The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is proof – if it were still needed – that electric cars can stir the hearts of the most fervent car enthusiasts. More than that, it proves Hyundai N has become one of the most interesting names in performance car development. The Ioniq 6 N is first and foremost a truly great sports car that drives brilliantly and will please even the most enthusiastic driver – it just happens to be electric.
I liked it enormously when I first drove it abroad and on track. Now, after spending more time with it in the UK on some of my favourite roads, I like it even more. Actually, that undersells it. This is one of the most fun cars I’ve driven in years, electric or otherwise.
Following on from the equally superb Ioniq 5 N, the Ioniq 6 N is a more focused, better-rounded version of Hyundai’s performance vision. It takes all the technical wizardry of the 5 N – the e-LSD, the N Drift Optimiser, the surprisingly engaging synthetic engine noise system, and the astonishing N e-Shift with its shove-in-the-back sensations – and wraps it up in a sleeker, lower, sharper and better all round package.
While the Ioniq 5 N majors on shock and awe, the 6 N adds finesse. It’s more agile, more poised, more usable and slightly more comfortable, too. That makes it a better daily drive, while still being breathtakingly good fun when you find a decent stretch of road.
It’s quick, obviously. Managing 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds feels every bit as violent as it sounds, especially when paired with the crackles, bangs and fake gear shifts of the N e-Shift system. It sounds like an Audi TT RS on full throttle and fools your senses so convincingly you find yourself driving it like a manual, flicking through fake gears using the nicely weighted paddles behind the steering wheel.
And yet it can also whisper along at 30mph with no drama when you’re heading to the shops. It rides nicely, settles down properly and feels docile when you just want to sit back and relax. It’s that duality – part video game, part proper driver’s car – that sets the Ioniq 6 N apart.
It is not cheap, with prices starting at £65,800. But after plenty of UK miles, I’m upping my rating to a full 10/10. It’s the most fun I’ve had on four wheels in years. Should you need further proof, the Ioniq 6 N won this year’s World Performance Car Award at the World Car of the Year Awards, beating the BMW M2 CS and Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray in the process – it’s that good.
How we tested
I’ve driven the Ioniq 6 N several times now – and enjoyed every minute. First, I spent an afternoon driving a very early Ioniq 6 N around Warwickshire from the car fans’ Mecca, Caffeine and Machine, where those who were in the know took great interest in Hyundai’s N model. I made sure I tested it on a variety of roads, including the kind you’d expect to put a smile on your face and the more mundane routes an Ioniq 6 N owner might use every day.
Then I was invited to the official launch, where I tested the Ioniq 6 N on track at the Kini Motorparc up in the hills outside Barcelona, while enjoying the car on some of the stunning roads in the area, too. And, of course, I checked on the practicality and all the tech.
Now I’ve driven it properly in the UK, too, on some of my favourite roads in and around the South East. That is often the real test for any fast car. A smooth circuit is one thing, but a proper British road with lumps, bumps, cambers, broken surfaces, traffic, roundabouts and the occasional tractor is quite another.
That extra time has only made the Ioniq 6 N more convincing. It still feels outrageously quick and wonderfully silly when you want it to, but it is also easy to drive gently. The steering, grip, body control and ride all work together in a way that makes it feel like a proper performance car rather than just a very fast EV. That’s the big difference.
I also had the chance to spend more time with the N Active Sound+ and N e-Shift systems, which are the bits many people will dismiss as a gimmick before trying them. They shouldn’t. The noise is addictive. Yes, it is fake fun, but it is fun – and it is done so cleverly that it genuinely feels authentic. It gives the car character, rhythm and a sense of occasion, which is exactly what so many fast electric cars still lack.
Independent rating: 10/10
- Pros: Huge fun to drive; brilliant steering and grip; addictive fake noise; properly fast; still usable every day; sensational in Nocturne Grey matte
- Cons: Window switches are in the centre rather than on the doors; turning circle can catch you out; still an expensive car
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N specs
- Price: £65,800
- Battery size: 84kWh
- Maximum claimed range: 302 miles
- Miles per kWh: 3.3
- Charging : 233kW, 10-80 per cent in 18 minutes
- Performance: 0-62mph 3.2 seconds, top speed 160mph
Battery, range, charging, performance and drive
At the heart of the Ioniq 6 N is an 84kWh battery and dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system related to the one in the Ioniq 5 N, but packaged in a sleeker, lower body. You get up to 642bhp with N Grin Boost selected by prodding the red button on the steering wheel, plus up to 770Nm of torque, which helps slash the 0-62mph time to just 3.2 seconds. That is properly quick by any standard.
