The electric vehicle (EV) market is packed with excellent entries from all corners of the automotive realm and in the premium space, the offerings are even more impressive. It’s tough to stand out in this space, but our jury of more than 20 automotive experts has voted the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 as the Best Premium EV in this year’s AutoTrader Awards. This innovative and wild-looking EV has emerged as the one our experts can confidently recommend to Canadians looking for a premium, emissions-free driving experience.
Considering the stiff competition from every other vehicle in this premium segment including the Porsche Taycan, Kia EV9, Ford F-150 Lightning, BMW i4, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Genesis Electrified GV70, and more, it says a lot that Hyundai was able to achieve the outstanding excellence our jury is looking for to come out on top.
To stand out in this crowd, the Ioniq 6 delivers a winning blend of equipment, performance, range, and style. And given it can be far more affordable than some of the other offerings in this category, the Ioniq 6 makes a decent value play as well.
Hyundai offers two configurations of the Ioniq 6. Entry-level models feature a single 225-hp motor that motivates the rear wheels and delivers a maximum of 581 km of range. Canadians who see inclement weather on the regular may appreciate the dual-motor, all-wheel drive Ioniq 6, which has 320 hp and offers a maximum of 509 km of range. This smooth and responsive powertrain left our jury impressed, as it enables the Ioniq 6 to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just five seconds.
“That’s properly quick and means it should have no trouble pulling away from the EV-hating drivers in their lifted diesel pickups,” explains AutoTrader expert Jeff Wilson in his review of the Ioniq 6.
What makes the Ioniq 6 even more attractive is the available fast charging speeds. The electric sedan can take advantage of speeds up to 350 kW, which allows for recharges from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes. Canadians will also appreciate the battery conditioning technology, which improves the consistency of driving range and charging speeds in cold weather.
Reviewers also fell for the wild styling of this four-door sedan. Swoopy, curvy, and eye-catching, the Ioniq 6 is a head-turner.
“The way the roof line follows an obvious arc before plunging directly into a dramatically bobbed tail that’s endowed with not one but two spoilers is unlike anything else on the road right now,” says Wilson. Even the interior looks great, offering more sustainable materials along with a clean layout of controls and displays.
Out on the road, the impressive powertrain combines with the well-sorted driving dynamics to deliver a smooth and premium experience.
“There’s a refinement to the underpinnings that have this four-door gliding over most surfaces unperturbed,” says AutoTrader expert Peter Bleakney, adding “This Hyundai is a champ, especially on the highway where it chews up the kilometres in calming comfort.”
The staggering number of comfort, convenience, and safety features in the Ioniq 6 also helped its case in winning this year’s award for Best Premium EV. On the safety front, the Korean EV includes automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, a highway driving assistant with a lane-changing feature, and automatic high-beam headlights. There’s also an available head-up display. Occupants can enjoy plenty of space inside along with heated front seats, a large sunroof, and attractive ambient lighting.
It may seem like an underdog compared to some of the other big names in this category, but the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is clearly the kind of car that punches above its price tag. With its sleek styling, next-generation battery and charging technology, long list of features, and smooth driving dynamics, it’s no wonder it was voted the Best Premium EV in the 2024 AutoTrader Awards.
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