I liked driving the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, and there is just one purpose I can not purchase one

In early December of 2021, I had a singular alternative to spend a weekend with the Polestar 2, the primary mass-market EV to be launched because the progeny of Chinese language auto producer Geely and Volvo because it bought the Swedish firm in 2010. 

A couple of months later, within the first two quarters of this 12 months, as I used to be available in the market for a automobile myself, I spent appreciable time researching EVs. Many sellers have been asking $10,000 and above MSRP for EVs attributable to lack of stock or extraordinarily excessive demand. I finally bought a 2022 Polestar 2 myself, because it was one of many few producers with stock obtainable and keen to promote certainly one of its automobiles at MSRP.

Two of probably the most sought-after automobiles available on the market proper now are Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6, each of that are constructed on Hyundai’s Electrical-World Modular Platform (E-GMP) and which have many related design traits and parts. 

I spent per week driving every automobile, and once I was achieved, I did not need to give them again. 

Comparable, however not the identical

The 2 autos have many similarities. They each appear like sporty, compact SUV crossovers. The Ioniq 5 I drove was the maxed-out Restricted Version HTRAC, a dual-motor AWD, 77.4-kWh, 320-hp, 266-mile-range variant. It was totally loaded, in a premium colour, at a $56,295 configuration pretax and seller/supply charges, and a $7,500 federal tax credit score. The EV6 I drove was the GT-Line RWD, 77.4-kWh, 225-horsepower, 310-mile vary variant at $51,700.

• The Ioniq 5 Restricted is 182.5 inches lengthy with a 118.1-inch wheelbase, 63 inches excessive, and 74.4 inches extensive, whereas the Kia EV6 is 184.8 inches lengthy with a 114.2-inch wheelbase, 60.8 inches excessive, and 74.4 inches extensive. 

• The Ioniq 5 Restricted has roughly 27.2 cubic toes of cargo area, with 59.3 cubic toes with the rear seats folded. In distinction, the Kia EV6 has about 24.4 cubic toes of cargo area or 50.2 cubic toes with the rear seat folded.

• The Ioniq 5 Restricted weighs between 4,200 to 4,662 kilos, and the Kia EV6 is 3,984 to 4,502 kilos relying on the configuration. 

Each automobiles might be configured with related motors (with related vary) with both RWD or AWD, in single (58 kWh) or twin motor (77 kWh), in several trims. The EV6 will even be obtainable in a GT model with a whopping 577 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and 0-60 mph in underneath 3.5 seconds. However when it would present up within the US, nobody is aware of.

Hyundai will even be producing an ultrapremium luxury-trim model of the EV6, known as the GV60, that will likely be offered underneath the Genesis model at Hyundai dealerships — it is anticipated to seem in late 2022 and early 2023.

Relating to how each autos carried out, they’re each very responsive automobiles and maneuver very nicely. On this article, I can’t give attention to driving efficiency since that is extra of an analysis of the autos’ know-how. An automotive publication can road-test (and track-test) extra successfully than I can. 

Nonetheless, I felt that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was extra top-heavy when making greater G turns than the EV6, as it’s a heavier automobile with a shorter wheelbase. Nevertheless, the Ioniq 5 was additionally extra comfy attributable to its beneficiant seating space and open cockpit. In distinction, the Kia EV6 felt sportier however extra enclosed and tighter when it comes to comofrt. They had been each quite a lot of enjoyable to drive, and from the angle of a know-how author, I will depart it at that.

Refined but essential variations in cockpit format

Along with the obtainable efficiency trims, the true distinction between the Ioniq 5 and the EV6 comes right down to the design aesthetic. The Ioniq 5 is being offered and focused as extra of a household automobile with cool know-how. The EV6 is extra of a sporty EV crossover with a youthful picture. 

However each automobiles maintain their very own on the street, and the driving expertise I had with every automobile different on account of the minor variations in dimension and the load of the autos.

Hyundai owns roughly a one-third (33.88%) stake in Kia, however the firm operates independently despite the fact that they share platforms. The variations between the 2 automobiles are expressed within the aesthetics of the inside trims to create a definite branding impact. The final vibe of each automobiles is ultrafuturistic and progressive technologically. Each autos make use of Bluelink, a Hyundai-designed, twin 12.3-inch widescreen TFT LCD driver informatics and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system, appropriate with Android Auto and CarPlay, which Hyundai is committing to replace over-the-air twice a 12 months.

I examined each automobiles with a heads-up show (HUD), a premium characteristic with the Restricted model of the Ioniq 5, and a $1,600 improve on the GT EV6.

