Hyundai has its sights firmly on closing the once-comfortable lead Tesla has had in electric car tech, with its new Ioniq 6’s driving range confirmed overnight.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 boasts a WLTP range of 614km, in its longest range variant and on 18-inch wheels, although even its lower-ranged variant is rated for 429km.
Compare Hyundai’s 614km to the claimed top range of Tesla’s Model 3, 602km, and suddenly there’s another electric sedan with a properly useful range in town.
The Ioniq 6 comes with either a 77.4kWh battery or a smaller 53.0kWh battery, the larger of which is offered in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The rear-wheel drive version boasts the 614km range, but only on a set of 18-inch wheels.
With 20-inch wheels, that drops to 545km, but its rival from Tesla is also often bought with 18-inch wheels, so the comparison stands.
Of course, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 isn’t expected here until the first quarter of 2023, but Hyundai has already made no secret of the fact it wants to be the leader in EV range.
“From the start of Ioniq 6’s development, we set our sights on making it the leading all-electric range EV,” said Jae Ho Huh, one of Hyundai’s head engineers.
“To become the global leader in electric vehicles, we are committed to providing the best possible EV performance and ownership experience.”
A large part of the Ioniq 6’s ability to reach its 614km range, according to Hyundai, is its low drag coefficient of 0.21 – the lowest of any Hyundai, and lower than the Model 3’s still impressive 0.23Cd.
Through active aero, the rear spoiler, and elements in the wheel wells, Hyundai designed the Ioniq 6 with a low drag coefficient in mind.
Specifically, it says one of the biggest breakthroughs was the addition of ‘wheel gap reducers’ which “minimise the empty space between the front bumper and tyres to improve aerodynamic performance around the wheel wells”.
“We put every effort into designing the most efficient car in the EV segment,” said Byung Hoon Min, head of Hyundai’s performance development centre.
“Our focus on improving aerodynamics helped to achieve one of the longest all-electric range vehicles available, which will reduce customers’ EV range anxiety and help grow the segment.”
However, Tesla’s claim on battery efficiency still beats Hyundai. Tesla says the Model 3’s best variant for range, the aptly named Long Range, has a WLTP efficiency of 13.1kWh/100km.
Hyundai’s longest-ranged Ioniq 6 claims an efficiency rating of 14.3kWh/100km, and even its most efficient (though shortest-ranged) small battery variant is rated for 13.9kWh/100km.
When the Ioniq 6 arrives, we’re told its pricing should sit roughly in line with its Ioniq 5 sibling, so between $70,000 and $80,000. Keep an eye out for Australia-specific pricing and features to be confirmed closer to its early-2023 launch.
Keyword: Going the distance! Hyundai Ioniq 6 range confirmed, puts Tesla Model 3 on notice