Sleek car revolutionising the EV market in Australia

If you only think of Tesla when it comes to electric cars then think again, this model is revolutionising the Australian market.

REVIEW

Last year Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 electric car sold out within two hours of its launch in Australia. This year, two thirds of Hyundai’s stock of the recently launched IONIQ 6 have already been allocated to customers who pre-ordered.

And if you still only have Tesla top of mind when you think of electric cars then it’s time you get outside of your bubble, because these quality vehicles are revolutionising the EV market in Australia.

Two thirds of Hyundai’s IONIQ 6 stock has been allocated. Picture: Elly Awesome

Design

The new Hyundai IONIQ 6 is available in eight gorgeous colours – Serenity white, Nocturne Grey, Abyss Black, Digital Green, Byte Blue, Biophilic Ink, Ultimate Red and, my favourite, Gravity Gold. Unlike last year’s boxy, retro design of the IONIQ 5, this has a more sleek and sporty look.

It still has a nostalgic feel, and I’m sure this is a terrible comparison for motor-heads, but in the Gravity Gold colour it reminds me of a sexy 007 Bond car. Although, so far I’ve only been able to check out the Byte Blue, or should I say ‘bright blue’, in person.

The new car has a streamlined exterior, but carries forward many of the stylistic traits of the IONIQ 5. Picture: Elly Awesome

On approaching the car, the door handles sit flush with the body of the car, but with the key in your pocket, they’ll pop out to allow you to grab hold of them and jump in.

The new car has a streamlined exterior, but carries forward many of the stylistic traits of the IONIQ 5, including the LED square ‘pixel lights’ (front and rear), striking 20-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels, adjustable electric seats, drawer style glove box, and the spacious, flat floor interior, which includes built-in LED mood lighting.

It has dual wide-screen displays that support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Picture: Elly Awesome

There are also numerous built-in USB-C ports, dual-zone climate control and Bose premium speakers (which sound incredible).

The interior design feels very modern and luxurious, with dual wide-screen displays that support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, although there are still plenty of physical buttons for you to control features such as media playback.

The interior design feels very modern and luxurious. Picture: Elly Awesome

The IONIQ 6 is really comfortable to sit in and many recycled materials have been used for the interior’s seats, carpets and interior panels. The back seats also have a decent amount of leg room, although taller passenger’s heads may reach the ceiling in the back.

Overall, the driving experience is very pleasant, it’s smooth and incredibly quiet inside the car. Not only is there no engine sound, but the interior’s design mutes a lot of outside background sounds while driving.

Features

One of the standout features of the IONIQ 6 is V2L (vehicle to load). This allows you to plug in and power a multitude of household appliances through your car’s battery, such as a mini fridge, TV, or electric scooter.

Last year I tested the IONIQ 5’s ability to power a PlayStation 5, a TV and external speakers all at the same time in the middle of nowhere, and it barely made a dent in the car’s battery life. This feature is carried over into the new IONIQ 6 and there’s also a built-in three-prong power point in the back seat of the car, in case someone needs to do some work on their laptop or recharge their tech while travelling.

There’s also a built-in three-prong power point in the back seat of the car. Picture: Elly Awesome

Battery life

I can’t forget to mention there’s also one-pedal driving, where you can use the accelerator to both accelerate and brake. While using this feature you can take advantage of its ‘regenerative braking’. This means that, once turned on, the car will capture the kinetic energy from the wheels as they slow down and convert this back into electricity. And this can be used to slightly recharge the battery on your trips!

According to Hyundai, when using fast charging, the IONIQ 6 can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in just over an hour. You’re also able to charge the car at home through a regular power point. Just a note: it’s a much slower option, which takes from half to a full day to complete.

Boot space is 401 litres. Picture: Elly Awesome

The car comes with numerous up-to-date safety features such as lane keep assist, lane follow assistance, adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist and a 360-degree camera. And it feels incredibly easy to drive or park this car in a controlled and safe manner. Overall, I really love the standout design and features of the IONIQ 6 and I’m hoping to see more cars like it on the roads.

I’m hoping to see more cars like this on the roads. Picture: Elly Awesome

There are three variants of the IONIQ 6 – the EPIQ, TECHNIQ and DYNAMIQ. The range of the car’s battery can be purchased in either 519km or 614km variants and the car is priced from $74,000 plus on-road costs.

If you’re interested in learning more or making a purchase, visit Hyundai’s website.

Elly Awesome is an Aussie tech and lifestyle vlogger | @ellyawesometech | YouTube