2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Review: Pricing, Features, and What’s New
Hyundai will always be a critical cog part of the EV revolution because, despite the company not making grand headlines like other manufacturers such as Tesla, it still has some remarkable models that outperform these renowned competitors. The South Korean-based automaker sneaked into the EV industry in 2009 with the BlueOn fully electric vehicle, although it had made an earlier debut into the market in 1991 with the Sonata Electric model. However, it's the Ioniq lineup released in 2016 as the company’s eco-friendly EV that has been central to the company’s current standing as a bigwig in this industry.
Recently Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz signaled that the bromance of the new US President to Tesla boss, Elon Musk, will lead to more developments in the industry, meaning owning an EV could be easier and cheaper. So what should be your go-to Ioniq model when this expected development soon comes to fruition? We recommend you consider the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, especially if you’re into a vehicle with cutting-edge EV technology, extensive range, and a stylish, aerodynamic design that embodies the future of electric vehicles.
At this point, you are probably wondering what’s unique about this vehicle. Well, those who believe it's just another glorified EV model have yet to experience the incredible finesse put in by Hyundai engineers to ensure the Ioniq 6 is a truly iconic model. Renowned for its roomy interior, remarkable range, and quiet drives thanks to the sound-deading material in the car’s floor, the 2025 Ioniq 6 model is even better and comes in a range of trims that give the choice between RWD and AWD.
So what are some of the exciting features of the Ioniq 6 that EV enthusiasts can look forward to in 2025? We’ll look at them in detail in the subsequent section, but before that, let’s look at the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 position in the EV market just below.
Position of the 2025 Hyundai ioniq 6 in the EV Market
Hyundai gas-powered cars such as the Tucson are popular worldwide, but they’ve not been as exciting as their new EV autos in the popular Ioniq series. These EVs run on the company’s E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform), a battery infrastructure unique to the automaker and designed for extensive driving range. The automaker has been at the forefront of improving next-gen EV vehicles despite facing competition from bigwigs in the market, such as Tesla.
So what exactly is Hyundai’s current market position in this ever-competitive environment? Although the company doesn’t make big headlines, it's a force to reckon with, especially when you consider that together with sister companies Kia and Genesis, it occupies the second perch in the US market, with the top position going to the obvious candidate, Tesla. Indeed, it will require much effort to usurp Tesla’s 50.8 % market share as of July 2024. Still, it is commendable how Hyundai Motor Group has been competitive enough to come second with a 10% segment despite not being a US-based manufacturer.
Central to this achievement was the Ioniq 5 model, which was highly popular during this phase, with 18,728 sales from January to June, which made up 3.6% of the total EVs sold in the US. This underlines the Ioniq series’ popularity in the US. The Ioniq 6 didn’t fare too badly either in the reported period, with over 6,912 cars purchased in the US during this period, and with the new improvements to the 2025 model, gross sales will, without a doubt, soar.
Worth the Price? Ioniq 5 vs Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model 3
One of the cardinal dealbreakers for many people is the price, as one will only purchase a car they feel is worth the value. Let’s begin with the Ioniq 6: it's the cheapest of the bunch, retailing from $38,945 for the SE Standard Range base model, while its counterpart, the Ioniq 5’s base trim, the SE, retails from $43,975. The premium Ioniq 5, the XRT, goes for $56,875, which is still higher than the Limited premium trim of the Ioniq 6, which sells for $52,195.
Wondering why there’s a significant price difference between the two sister models? Well, when choosing between the two, you’ll have to compromise about the features you want because each is a unique package. For instance, the Ioniq 5 is a crossover, while the Ioniq 6 is a Sedan. Also noteworthy is that the Ioniq 6 guarantees more range on a full charge than the Ioniq 5 and therefore, is ideal for those looking for a budget car that gives you immense range.
So, what justifies the slightly higher pricing of the Ioniq 5 over the Ioniq 6? The Ioniq 5 simply has more cargo space than the Ioniq 6 and is, therefore, ideal for shopping, camping, or any activity that necessitates packing stuff.
2025 Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model 3
Now that we’ve explored the differences between Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models, let’s see how the Ioniq 6 compares to the Tesla Model 3, which is similar to the EV sedan. First, the Model 3 is Tesla’s 2nd best-selling car after the Model Y, and it's renowned not just for its relatively low price but also its extensive range of around 363 miles and its simplistic interior. The 2025 model retails from $44,130, which, not being too far from the Ioniq 6 range, makes it a worthwhile candidate for comparison.
It’s clear that the 2025 Ioniq 6 is slightly pricier, but why would a buyer overlook the price and settle for the Hyundai?
1. The Ioniq 6’s interior is far more practical, unlike the Model 3’s, which is the culprit of issues like significant panel gaps, rattling, and not-so-great build materials. It also has buttons, thus allowing prompt activation of the essential functionalities. Model 3’s minimalistic design is a problem, especially for those not accustomed to driving the car.
2. Also noteworthy is that the instrument cluster is centrally placed in the driver’s view, unlike in Model 3, where it's part of the large touchscreen on the side. The Ioniq 6’s speedometer’s positioning at the side of the cluster is an issue, too, with the risk of being obscured by the steering wheel, but again, it's still better than in Model 3.
3. Model 3 trounces the Ioniq 6 in acceleration, but the latter feels like the sportier car. Also, encounter the magic of the Ioniq 6, especially when taking bends; its suspension system is excellent in these scenarios, and this model is more refined when tackling bumps and potholes.
4. Are you looking for a quieter car? Again, this is a war that the Ioniq 6 wins, hands down, thanks to its phenomenal sound-deading feature. The new Model 3 is also pretty quiet, but still, the Ioniq 6 wins this battle.