Top speed is 160mph and the Ioniq 6 N feels rock-solid at speed, thanks in part to aerodynamic tweaks such as its high-performance rear wing and widened front and rear fenders. The styling is not subtle, but it suits the car brilliantly. In Nocturne Grey matte it looks sensational – moody, purposeful and a bit touring car racer without shouting quite as loudly as cars painted in Hyundai’s Performance Blue.
What really stands out, though, is the driver involvement. The front end feels sharp, the steering is great, the grip is superb and the whole car has incredible poise. It turns in with real confidence, holds its line beautifully and then fires itself out of corners with the sort of instant shove only a very powerful EV can deliver.
There is clever hardware helping here. Hyundai has given the Ioniq 6 N revised suspension geometry, stroke-sensing electronically controlled dampers, a lowered roll centre, new bushing applications and extra stiffness. There is also an electronic limited-slip differential at the rear, plus N Torque Distribution, N Launch Control, N Race and the customisable N Drift Optimiser.
That could all sound a bit too much, but the clever bit is how naturally it all works. On the right road, the Ioniq 6 N feels wonderfully balanced. There is loads of grip, but it does not feel numb. The steering has enough weight and feel to let you trust the front end, while the body control keeps the car composed over typical British roads that are rarely as smooth as a test track.
It is not just a car for one mad blast, either. It rides well when you calm everything down, and it is surprisingly docile when you are not in the mood. That is one of its strongest points. You can have the silly noise, fake gearshifts, full attack mode and all the drama, then turn it all down and let the car settle into being a quiet, comfortable electric saloon.
Charging is good, too. The 800V system means the Ioniq 6 N can charge from 10-80 per cent in 18 minutes at up to 233kW. Hyundai quotes a maximum range of 302 miles and efficiency of 3.3 miles/kWh. Drive it hard and you will see less than that, of course, because this is a car that encourages you to enjoy your driving.
What seals the deal, though, is the fake noise and gear-shifting experience. N Active Sound+ and N e-Shift work together to mimic a petrol engine and gearbox, with a rise and fall in revs, crackles, bangs and a physical jolt as you change gear. It is fake, yes. But it is also genuinely clever and brilliantly entertaining.
You can choose from different sounds, including more futuristic options, or turn it off altogether. For most of the time, though, the Ignition setting is the one. It makes the car feel alive in a way many fast EVs do not. It gives you something to play with, something to time, something to listen to and something to enjoy. It is fake fun, but it is still fun – and it is done so well that it feels surprisingly authentic.
The only dynamic downside is the turning circle. At 12.32m, it can catch you out in tighter spots and sometimes requires a bit more to-ing and fro-ing than you expect. It is hardly a deal-breaker, but in a car that feels so sharp on the move, it stands out when you are manoeuvring.
Interior, practicality and boot space
There’s nothing especially radical inside the Ioniq 6 N, but that’s no bad thing. Hyundai has taken the clean, techy cabin from the regular Ioniq 6 and given it a sporty makeover. The bucket seats are trimmed in Alcantara and leather, there are N-specific details, aluminium performance pedals, a suede roof trim, ambient lighting and a steering wheel that immediately puts the important fun buttons under your thumbs.
The N-specific steering wheel feels great in your hands and features two N buttons, so you can call up your favourite settings quickly. The paddles behind the wheel either control the regenerative braking or, when N e-Shift is in play, the manual ‘gearbox’. The ambient lighting is linked to N e-Shift, too, which is completely unnecessary but also part of the theatre.
The driving position is good, if not truly sports-car low because the battery still sits under the floor. You feel nicely tucked in, though, and the front seats offer plenty of support when you’re using the car properly, while still being comfortable enough for daily driving. They are heated and ventilated, too, which helps underline the point that this is not some stripped-out track toy.
