Battery size: 84kWh
Range: 291 miles
Max charge rate: 350 kW
E-Rating: C
Introduction
Yup, it’s a savagely fast version of the sleek, executive electric Ioniq 6, complete with all-wheel-drive, 650hp, for a 0-62mph of 3.2 seconds. If you put it in Launch Mode, this new electric sports car treads on the toes of the entry-level Porsche Taycan models for price, and will count the Tesla Model 3 Performance as one of its chief rivals.
It’s not just the speed and handling that have been transformed for the Ioniq 6 N, either – it’s actually been restyled with slimmer headlights and a lower nose for even more streamlined aerodynamics. What d’you think? I think this more squinty face is quite a bit better than the Ioniq 6’s previous styling.
Range, battery and charging
The Ioniq 6 N gets an 84kWh lithium-ion NMC battery, complete with ultra-rapid charging of up to 350kW. That’s good enough for a 10- to 80% charge in around 18 minutes, or a 100 mile top-up in some 10 minutes, provided you’re charging at a powerful enough rapid charging station.
As for range? Well, the WLTP range is 291 miles, but who on earth is going to drive this sedately enough to get close to that? I reckon you’ll see 200- to 240 miles in the real world, but obviously that’ll depend on conditions and, er... how you’re driving. You also get a heat pump as standard, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging.
Performance, motors and handling
Right, this is the important stuff for this car! As we’ve mentioned, the 6 N has a whopping 650hp, as well as a trick, all-wheel drive system that uses torque vectoring to send power to the front, back and even from side-to-side.
It’s also got wider tracks than the standard Hyundai Ioniq 6, and fully redesigned suspension with strut braces for improved rigidity. The electronically-controlled adjustable dampers also have integrated sensors so that they adjusted automatically to suit the road. Clever, eh?!
That’s not all, either. There’s also the ‘N e-Shift’, which is Hyundai’s patented tech that mimics gear shifts in its performance EVs. It’s really brilliant, too. I know it sounds a bit odd, but it works so well on the 5 N to give you more control over the powertrain and how it’s delivering the abundance of power that it’s got, and just generally to make you feel more involved. It’s a bit of analogue feel, delivered by the techiest of features. For the Ioniq 6 N it’s been updated again, so now it’s even quicker to respond and further heightens the sense of connection with the car. Even the ambient interior lighting will gradually turn red to warn you when to shift up… It's so cool!
Of course, the gear shifts wouldn’t be complete without a rebellious, naughty soundtrack, and that’s what the ‘N Active Sound +’ is. Powered by a stereo, it’s piped into the cabin as well as outside the car, and you’ll be able to choose from a motorsport combustion-engine soundtrack, an EV-like spaceship thrum and sci-fi sounds of ‘Lightspeed’.
Other notable performance features in the Ioniq 6 N include a track mode that records your lap times, and the ‘N Drift Optimizer’, which lets you set the car up to make you look like a drifting god. Just get ready for those tyre bills.
And, d'you know what? It is MIND BLOWING. When I finally got to have a drive, all around country roads in the UK, I couldn't believe how playful and fun this thing is. Yes, it's quick and that's a huge part of the shock and awe that it delivers. But it's not just about the pace - it's more about the adjustability of the handling, and the theatricality that it gives you thanks to the gear shifts and the noises.
Personally, I love being able to choose 'soundtracks' on an EV. Why wouldn't you want that option, as long as you can turn it off like you can on the Hyundai? It's brilliant! Spaceship sounds? You bet. But my favourite is the engine noise that pops and crackles, and sounds so cool as you flap through the 'gears'. And it does give you real additional control, too, because the Ioniq 6 N does hit the 'rev limiter', so it does feel like you're changing gear and you can use it to feel more involved with what the car's doing. Its just so clever, and so brilliant.
You could live with it every day, too. Yes, the ride comfort is firm so you don't forget that this is a performance car, but it's still pliant and not too crashy over potholes when it's in the comfort modes, so I really do think you could do big miles in this car and be perfectly happy, and then you'd be even happier when you got the opportunity to use all of its tricks and abilities. Is it better than the Ioniq 5 N? Hmm. Not so sure about that, but I do know that I love this car.
Interior, design/styling and practicality
Of course, the 6 N has the same basic interior as the standard Hyundai Ioniq 6, but it’s dominated by the part-alcantara bucket seats that are properly comfortable and keep you nicely in place even when you’re making full use of the N Grin Mode or N Drift mode. Of course, the big touchscreen also has all of the dedicated N adaptive features, including G-force readout and – naturally – your track telemetry. On a more sensible note, there’s a separate screen for your climate control, a big glovebox, cupholders, and you can turn all of the N stuff off and drive this like a normal Hyundai.
The boot is the same 401-litres, but the strut braces do make it a tad less practical than the standard 6 N – or, indeed, the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model 3. You’ll get a couple of adults in those back seats no problem, but the bucket seats do eat into legroom a little, and the Ioniq 6 never had the best headroom. If you really want space and versatility in your raging lunatic of a performance EV, might we suggest you look to the Ioniq 5 N, instead.
Pricing and on sale date
The Ioniq 6 N will go on sale in 2026, and no – Hyundai hasn’t confirmed pricing. But we know that it’ll be up there with the 5 N (which costs £65,000), and the 6 will likely cost around £70,000. Not cheap, then, but there’s always that five-year warranty to sweeten the deal.
Verdict
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is an absolute beast. I can't emphasise how impressive the blend of brutal performance, agile handling and everyday usability is. It's so good to have an EV that shows how this can be done - and that doesn't cost as much as a Porsche Taycan!! Yes, it's a niche car and you've got to be a real enthusiast to want one, but for those people who fall into that category the Ioniq 6 N really does do it all - and then a bit more.
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