The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the newest electric car from Hyundai, and with it arriving at Canadian dealerships now, I had the opportunity to take one off-site for an evening photo shoot. Thank you to Steele Hyundai in Halifax for allowing me to capture photos of their newest arrival.

What is the Ioniq 6?

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a mid-size sedan and the second vehicle from the all-electric IONIQ marque. It follows the Ioniq 5 in 2022, a compact crossover and the first car released as a full “Ioniq” model. The Ioniq 6 is available in multiple trims, including SE, SEL, and Limited and is offered in both rear and all-wheel drive configurations; it has a very sleek and streamlined shape and with a low nose, active air flaps in the front, wheel gap reducers, an elliptical wing-inspired spoiler with winglet, and other aerodynamic features that allow the Ioniq 6 to achieve an impressive 0.21 drag coefficient. (Tesla Model 3 - 0.23)

The Ioniq 6 shares the same platform as the Ioniq 5 and shares much of the technology and powertrains. For maximum range, the long-range version of the Ioniq 6 with 18” wheels and rear-wheel drive will get up to 581kms. Horsepower figures range from 149 hp for the Ioniq 6 Standard Range RWD setup to 320 hp for the top Long Range AWD configuration, which this featured model is.

Hyundai’s chief of design has stated the design language of the Ioniq brand as having three “pillars” consistent across the brand, including a living space-focused interior, parametric pixel (part of the visual identity), and sustainability and the use of sustainable materials. Regarding those materials, the seats and headliner are made of recycled PET fabric, the dashboard bio TPO skin, and the carpet contains recycled fishing net. Some interior elements, including the steering wheel, are coated in bio-paint composed of plant extracts.

This adds to a design heralded by more than just Hyundai itself. The Ioniq 6 has already won various awards; at the New York International Auto Show in April, the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 added three awards to its list of accolades, including the ‘World Design Car Award,’ ‘World Electric Vehicle Award,’ and ‘World Car of the Year Award.’

The Tech Stuff

The Ioniq brand is known for having great technology, and the features and specifications are extensive, even for the base Ioniq 6. Standard features include a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster integrated with a second 12.3-inch touchscreen display with navigation. Other standard features include blind-spot collision warning, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keep assist, and smart cruise control. Moving up through the trim levels, optional equipment includes Remote Smart Parking Assist 2, Surround View Monitor, and Blind-Spot View Monitor, to highlight a few.

Also, you will find four pixels in the center of the steering wheel, where you would expect to see a company emblem. These four pixels act as both the level of current charge and an indication of the virtual assistant listening to allow limited requests by voice.

The Photos

I had the car for a few hours in the evening, which allowed me to try a few different locations, although the location featured predominately in these photos is the one I liked the most. I was using the Canon 5D Mark II as usual for this shoot, along with the 24-105L, and I used some form of stabilization for all shots. I used a tripod and a beanbag for lower shots as it got darker. This allowed me to shoot at a higher aperture at low iso without worrying about camera shake or lack of sharpness throughout. I was shooting at f/10-f/11 for most shots to maximize that sharpness throughout the entire frame.

Conclusion

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 enters an increasing range of electric vehicles but adds styling that sets it apart from its main rivals (primarily the aging Tesla Model 3). With the Model 3 becoming a common sight on roads, Hyundai can win over some Tesla fans and potential buyers with its fresh design and technology.