5. Tesla’s Autopilot, an assisted driving feature, is also not as effective as Hyundai’s lane keeping/adaptive cruise control, and this is all because of the minimal number of sensors in the Model 3 compared to those in the Ioniq 6. The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6’ Limited trim model goes a step better in this respect with its supersensitive sensor on the windscreen for prompt detection of raindrops. With the Model 3, you’d have to wait for its webcam to detect it, and this simply affects its effectiveness.
6. The Ioniq 6 also has a better charging rate and offers a more extensive driving range than the Model 3.
2025 Ioniq 6 Design, Performance, Safety, and Technology
Design and Interior
The Ioniq has remained true to its design of the 2024 edition, meaning it still sports a sleek, stylish, aerodynamic streamlined profile that ensures that it has limited resistance to air while driving. However, there are some minute modifications in the 2025 Ioniq 5, such as a heads-up display and a Digital Green paint color option for those who didn’t like the former hues. These features are available in the premier Limited trim
On the inside, things are also the same as they were in the former edition, so you can expect the lounge-esque design and a modern cum minimalistic appeal with just enough buttons for access to the primary features. Its floor is flat, designed to boost a roomy interior feel, and the car is also quiet thanks to the sound-deadening engineering done on its floor bed. How about the cargo space? Well, it's not too huge, and this is one of the downsides to this sedan, but folding the back seats will create additional space.
Despite the limited cargo area, the rear legroom is quite spacious, and its heated cloth seats are incredible in keeping occupants warm in all seasons. They ace leather upholstery in that they take little time to heat up during winter and don’t get extremely hot in the summer, a balance critical in harnessing interior comfort.
Other critical features on the car’s interior include two 12.3’ displays, one a digital cluster and the other an infotainment screen. The side-by-side array ensures these features are not cramped up as in other competitors like the Model 3. While inside the car, you can also enjoy functionalities like USB Plugin, USBC charging, and wireless connectivity via the BlueLink application that you can download on your smartphone. This connection allows you to access features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for entertainment while driving.
Performance and Technology
When it comes to technology and powertrain, there’s no difference between the Ioniq 6 and its sister model, the Ioniq 5, especially considering that both are built on Hyundai’s E-GMP battery system. The SE Standard Range Ioniq 6 is the base model, and it typically runs on a single motor to give 149 hp available on the rear wheels. There are also the SE Long Range and SEL models, both still running in single motors but with a larger battery to give 225 hp on the Standard RWD mode.
Finally, we also have dual motors AWD option available on the Ioniq 6 Limited trim with a powertrain of 320 hp. This requires more power which explains why the Limited model requires a larger battery than the base SE Standard Range model. Also noteworthy is that handling this car is a breeze which explains its soaring popularity in the US market.
The Ioniq 6 doesn't compromise your safety, and there are loads of driver assistance features to enable it. Like the Ioniq 5, you get features such as the following on your Ioniq 6 model:
1. Lane Keeping Assist, which ensures that the car gives you warnings whenever you depart your lane.
2. Automated emergency braking when there’s a pedestrian ahead, a feature that is critical in preventing accidents.
3. Adaptive cruise control ensuring the vehicle is near autonomous. Highway Driving Assist II (HDA II) is available on the SEL trim, while the premium Limited trim has more safety features such as Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) and Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM).
2025 Ioniq 6 Range and Charging
The Ioniq 6 allows Level 1 charging and Level 2 charging, with the latter filling the batteries pretty fast. The SE provides the best value in terms of range, clocking at least a 342-mile All-Electric Range on the RWD mode. With the Dual-motor AWD mode, you also get immense range at 316 miles, which is pretty high considering what other renowned EVs offer.
The base SE Standard range isn’t too bad, with a guaranteed 240 miles on the RWD (remember that the AWD mode is not available on this trim), while the SEL trim can hit approximately 291 miles on the single motor RWD, although the All-Electric Range reduces to approximately 270 miles on the Dual-motor AWD. How about the Limited trim? The range stats are the same as with the SEL (291 miles for RWD and 270 miles for AWD).
So, what are the expected charging times with these models? They all have ultrafast charging capacity considering that on a 350-kW DC fast-charging station, the Ioniq 6 can fill up the charge from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes, provided the charging is done under the ideal conditions.
2025 Ioniq 6 Pros and Cons
How does the 2025 model compare with the 2024 edition? As mentioned earlier, there’s not much difference, so expect a similar powertrain, system levels, and interior/exterior features. However, the Limited edition sports a heads-up display, and there is also a new digital green paint option.
In a nutshell, consider the pros and cons of this model to help you make a more informed decision about its suitability.
Pros
1. Its low center of gravity means it can barely lose stability when winding around corners, which is critical, especially in preventing toppling over when moving at high speeds.
2. The Ioniq 6 is everything you should expect in future electric cars thanks to its aerodynamics and stylish, sleek design.
3. Its range is also remarkably high, especially for the SE Long Range trim and it is well-priced considering its capabilities.
4. The Ioniq 6 is quiet thanks to the sound-deadening material sandwiched between the floor and the carpet.
Cons
1. Handling it is not too smooth at times, and its lack of enough cargo space is a concern.
2. It's pricier than Model 3 despite the two having nearly similar features.
Conclusion
The EV craze of manufacturers looking to outshine one another in the journey to seek the next-generation vehicle is here to stay, and the biggest beneficiary will be the consumers who are set to get better cars like the Ioniq 6 for a lower price. Hyundai is committed to being part of the revolution that will see a significant shift from gas and diesel cars that are polluting the air to EVs that are clean and more efficient. The Ioniq 6 is a perfect example of what we should expect from Hyundai in the future, and things will get better and better for the EV industry with the new US president and his close ally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
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