The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is now made in Singapore at HMGICS. We experience a bit of its Seoul over the National Day weekend.
EVs are great as A-to-B transport, especially for an island-state like Singapore, which incidentally is where the all-electric Ioniq 6 is now made – at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (or HMGICS) to be precise.
Short distances, start-stop traffic and the average car owner’s propensity for sitting in the car with the aircon running are just some factors that add to an EVs appeal.
And this is why I don't get the obsession with hard technical figures.
As consumers, we're only playing catch-up in the technology game and that's all it is with EVs – technology. It’s the elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, because as quickly as new tech is announced, it’s just as quickly old news due to the pace of progress.
See also: Hyundai Ioniq 5N is Naughty and Nice!
So instead of attempting to keep up with the latest EV technology, you might want to consider buying what you need when you need it and at a price that suits your budget.
Just don’t think that the EV “early-adopter” subsidies are a fast-track loophole to car ownership in Singapore.
See also: Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range Drive Review : Minimalist Cheek
With the government working towards a car-lite society, enthusiasts should still expect to pay to play as far as fun cars are concerned – it isn’t the government’s job to help you “go-green”.
Now, such fit-for-function purpose is the point of such appliances, but of course, this is personal to one’s needs, as is an EV’s utility.
So what if it isn’t the fastest or fastest-charging, boasts the longest range or puts out the most power?
This leads to our latest EV test-car, the Ioniq 6 “Prestige”, a single-motor 53kWh model that sits under the Cat A COE umbrella – perfect for empty-nesters and small families with ready access to charging facilities.
With its 145hp, the S$202k “Prestige” (a lower spec “Exclusive” sneaks in at just under S$200k) attracts an annual road tax of S$1.5+k, although we should qualify that neither variant is “small” in features.
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In contrast, the higher-powered, S$254,800, 77kWh dual-motor “Inspiration” model with 325hp will see a S$3226 annual road tax bill.
At the top end of the performance spectrum, the 650hp Ioniq 5 N (there’ll be an Ioniq 6 N equivalent soon) we love has a S$7k road tax – this is nuts, considering a Lamborghini Huracan with a nat-asp 5.2-litre V10 attracts S$5+k.
As we write this, the gap between Cat A and Cat B stands at a hefty S$12k, but this has narrowed to between S$5-8k before, which isn’t a big difference in the grand scheme of a COE’s 10-year duration.
Bear in mind though, an EV’s road tax includes a “surcharge” (for not pumping petrol!) and is determined by maximum power output, so it will typically cost more than an ICE-powered segment equivalent.
Both single- and dual-motor Ioniq 6 models sit on the same 800V E-GMP EV platform that underpins the retro-cool Ioniq 5 crossover hatchback, so no, it isn’t an existing ICE platform that has been repurposed.
More importantly, Ioniq 6 owners enjoy a proper full-flat rear floor and 45-litre frunk (in addition to the 401-litre trunk), just some of our fave physical traits of purebred EVs.
In terms of charging, it supports high-speed charging of up to 350kW, where it’ll take less than 20 minutes to go from 10% to 80% (with a 50kW fast-charger, it takes just under an hour to do the same).
The striking shape of this “streamliner” four-door coupe cheats the wind and boasts a slippery 0.21Cd.
Although the Ioniq 6’s Beetle / 911 silhouette and proportions may not be to everyone’s tastes, people will look.
The Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are clean-slate designs that do a great job of disguising the platform’s commodious 2950mm wheelbase.
This translates to great interior space, nooks and crannies for five adult occupants and their loose knick-knacks.
The glove compartment, which opens like a drawer, is particularly cool.
Tech should be intuitive to operate, and not attempt to boggle your mind with gobbledygook as a demonstration of its superiority.
Like any other white good, one should literally be able to plug-and-play and use it immediately, which you can with the Ioniq 6.
The Ioniq 6’s party trick is its V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) feature, which lets it double as a 3.6kW power source, so you can literally park and picnic, as the car will power your light source, entertainment and cooking implements!
Despite its thoroughbred EV status, Hyundai has intelligently kept physical buttons to work in tandem with its digital interface, so there’s no fussing around with “feelings” on the touchscreen for commonly accessed functions.
Ultimately, the average commuter wants to get from A to B and everywhere else on our little red dot without seeing red.
Grocery runs, bank visits, office commutes and school duties are par for the Prestige’s 400+km range on a full-charge, as is the EV’s characteristic instant surge of torque, which works exactly like an on-off switch.
To this end, the entry-level Ioniq 6 acquits itself well, especially given how easy it is to toggle Drive and Brake Regeneration (including one-pedal driving) modes to suit one’s driving style and traffic conditions.
The 350Nm endows the 53kWh with excellent overtaking ability, while the 145hp keeps you honest as far as Singapore’s speed limits and busy streets are concerned.
In "Prestige" trim, the Ioniq 6 gets a bunch of electronic nanny active (and passive) driving aids to keep you safe on the mean streets.
With clean-slate models from the Koreans like the Ioniq 6 and upstart Chinese brands taking the battle to legacy car makers, EVs have become a great automotive leveller that the German establishment would do well not to disregard.
By setting up HMGICS, Hyundai has brought the “Made in Singapore” tag back for the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6.
With the distinct personalities of Hyundai's Ioniq range and its regular models, the Korean brand has managed to straddle the fine line between traditional and trendy, yet retain its soul in every car.
HYUNDAI IONIQ 6 53kWh PRESTIGE
Battery 53kWh (gross), 800V
Power 145hp
Maximum torque 350Nm
Transmission Single-speed
0-100km/h 9.4secs
Top Speed 185km/h
WLTP range (combined) 429km
Kerbweight est. 1.8-tonnes
