Hyundai’s second Ioniq electric car may be larger and cheaper than a mid-spec Tesla Model 3 – though not as readily available – once Australian deliveries begin next year.
The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric car may cost less than an equivalent all-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3, when it arrives in Australia early next year.
Revealed in full this morning, the Ioniq 6 is the second member of Hyundai’s dedicated Ioniq electric vehicle (EV) range, and will be positioned as a larger (but similarly-priced) rival to the Tesla Model 3, among other new EV sedans.
Full pricing and specifications have yet to be locked in for Australia, however Hyundai Australia has indicated the Ioniq 6 will mirror the Ioniq 5 with two highly-specified variants, with rear- and all-wheel-drive layouts.
Despite a larger battery and body, Ioniq 6 prices are expected to be similar to the Ioniq 5, estimated at between $70,000 and $80,000 plus on-road costs.
That places both Ioniq 6 variants in the middle of the Tesla Model 3 range, priced from $65,500 plus on-road costs for the Rear-Wheel Drive, $80,000 for the Long Range AWD, and $95,276 for the Performance AWD.
If the all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6’s price tag starts with a seven, it will comfortably undercut the Model 3 Long Range, which offers more power and a greater driving range, but a smaller body, less space and a longer warranty.
Electric sedan offerings under $100,000 are few and far between in Australia, limited to the Model 3, and the Volvo-derived Polestar 2, priced from $63,900 to $73,400 plus on-road costs.
Hyundai Australia will sell the Ioniq 6 through the same online sales portal as the Ioniq 5, making vehicles available in limited, pre-built batches to cut wait times and prevent the long waiting lists facing sister brand Kia.
Drive understands supply of the Ioniq 6 will be similar to the Ioniq 5, to the tune of around 500 to 1000 vehicles per year – though more examples of the Ioniq 5 may become available to purchase more regularly towards the end of this year, in line with its Kia EV6 sibling.
However, it’s unlikely to match the volumes posted by EV sales leader Tesla, which has reported just under 5000 Model 3s as sold so far in 2022.
Standard feature lists have not been locked in for Australia’s Ioniq 6, however the new electric car will debut digital side mirrors for Hyundai in Australia – which replace traditional mirrors with cameras projecting a video feed of what’s alongside the car into displays on either side of the dashboard.
The Ioniq 6 will also be the second Hyundai in Australia to offer Bluelink, the company’s suite of connected car technologies, debuted on the updated Palisade due next month. All Ioniq 6s will come with a complementary five-year subscription.
As with most local Hyundai models, the Ioniq 6 will undergo an Australian tuning program, evaluating different spring/damper components and software tunes from overseas markets to find the most suited set-up for local roads.
However, bespoke software tuning and physical components for the Australian market appear unlikely at this stage.
For full details on the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6, click here to read our full reveal story.
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