If there is a car that exemplifies the idea that it's better to be memorable than loved, this is it. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 looks weird, for better or for worse. So weird, in fact, that Hyundai has revised the front end and headlights as part of a 2026 model year mid-cycle update (while teasing a forthcoming high-performance N version).

But the sedan format could be just as much a reason for the Ioniq 6's middling popularity as its styling, given the long-term sales trends toward crossovers. In any case, Hyundai sells nearly three times as many of the boxy Ioniq 5 hatchback as it does the sedan. Yet, while the Ioniq 6 lacks the cargo versatility of a two-box design, there is still plenty to like about it.

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD

The Lowdown:

The Ioniq 6 rides on the same e-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6, and the Genesis GV60. Its wheelbase is two inches shorter than the Ioniq 5, but it is 7.8 inches longer in length. The electric sedan is two inches taller than the Elantra, but that difference seems greater, making the 6 high enough for visibility in modern traffic. The stubby front end also offers a panoramic view forward.

There are three powertrain configurations in the Ioniq 6: a standard-range rear-wheel drive with a 53.0-kWh battery pack and 149 hp, an extended-range rear-wheel-drive with a 77.4-kWh pack and 225 hp, and an all-wheel-drive version with the extended pack and 320 hp from two motors. The standard-range model comes in SE trim, while the extended-range versions can be optioned up to SEL or Limited specification. The EPA-rated range span goes from a minimum of 240 miles to as many as 342 miles depending on battery and tire size.

We tested a long-range all-wheel-drive model on 20-inch wheels with an estimated 270 miles of range. Based on the updates to the 2025 Ioniq 5, battery capacity and range should increase slightly for the 2026 Ioniq 6.

Vehicle Tested: 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited Long Range AWD
Base Price: $52,345
Price as tested: $56,860
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

More Specs:

Powertrain: Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive

Power: 320 hp (total system peak)

Torque: 446 lb-ft (total system peak)

0—60 mph: 4.3 sec

Battery Capacity: 77.4 kWh

Weight: 4616 pounds (mfr claim)

EPA Range: 270 miles

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD

How does it drive?

Because EVs are more common in a taller, crossover orientation, the carlike feeling of the Ioniq 6 is a novelty. That's good. It has excellent body control, although the ride bobbled on some of the washboard surfaces I drove it on, and the big wheels had the familiar tire-slap noise over expansion joints that comes with a high curb weight and low sidewall. Wind noise on the highway was a middle pitch that easily faded into the mental background.

With 320 hp, the Ioniq 6 leaped off the line in typical EV fashion, eliciting giggles from both children riding in the back seat, as well as my inner child. At higher speeds, the acceleration trailed off, a reminder that this is more of a daily-driver type of car than a performance model. That's reflected in the all-season tires, which give up grip quickly.

But it's not dull. It took very little effort to persuade the tail to step out gently under power, and even flying into a corner, the Ioniq 6 slid in a pleasantly neutral way. The steering is precise but lacks feedback and bite, two things that will most likely improve with more aggressive rubber, or the transformation into the more aggressive Ioniq 6 N.

A bonus of the sedan profile is lower drag, which yields higher range compared to taller crossovers. But in my test car, that was highly dependent on exterior temperatures. At just above freezing on a late spring morning, I saw an estimated 165 miles of range displayed at 80 percent charge, well short of four-fifths of the EPA number. At 60 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature things drastically improved, with 3.6 miles per kilowatt-hour showing on the trip computer after an 80-mile round trip of mostly highway travel—right in line with the official 279-mile range.

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD

What's it like to live with?

As far as looks are concerned, the Ioniq 6 is a car that never gets old. Every time I approached there was an angle or detail that seemed brand new. And it looks like nothing else. The incongruous weirdness to the style works here, at least for me.

The inside is also a styling win, full of interesting shapes and textures but still clean and functional. The glass roof gave it a sense of openness, and there's plenty of rear-seat room. This is an easy car to get in and out of, as the seats are positioned close to hip height and the contours are relatively flat. With a trunk lid that opens almost fully vertical, it's easy to access the main cargo hold. The 11.2 cubic feet of space seems larger than that number suggests, and the seats fold for additional room. I was able to fit a large snowboard that barely poked into the main cabin.

Charging, an area where the Hyundai Group's EVs typically excel, went fine. I saw more than 220 kW of fast-charge power even at chilly outside temperatures. That's below the claimed maximum of 350 kW, a peak figure that depends on multiple favorable conditions, but still fast enough to minimize the stress of public charging.

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD

There are some minor complaints to do with the screens. The main instrument cluster uses a lot of real estate to show basic information, with the battery charge and range confined to a small corner. And the rectangular screen is blocked by the circular steering wheel depending on the adjustment, hiding critical information like the speed-limit indicator.

I also had a few niggles with the main infotainment screen. Mostly that the seat-heater controls, likely the first button you want on a cold morning, is two clicks away once the system takes several seconds to boot up. And finally, the door handles stay propped up any time the car is unlocked, which is a good reminder to keep the Ioniq 6 locked but also advertises that any passers-by could open the door.

Should I buy one?

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD

If you want an EV and prefer a conventional car to an SUV or a crossover, the Ioniq 6 is a solid pick in a thin field—and one of the two options that starts under $50,000, the other being the Tesla Model 3. Among the Ioniq 6's several advantages over the Tesla is an A-pillar shaped to minimize the blind spots in the front corners. And for the sedan-averse, the Ioniq 6 is less of a compromise coming down from an SUV than you might think. There's no lack of seating room, the cargo area is versatile, and you get more range for your dollar.

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD

Highlights and Lowlights

We Love:

Great forward visibility.
Unforgettable styling inside and out.
Spacious rear-seat legroom.

We Don't:

Inefficient instrument-cluster design.
Too many controls that rely on the touchscreen.
No wireless Apple CarPlay.

Favorite Detail:

The blind-spot-warning system in the Ioniq 6 works after the car is turned off to tell you if there's an approaching car when you open the door to exit. A great idea.