Hyundai Ioniq 6 N: Electric Hope
After a plethora of Chinese electric vehicles that taught us that electric cars are the end of driving pleasure, the new Korean sedan arrives and makes a mockery of the laws of physics. Now, all that remains is to bring its capabilities to less expensive electric cars.
Price: 400,000 NIS
Competitors: Tesla Model 3 Performance, BMW i3
We liked: performance, road handling, sensations, comfort, and usability
We didn't like: steering, price
Score: 9/10
As a driving enthusiast, I think this test holds unusual importance. In this era of inflation of electric models, it is populist to say that electric cars are not fun to drive. In my opinion, this is not accurate. The powertrain is not the only factor that engages the driver and gives them feedback. For any sports car, you need all the components in the right calibration: steering, suspension, pedals, and seats. So here is the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N.
Nice to meet you
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is the top-tier sports version of the Ioniq 6 electric sedan, arriving after the facelift. Hyundai's N division targets it at true driving enthusiasts: with more than 600 hp and a chassis calibrated for track driving, this is not the neighbor's Ioniq 6. The N is sold in one version that costs 400,000 NIS. We've heard about electric cars with four-digit power figures, but a car that claims to be a true sports car at this price level and is not the sibling Ioniq 5 N is starting to get interesting.
Design and Interior
Already from the outside, you can distinguish the N version from the regular ones. The narrow front lighting units resemble the rest of Hyundai's current models, while the unique profile of the 6 remains almost as it was. The integrated spoiler was reduced in the facelift to a kind of ducktail above the rear lights. The wide light strip was reduced to LED dots, and the entire rear was painted black. Unique sky-blue color, wide wheel arches, and aggressive wind deflectors are unique to this top version.
Inside, we dive into the low cabin. The driver meets a sporty-looking steering wheel with N buttons and driving modes. The location of the power window controls on the console between the seats is unusual, allowing for more space in the door trims. The seats are excellent, providing side support for the waist and thighs. Despite manual adjustment to save weight, Hyundai added ventilation and heating, making long drives comfortable without needing a chiropractor.
Technical Performance
Under the hood, Hyundai installed a decorative plastic cover with an N logo. The 6 N uses a power unit identical to the 5 N: two electric motors, all-wheel drive, and 641 hp in N grin boost mode. With launch control, the 6 N reaches 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, up to a limited speed of 257 km/h. The 84 kWh battery is managed by the N Battery system, designed for high track loads with improved cooling.
Driving Experience
Hyundai's N division engineers worked hard to provide a plethora of systems for "multi-sensory driving": N pedal for track driving, N drift optimizer, and N e-shift to simulate the feeling of an internal combustion vehicle with 8 virtual gears. These systems, combined with N active sound, completely change the driving experience, creating the sensations of a sports car with an internal combustion engine.
On the road, the 6 N turns into a track machine. The grip is absolute and the traction is amazing. It makes a mockery of the laws of physics, sewing turns at a phenomenal pace. The Ioniq 6 N turns every drive on a winding road into track driving, giving hope that even in the electric era, there will still be cars intended for driving for the sake of pleasure.
