Electric car Hyundai Ioniq 6 in winter long-distance test: limits shown

Contents

The sun may not be showing itself over Zagreb as the test drive begins at 7:30 AM. The sky is overcast. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, with a 239 kW drive unit and an 84 kWh battery, is charged to 80 percent. The range display promises 298 km. As in any modern car, it is based, among other things, on the driving style of the past 30 to 70 km. With this, we head north towards the Slovenian border. As soon as the motorway is reached, the wipers have to spring into action. They will remain so until we reach our destination in Krakow, Poland.

The Korean manufacturer launched the aerodynamic sedan in Germany in the spring of 2023. At the turn of the year 2026, a facelift will be introduced, which was already shown in the spring. Externally, the designers have revised the front with the narrow, pixel-like headlights. At the rear, a hump has been removed and the remaining spoiler has been extended. Overall, the car has grown by four centimeters to 4.93 m.

Energy content increased

The energy content of the traction batteries has also increased, with the base model having a larger capacity than our fully equipped test car. Customers now have the choice between 63 (previously 53) and 84 kWh (previously 77). This increases the maximum range from 614 to up to 680 km. The top speed is 185 km/h, which was not relevant in any of the six countries on this tour.

Inside, the design of the two 12.3-inch screens and the center console has been revised. For the first time, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available wirelessly. An orange light indicates that the smartphone is being charged inductively. In addition to two cupholders, the center console includes switches for seat heating and ventilation, as well as the power windows. The steering wheel has also been revised. Hyundai still refrains from embossing the brand name or logo on the steering wheel. Here, only four light pixels are visible. They represent the Morse code for the letter H, four short signals. That's a rather convoluted approach.

Suggestions from Google Maps

My co-pilot and I navigate the first leg using an Android smartphone. Google Maps repeatedly suggests alternatives that are supposed to be faster or toll-free. We accept one suggestion and regret it a short time later. The route leads over an unpaved dirt road with numerous potholes. Yes, the suspension in the Ioniq 6 is good, but it can't work miracles.

At the first border crossing into Slovenia, the official asks for our IDs. This is the only border control on this journey through six countries. Otherwise, the advantages of open borders and the EU are palpable. The smartphone simply connects to the nearest network, and the navigation continues. Tolls in Croatia and Poland can be paid via mobile phone. In Poland, the bill shows that 17 Zloty is about four Euros. In Croatia, you pay in Euros.

Preconditioning recommended

The charging infrastructure along the route is surprisingly good. The first leg of 380 km to Parndorf, Austria, is not completed without a charging stop. Using Google Maps, a suitable charging station at Shell in Steinamanger, Hungary, is quickly found. On the way through the city, we discover an Alpitronic fast charger from E.ON in the parking lot of an Aldi supermarket. According to the sticker, the station charges at up to 300 kW, but the Ioniq 6 charges at up to 260 kW. However, the charging power is significantly lower at 80 kW. The explanation is simple: we used Android Auto instead of the internal navigation, so battery preconditioning was omitted. It is raining and the temperature is six degrees Celsius. It takes 13 minutes for the charging power to slowly increase. But it stops at 140 kW. We break off the charging as soon as the predicted range is sufficient for the lunch stop.

Motorway utilization: a seasonal business

We continue through Hungary to Austria via a well-developed motorway. For lunch, we have arranged to meet all participants and a representative from Ionity in Parndorf, north of Lake Neusiedl. There, we learn that Ionity operates 55 locations with 252 charging points in Eastern Europe, from Gdansk in the north to Dubrovnik in the south. E-car registrations in the associated countries are progressing more slowly than in Germany. However, the Ionity representative is particularly positive about the development of registrations in Poland. Hyundai is one of the shareholders of the charging provider. In Eastern Europe, locations have primarily been chosen at petrol station partners such as Shell, MOL, and OMV. The utilization of charging stations on motorways is a seasonal business with good values from May to October. Therefore, Ionity is now increasingly acquiring locations in the outskirts of cities. The first is expected to open in Budapest soon.

We continue with a 100 percent charge and a range of 383 km. Here, the weather is more likely to be the reason for the large difference from the WLTP figure of 680 km than our driving style, as the rain has not let up. This increases rolling resistance. On the motorway, the adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist is a valuable support. The route planning includes another charging stop at Ionity in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It is 325 km away, but on the way north, the range decreases faster than expected, so the intermediate destination of Ostrava cannot be reached.

Below expectations

This time, we rely on the car's navigation. Thus, the battery is prepared for the next charging stop at a gas station in Vyškov, Czech Republic. In the continuous rain, we stand without a roof at a charging station, also operated by E.ON, which according to the sticker delivers 240 kW. The Ioniq 6 starts again at 80 kW and remains at this charging power. After switching to the second connector of the Siemens charging station, the power increases to 118 kW. Whether the car or the infrastructure is to blame cannot be determined. However, we do not want to stand in the rain until 80 percent and leave the location as soon as enough has been recharged to reach Ostrava.