achieve the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite is about as comprehensive as you’ll find in a mass-market model.

Also included is an intelligent front lighting system with matrix LEDs that can adjust beam intensity to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic, while maintaining full high-beam intensity in other areas.

Out on a test loop that skirted the Victorian and NSW border region near Albury-Wodonga, the top-spec twin-motor model delivered the expected silent, strong acceleration we’ve come to expect from EVs.

A selectable ‘My Drive’ mode allows the driver to adjust steering, motor power, acceleration sensitivity, and the AWD system, while standard paddle shifts provide various level of regenerative braking energy capture.

Ride and handling are very competent, the Epiq cornering with confidence and delivering serious punch out of corners, despite its 2,078kg kerb weight.

Ride on the 20-inch wheels on secondary roads is a little busier than ideal, but it’s not crashy and there’s a satisfying degree of initial bump compliance, although sharp ridges and road joins tended to transfer more rudely than ideal.

NVH is very well managed and the interior is commendably quiet on most surfaces.

The manual steering adjustment is stiff in its action and the steering wheel position lower than ideal, despite height and reach adjustment.

The steering itself is quick and direct but has an unsatisfying artificial feel to it regardless of the drive mode setting chosen.

We tested the 350kW DC fast charging ability at a fuel stop on the journey back down the Hume Highway and can confirm the Ioniq 6 recharged to 80% capacity in about the time it took to have a coffee and a sandwich.

That said, these high-speed fast chargers are still relatively rare and a more common 50kW DC charger will take 73 minutes to deliver the same amount of charge.

Charging at home or work from 10–100% on a single-phase AC wallbox will take around 12 hours, or you can saddle up for a 35-hour wait on standard 240V AC power plug.

Hyundai is also touting the IONIQ 6’s deployment of its new Bluelink-connected car services, which delivers an expanded suite of EV-specific features, and for the first time over-the-air (OTA) vehicle system updates.

OTA is something Tesla has been doing for years but other manufacturers such as Hyundai are just now catching up.

It allows automatic updates to a wide range of features including multimedia and map software, as well as vehicle safety features, battery controller and more.  

Customers using Bluelink can remotely connect to their vehicle to set charging times, monitor charge status, lock the doors, track the car’s location, and even check out the vehicle surrounds using the car’s inbuilt cameras.

The feature is complimentary for the first five years of ownership, but many EV manufacturers are looking to such features to replace lost service and maintenance revenue, so there’s a chance it will become a paid subscription at some stage.

Hyundai’s launch of the Ioniq 6 Streamliner is a breath of fresh air in an EV category dominated by SUV body styles.

It may also be a shrewd one, given that Australia’s best-selling EV by a country mile is the Tesla Model 3 sedan.

At the time of writing a Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive single motor was priced at $60,990 (MRLP), the Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Long Range at $73,900, and the Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Performance at $86,900.

Based on this, and Tesla’s overwhelming EV market leadership, Hyundai may seem a bit ambitious with its pricing, but the Ioniq 6 is an all-new model whereas the Model 3 first launched overseas in July 2017.

If Hyundai can turn some of those Model 3 buyers’ heads in the Ioniq 6’s direction, which it deserves to do with this impressive new model, then it may well be on to its next big winner.

Additionally, after the disappointingly long delays many customers experienced in taking delivery of the Ioniq 5, Hyundai says it’ll be easier for Ioniq 6 customers due to improvements in supply and an expanding network of Hyundai ‘delivery partners’, bearing in mind that the Ioniq 6 is available via online order only.

Representatives said at the launch that customers happy to take a car that’s in stock can have it delivered in three to four weeks, although build-to-order cars will still take six to nine months.

Key stats

• PRICE: $88,000 (MRLP) 
• POWERTRAIN: 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery, twin electric motors (74kW/255Nm front, 165kW/350Nm rear), single-speed reduction gear
• ANCAP CRASH RATING: Five stars 2022
• ENERGY CONSUMPTION: 16.9kWh/100km
• FOR: Performance, safety, range, high-speed fast charging, generous safety kit.
• AGAINST: Priced higher than best-selling rival, dull steering, limited rear-seat headroom and toe-room, unnecessarily complex electronic mirrors, no spare tyre (mobility kit).