Despite the fact that the shows and underlying IVI working methods are the identical on each automobiles, there are important variations within the cockpit layouts. 

For starters, the Hyundai Ioniq has bodily knobs and push-buttons for environmental controls, a knob connected to the fitting of the steering wheel for participating drive/impartial/reverse/parking, and a push-button close to the environmental controls to energise the automobile. 

The Kia EV6 makes use of a slim touchscreen show with digital buttons and bodily knobs for environmental and leisure controls. Its energize button and EV drive controls are on a knob in a middle console that the Ioniq 5 does not have, which additionally provides the cockpit a tighter really feel. The middle console additionally hosts the seat heating controls — one thing you want to concentrate on when resting your arm on the console, as they’re simple to activate by chance.

Each automobiles characteristic wi-fi charging pads for smartphones. Neither automobile has wi-fi Android Auto or CarPlay — each require wired connectivity except you utilize a third-party wi-fi adapter. 

For connectivity, the Ioniq 5 makes use of a USB-A port beneath the central stack, whereas the EV6 makes use of USB-C. We’re unsure why Hyundai selected completely different connectors for the 2 automobiles: USB-C is the newer commonplace, because it has a quicker knowledge throughput and permits quicker charging with USB Energy Supply (PD). It seems the jack on the Ioniq 5 itself is designed to be field-replaceable and third-party components exist for individuals who need it badly, so it’s doable an OEM USB-C retrofit is doubtlessly within the providing sooner or later sooner or later, or no less than it would doubtlessly be modified for 2023.

So whereas I most popular the roominess of the Ioniq 5, I preferred the extra modernized industrial design decisions of the EV6 higher. It is not a deal-breaker for the Ioniq 5 for the reason that autos have practically equivalent performance in the entire essential points of the driving expertise, however Hyundai ought to take into account this.

A number of dizzying electronics

To say that the electronics in each of those autos might be initially overwhelming is a little bit of an understatement. Having come from the Polestar 2, which has a really streamlined, comparatively minimalistic person interface and driver consciousness system utilizing Android Automotive, and even having pushed different EVs just like the Tesla Mannequin 3 and Ford’s Mach E, that are pretty simple of their UXes and data shows, utilizing Hyundai’s Bluelink system is like taking a look at an LCARS show from Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology. In some ways, it’s retro-futuristic to have a look at.

The precise-hand contact show is primarily used for working the automobile’s built-in navigation, which is voice-activated, in addition to for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, leisure methods management (reminiscent of for XM and FM radio), and activating and interacting with Android Auto and CarPlay. The precise-hand show can be used for the 360-degree digicam system and the encompass view monitor (SVM) for parking. Whereas the UX is simple, Bluelink has many menu choices that go a number of layers deep, which might be daunting initially to dig into.

Most drivers are unlikely to work together with the built-in navigation system as soon as they’ve linked their smartphone — except they see the advantage of directional overlays utilizing the HUD, which we’ll get to in a bit. Whereas the navigation is useful and responsive if you happen to manually key in your vacation spot, I discovered the voice response significantly slower and fewer useful than Siri, Google Assistant, and even Alexa or Bixby. It is effective as a backup, however if you happen to’re a dedicated person of Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps, you will not be utilizing the built-in navigation.

The left-hand show unit is the place a lot of the motion is. Each autos I evaluated had the total array of driver consciousness and security intervention sensors, together with ahead collision help (FCA), blind-spot collision avoidance help (BCA), rear cross-traffic collision avoidance help (RCCA), reverse parking collision-avoidance help, (PCA), Lane Conserving Help (LKA), Sensible Cruise Management with Cease and Go (SCC), Clever Velocity Restrict Help (ISLA), Navigation-based Sensible Cruise Management (NSCC), and Driver Consideration Warning (DAW). 

A cyclable display view utilizing the controls on the steering wheel additionally exhibits battery and motor efficiency. However as soon as you have seen that just a few occasions and watched the nifty propulsion cycle the place the rear methods kick in earlier than the ahead methods, you most likely will not need to have a look at it once more.

If that seems like quite a lot of stuff, it’s. However Hyundai does an excellent job of visualizing all of those in the primary driver show as whether it is a complicated online game and displaying the visible cues from these sensors precisely after they must be proven to the driving force — you do not want to concentrate on every of those methods always. 

Within the driver’s seat

The motive force consciousness and intervention methods of the 2 automobiles I drove had been configured identically. When the autos have to intervene in your behalf they accomplish that, shortly. Along with serving to you retain in your lane with drive suggestions and countersteering torque, the automobile has automated braking and sounds an acoustic alert if it detects that you just’re about to do one thing silly. 

