Hyundai Ionq 6 N

FIRST DRIVE We get behind the wheel of a car that proves EVs can be superbly entertaining to drive

- Richard Ingram

IT'S almost two years since we first drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in South Korea.

We came away wondering if the hot EV was as good as it seemed, itching to drive it on more familiar roads.

Six months passed until we got one in the UK. But we soon realised we hadn’t overcooked our verdict, declaring the hot hatch a “new benchmark” for driver-focused electric cars. The hype was real.

Now we're getting a chance to sample N’s second electric car. It’s based on the facelifted Ioniq 6 also due next year, with stats that largely mirror those of its boxier brother — with a couple of key changes that should make it even better to drive.

The first is an advanced suspension geometry fully redesigned for the Ioniq 6. Hyundai has increased the axle stiffness, steering precision and mount damping, which it says “enhances comfort and refinement across all road surfaces”. We covered a variety of roads on our autumnal UK test, but at no point did anything upset the all-wheel-drive sleek saloon’s composure; the go-faster 6 rides with a compliance that the 5 N can’t match.

That focus on refinement is another thing that’s obvious the moment you start rolling. The Ioniq 6’s streamlined shape makes this one of the quickest and quietest cars on sale — with little noticeable road or wind noise even at the national speed limit. Features such as the motorsport-inspired rear wing and widened track do little to harm the car’s drag coefficient, which stands at 0.27Cd.

This is just as well, because the 6 N isn’t short of visual presence — especially with our car's deep black paintwork and matching wheels. To our eyes, the updated Ioniq 6 is a cleaner, meaner design, lending itself perfectly to the N’s makeover.