Hyundai Ioniq6N (2026) Review

SOME manufacturers need three digits to denote performance – GTI, AMG, RS6 – not Hyundai.

The simple letter N is enough to separate the good from the even better, the merely swift from the scorching, the desirable from the simply must-have.

Even my boy’s little Hyundai i10 is so much better for its N moniker which makes it a driver’s dream and pushes it well along the fun scale.

The all electric Ioniq6 moves from supremely capable saloon to stunningly delectable supercar once the letter N is dropped into the badge.

Really? I hear the cynics cry. Can a Korean EV really be that good as to challenge the might of the world’s fleetest of foot sports cars?

The answer is a resounding, neck-snapping, blood vessel-bursting yes, like you just wouldn’t believe.

How? Well start by fitting two electric motors, one at the front, one at the back, with a total output of 84 kWh. This then sends 650PS through the front and back axles offering tyre shredding four-wheel-drive acceleration at the flick of a switch, well, a dab of the throttle.

Still sceptical? Well, figures don’t lie. The benchmark 0-62mph figure comes up in just 3.2 seconds – that’s supercar performance by the way. Top speed is 160mph, only to be used on the track in this country, eh, your honour. And the incredible 770Nm of torque gives the 6N the midrange of a bullet train for overtaking purposes.

While I’m on about overtaking how about this? You come across a slow mover and there is so much power that you can actually dawdle alongside, looking ahead for oncoming traffic, safe in the knowledge that if anything appears you can tap the throttle and blitz by. Lift off to slot back in and the regenerative braking slows you calmly down to the traffic flow’s optimum speed. Easy peasey.

The sculpted bodywork parts the air so efficiently that there’s barely a whisper of noise, no turbulence, no sound, no intrusion.

The suspension also masks road noise allowing all inside to waft serenely along – it’s uncanny, relaxing and makes the 6N the ideal vehicle in which to travel long distances.

All-wheel-drive, razor sharp steering and superb suspension also make the Hyundai the perfect companion along country roads. Body control is perfect and the grip from wide 20in alloys is immense, with plenty of feedback to boost driver confidence.

There’s no doubting the capabilities of the 6N and the quirky body-shape is improved by sporty rear spoilers and valance, big front airdam and side skirts. Very nice indeed.

All that performance and a decent range too. I’ve driven equally powerful EVs from Germany that offered a paltry 200 miles from full charge to empty. With the 6N you can add another 100 miles on top making it a very usable and practical electric. No range anxiety here thank you very much.

Inside the sports seats are awesome, the dash dominated by digital screen but the best thing of all is the centre console which is a litany of switches, or is that buttons, though it doesn’t matter really as long as it’s not touchscreens. The switches make life so much easier and you can spend your time actually looking out of the windscreen instead of doom scrolling through pages of touchscreen. What a revelation. Take note automotive world.

The price of £65K might seem a lot for a Korean EV but when you consider the design, the dynamics and the unbelievable performance, this particular Hyundai must be seen as a bit of a bargai-N.

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