Equally, when the automobiles want to point out you one thing, they do. When at freeway speeds and utilizing the good cruise management, the system exhibits oncoming autos within the driver’s and adjoining lanes, transferring with site visitors, in entrance and behind the automobile, utilizing graphics.

While you’re altering lanes and autos are approaching from behind, the rear-facing cameras present a view from behind the left and proper sides of the automobile, as if you happen to had been utilizing the facet mirrors — that is along with the blind-spot collision help (BCA) warning lights on the bodily mirrors, in addition to on the HUD. 

Ah sure, the HUD. You assume that this know-how goes to be superfluous, nevertheless it’s not — it retains your give attention to driving and on the street itself as a result of you’re looking straight forward as a substitute of glancing down on the predominant driver show for nearly the whole lot you want for consciousness cues besides the rear-facing cameras. You get automobile pace, street pace and site visitors alerts, automobile proximity alerts, and turn-by-turn navigational cues (if you happen to’re utilizing the built-in navigation system) within the HUD. 

It is not an ideal know-how; street situations and polarized sun shades could make it troublesome to see, and I felt that the fonts had been a bit small for my myopic eyes. I might have preferred to have the flexibility to enlarge them maybe one other 25%. But it surely’s a cool know-how nonetheless.

Juicing up

Should you aren’t charging your automobile at house (the place you’ll be restricted by 240 volts, 50A AC regardless of the place you reside), you will have to cost your automobile at a DC charging station. On this space, Hyundai’s autos are nearly unmatched. Each automobiles use an 800-volt methods structure that allows them to make use of 350-kW charging stations to succeed in 80% battery cost from as little as 10% cost in roughly 18 minutes. That is extremely quick.

By comparability, my Polestar 2 can solely use 155-kW charging stations, and current-generation Teslas have a 480-volt system that may cost as much as 250 kW. 

In fact, that does not imply your automobile can at all times cost this quick. Along with the capability of the charging station, as with all EVs, the charging curve depends upon your automobile’s present state of cost (SoC) — which means how depleted the battery is when it’s linked to the charger and the way the battery administration system decides to situation the cells to optimize for battery well being and life. 

With the Ioniq 5 at Electrify America on a 350-kW charger, I may get the automobile to just accept 233 kW between 52% and 55% SoC, which is extraordinarily spectacular.

Whereas I used to be unable to check this explicit characteristic, the Ioniq 5 and the EV6 are additionally outfitted with automobile to load (V2L) 400-volt and 800-volt capabilities, which let you use the automobile’s predominant charging port utilizing a particular adapter (in addition to a 120V outlet within the passenger compartment) to cost exterior units at 3.6 kW even when the automobile is turned off — so basically the automobile turns into a generator.

However are they unobtainable?

After driving each of those unimaginable EVs for 2 weeks, I nearly wished to show in my Polestar 2 and purchase certainly one of these as a substitute. 

Though the scenario in your space might differ, you might have excessive problem discovering these autos to buy. In my discussions with Hyundai and Kia sellers in South Florida, I discovered that after they obtain these autos in stock, they contact potential clients who’ve expressed curiosity in them on a first-come, first-served foundation, and whoever is available in to make a deposit will get the reservation. 

Hyundai dealerships do get SEs and SELs, however the Restricted is a unicorn: Rumor has it the corporate produces just one Restricted out of each 500 Ioniq automobiles. You’ll be able to’t even “construct” a automobile for future supply — what it would present you are related autos in native stock, and the max distance you may search on the web site is as much as 200 miles away. 

The KIA scenario is comparable; lower-end EV6 within the RWD Mild and Wind variations arrive in drips and drabs, however the higher-end configurations such because the GT-Line RWD and AWD are nearly not possible to come back by. After I wrote this text in early August 2022, a single EV6 GT-Line AWD was obtainable for me to purchase, for $58,000, in Key West, Fla., 150 miles away, with seven Wind RWD in native stock. After I seemed the next morning, it was already gone. 

A neighborhood seller I spoke with this morning in Palm Seashore Gardens, Northlake, initially requested $20,000 over bill ($80,000) for an EV6 AWD GT-Line, due to the extremely fascinating metal matte grey colour it was in.

You need to take into account your self fortunate if you’ll find any of those automobiles in stock at a dealership close to you in your required configuration, regardless of the colour or trim it is available in. Do not hesitate to purchase it if you happen to just like the automobile as a result of they fly out of dealerships as quick as they arrive off the boat from South Korea.