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Electric Cars Outsell Petrol and Diesel Combined Across the EU
Hyundai cuts Ioniq 6 price to £33,240 after grant and facelift
Hyundai has updated its electric Ioniq 6 saloon and, with the Electric Car Grant secured, now starts at £33,240 for the 84kWh, 423-mile version, undercutting rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz CLA.
By George Kensington · 4 min read
Hyundai has refreshed its electric Ioniq 6 saloon, but the most significant change for buyers is the price. The entry-level version now starts at £33,240 for the 84kWh model with a claimed range of 423 miles, a figure that puts the car well below many of its rivals in the family-sized electric saloon segment.
The comparison that stands out is with Mercedes-Benz. The smaller-battery CLA 200 Electric, which offers 328 miles of range, costs at least £39,150. Tesla's Model 3 is also priced above the Ioniq 6's new entry point. The gap is large enough that, as the review notes, it is difficult to ignore even for those who rate the CLA highly.
Hyundai's pricing strategy depends heavily on the government's Electric Car Grant. The grant is available to cars priced below a £37,000 threshold, and Hyundai has reshuffled its trim levels so that the Premium version falls beneath it. The company also worked to convince British authorities that the Korean-built Ioniq 6 is produced sustainably enough to qualify for the full £3,750 discount. That process took time, which is why the facelifted car has only now reached British showrooms.
The grant does not apply to every version. The sportier N Line, which has distinct styling, costs £36,240 after the grant. The top-tier N Line Evo, at £43,270, and the 320bhp dual-motor model, at £46,770, do not qualify for the discount, but the reviewer considers them still reasonably competitive with the CLA in their respective segments.
The visual changes are more extensive than the price alone might suggest. The car gains slimmer headlights and new wheel designs, and it loses the distinctive rear wing reminiscent of the Sierra RS Cosworth. The styling remains polarising, and the reviewer acknowledges that some people will strongly dislike it while others, including the reviewer, admire it.
Inside, Hyundai has upgraded the materials, reducing the amount of hard, scratchy plastic. Models in the N Line trim receive the three-spoke steering wheel borrowed from the Ioniq 6 N in place of the earlier two-spoke design. The centre console retains its row of physical buttons but is laid out more logically than before. The digital screens work well without dominating the cabin.
Rear passengers benefit from a generous amount of legroom, which means the car's high floor is not a significant drawback for them. The front seats, however, sit in a medium-high position that perches the driver over the controls, a feeling the reviewer says is less authentic than the driving position offered by the CLA and Model 3.
On the road, the regular Ioniq 6 is described as a surprisingly capable steer. The rear-wheel-drive layout gives it a degree of agility, and the steering is faithful to the road. Body control is good, though the ride is only acceptable, with limited suspension travel on challenging surfaces and some difficulty isolating vibrations and sharp impacts.
Choosing the smaller 18in wheels over the 20in alternatives makes little difference to comfort but adds 59 miles of WLTP range. The facelifted car uses the same upgraded 84kWh battery as the Ioniq 5 SUV. The reviewer notes that real-world figures will be lower than the official cycle, but suggests that around 300 miles is achievable in practice, with efficiency in the high threes of miles per kWh.
When the Ioniq 6 first launched at £47,000, the reviewer found it striking and generally good but short of expectations. Falling EV prices, the grant and the updates have changed that assessment. The reviewer concludes that the Ioniq 6 is now highly recommendable, particularly for buyers who want something distinctive that is not an SUV.
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