There is good space up front and decent space in the back, helped by the Ioniq 6’s long 2,965mm wheelbase. It is not as airy as the taller Ioniq 5, and headroom is a little tighter, but adults can still get comfortable in the rear despite the sloping roofline. Hyundai has also included heated outer rear seats, manual rear door blinds, rear air vents and split-folding rear seats, so it still works as a family car if you need it to.
The boot is 371 litres, which is not huge for a car that is 4,935mm long and 1,940mm wide, but it is usable enough. The extra body bracing in the boot is a reminder that Hyundai has done more here than just add power and a wing. There is proper chassis work underneath the drama.
The cabin quality is generally good, with soft-touch materials in the right places and enough special N touches to make the car feel different from a regular Ioniq 6. The doors deserve a special mention, too. If the inside of a door can be sexy, these are sexy doors – clean, sculpted and uncluttered.
That brings us to one of my few gripes: the window switches are not on those lovely doors. They are in the centre of the car, which keeps the door design clean but is not as intuitive as having them where you expect them. You do get used to it, but it still feels like one of those clever design decisions that is not quite as clever in daily use.
Even so, for a car that can hit 160mph and make you laugh like a child, the Ioniq 6 N is refreshingly easy to live with. It is fast, loud and daft when you want it to be, then quiet, comfortable and practical enough when you don’t.
Technology, stereo and infotainment
The Ioniq 6 N gets the full suite of Hyundai’s latest tech, and there is a lot of it. In fact, the depth of the systems is almost overwhelming at first, but the important stuff is easy to use once you’ve spent a bit of time with it.
Twin 12.3-inch screens run the show, with a digital driver display and a central touchscreen for navigation, media and settings. The system uses Hyundai’s latest connected car tech, with over-the-air updates, Bluelink connected services, live services, Bluetooth, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and wireless phone charging. There are also three USB-C ports in the front and two in the rear, which should keep everyone happy.
There is a head-up display with augmented reality and standard display modes, which is useful in a car this fast because it means you can keep your eyes up and still know what the car is doing. Safety kit is plentiful, too, including Highway Drive Assist 2, blind spot collision avoidance, a blind spot view monitor, forward collision avoidance, lane follow assist, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, rear occupancy alert and intelligent speed limit assist.
The Ioniq 6 N also gets a surround view monitor, remote smart parking assist, parking collision avoidance, parking distance warning and a rear-view monitor with dynamic parking guidance. Given the size of the car and that turning circle, the cameras and parking systems are genuinely useful rather than just nice things to have.
The really clever stuff is in the N menus. N Race, N Torque Distribution, N Launch Control, N Battery Pre-Conditioning, the customisable N Drift Optimiser and pre-loaded racetrack maps – with the ability to create your own circuit – all make the Ioniq 6 N feel like a toy box for grown-ups. There is even a headlining camera mount for recording your favourite road or next track day, which tells you exactly the sort of customer Hyundai has in mind.
N Active Sound+ is the real standout. You can choose from different sound profiles, including the engine-like Ignition and more futuristic alternatives. Ignition is the one I kept coming back to. It is addictive, silly, entertaining and much more convincing than it has any right to be.
Then there’s the N e-Shift system, which adds fake gear ratios and a physical jolt via the regenerative braking system every time you ‘change gear’. Combined with the noise, it is hard to believe you’re not in a petrol performance car. You start timing shifts, holding gears and changing down for corners, just because it feels right.
This is where the Ioniq 6 N is so clever. Lots of fast EVs deliver enormous acceleration, but not many give you much to do. The Hyundai does. It gives you interaction, theatre and playfulness. It turns speed into something more than just a number.
The Bose premium audio system is decent, with seven internal speakers and a subwoofer, plus external speakers used for the car’s sound effects. But in this car, the best soundtrack is the one Hyundai has invented for itself.
Prices and running costs
The Ioniq 6 N costs from £65,800 in the UK, with a P11D price of £65,010. It is available in a single specification, which keeps things simple, and the main options are paint and the tilt-and-slide sun roof.
