The electric thrust of Hyundai started a few years ago, but it came to fruition with the IONIQ 5 launched last year and which really shows what the manufacturer is capable of. The second model of this new generation of electrics, the IONIQ 6, will land with us this spring, at a price that is now known. With a base price of under $55,000, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 takes direct aim at the Tesla Model 3.
The cheapest version of the IONIQ 6, the powered Preferred, will retail for $56,924 including freight and delivery charges. Its manufacturer’s suggested retail price, on which government rebate programs for the purchase of electric vehicles are based, of $54,999 likely makes it eligible for the maximum rebate, which totals $12,000.
This is a price equivalent to that of the Tesla Model 3 and that of the BMW i4 eDrive35. The two-wheel-drive Polestar 2 is slightly cheaper with a base price of $53,950.
The second version to be offered is the all-wheel-drive Preferred, which commands a premium of $3,000 over its rear-wheel-drive counterpart. This means that this version will be sold at a price of $59,924 including shipping and preparation costs.
Finally, the Preferred with all-wheel drive and Ultimate package, which includes more equipment and 20-inch wheels, will be the most equipped version and will be offered at $65,924, including freight and delivery charges.
Since the two all-wheel-drive versions are based on the rear-wheel-drive version, they will also likely be eligible for the total rebates of $12,000. Compared to the three competing models named above, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 will therefore be the only one, along with the Polestar 2, to be eligible for the two rebates in the all-wheel-drive version. Note that eligibility for the two discounts must also be confirmed by the various levels of government in the weeks to come.
Superior autonomy
According to data provided by Hyundai Canada, the range of the rear-wheel-drive version with 18-inch wheels will defy all competition. The manufacturer announces 581 kilometers of autonomy, while the Tesla Model 3 is homologated at 438 kilometers, the BMW i4 eDrive35 with 18-inch wheels gives 412 kilometers and the Polestar 2 with traction displays 435 kilometers of autonomy.
Adding all-wheel drive while keeping the 18-inch wheels reduces the range to 509 kilometers, while the Ultimate version with 20-inch wheels reduces the range to 435 kilometers.
All versions of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 use the same battery, with a capacity of 77.4 kilowatt hours. The basic single-motor version offers 225 horsepower, while adding a front motor to make it an all-wheel-drive model increases the cavalry to 320 horsepower, like the IONIQ 5. In any case , the recharge accepted can reach 350 kilowatts due to the 800-volt architecture, which allows a recharge from 10 to 80% in 18 minutes in the best conditions.
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 will land in dealerships this spring on a date that is not yet specified.
Conclusion
With such a price and such advertised range, Hyundai is positioning itself aggressively against the competition with the entry-level rear-wheel-drive version. No other vehicle offers as much range for the asking price. Nevertheless, the all-wheel-drive version will be less lively than its competitors, which all offer more power for an equivalent configuration. It will nevertheless be necessary to test the car in real conditions to validate these claims, but one thing is certain, the battle has only just begun.