Serenity White pearl is the no-cost paint, while Performance Blue pearl, Abyss Black pearl and Nocturne Grey metallic cost £750. Gravity Gold matte and Nocturne Grey matte cost £1,250, as does the Vision Roof. After seeing the car in Nocturne Grey matte, that would be hard to resist. It suits the shape beautifully and gives the car a properly serious look without losing its sense of fun.
This is an expensive car, but then its performance and technology go a long way to explaining the price. It costs more than plenty of quick EVs and is not far off some serious petrol-powered performance machinery, but there are very few cars at any price that combine this level of speed, driver involvement, everyday usability and sheer daft entertainment, while also boasting EV running costs.
Running costs should be low by performance car standards. Hyundai quotes 3.3 miles/kWh and a maximum range of 302 miles, although regular use of N Grin Boost, N e-Shift and all that performance will obviously reduce that. Even so, if you can charge at home and use a cheap overnight tariff, the cost per mile should be far lower than running a petrol car with similar pace.
Company car users will also benefit from the usual electric car tax advantages, while the 800V charging system makes longer trips easier than in many EVs. A 10-80 per cent rapid charge in a claimed 18 minutes is excellent, while a 7kW wall box charge from 10 to 100 per cent takes 11 hours 55 minutes, and a 10.5kW charge takes seven hours 35 minutes.
Hyundai’s warranty remains a strong point. The car is covered for five years with unlimited mileage, while the high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. There is also 12 years of anti-perforation cover, five annual vehicle health checks, roadside assistance and three years of map updates for the navigation system.
It is still a premium-price product, and some rivals are cheaper. But the Ioniq 6 N does not feel like a regular EV with more power. It feels like a proper performance car that happens to be electric, and that makes the price easier to understand.
The verdict: Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
If you’ve ever doubted that an electric car can be fun, try an Ioniq 6 N. It is mad, brilliant fun – a genuine sports car with electric power and proper personality.
The technology and clever features that make it feel like a petrol car could easily have felt like a gimmick, but they don’t. The noise is addictive, the fake gearshifts are hilarious and the whole thing makes you smile in a way too many fast cars forget to do. It is fake fun, but it is still fun, and Hyundai has done it with real intelligence.
More importantly, underneath all the theatre, the Ioniq 6 N is a seriously good car to drive. The grip is superb, the steering is great, the poise is incredible and the way it balances comfort with control is deeply impressive. It can be docile, quiet and easy when you want to relax, then utterly breathtaking when you find the right road.
It looks sensational in Nocturne Grey matte, has enough space and practicality to use every day, and comes with the sort of charging speed and warranty support that make EV life easier.
It is not perfect. The window switches in the centre of the car are still not my favourite idea, however good the doors look without them, and the turning circle can catch you out. It is not cheap, either.
But those are small complaints in a car that delivers so much enjoyment. The Ioniq 6 N is one of the best sports cars I’ve driven in years. It just happens to be electric, too.
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N rivals
FAQs
How long does it take to charge?
With its 800V electrical architecture, the Ioniq 6 N can rapid charge from 10-80 per cent in just 18 minutes when plugged into a 350kW ultra-rapid charger, although the Ioniq 6 N will max out at 233kW. On an 11kW home wallbox, a full charge takes just over seven hours. It also features battery pre-conditioning to help achieve those peak speeds more reliably – especially useful in colder conditions or during a track day.
How does the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N compare to the Ioniq 5 N?
The Ioniq 6 N builds on everything that made the Ioniq 5 N so good – and arguably improves it. It’s sharper to drive, feels more agile thanks to its sleeker body and lower centre of gravity, and offers slightly more steering feel. It’s also a touch more comfortable, making it a better all-rounder for daily use. While the 5 N is the more extroverted of the two, the 6 N is more of a driver’s car – and for many, that makes it the pick of the pair.
Does Hyundai replace batteries for free?
Hyundai offers one of the best warranties in the business. The high-voltage battery is covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles, and if it falls below 70 per cent of its original capacity due to manufacturing defects within that time, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. That’s in addition to the five-year, unlimited mileage vehicle warranty – a rare thing these days, and a big tick for peace of mind.
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