Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 is a welcome addition to the EV fleet

Last week, in the Spanish port city of Valencia, I was pleasantly surprised when I took a cab in a model I did not know: it was electric, and for once, its design reflected the principle of form follows function, rather than the “we took the engine out and replaced it with a motor and some batteries” approach of most traditional automotive brands. I don’t usually review cars, and don’t want to do so here, because I have not had the opportunity to test the vehicle beyond sitting in the back of it, but the truth is that it caught my attention.

The vehicle was a 2023 model Hyundai Ioniq 6, a sedan I had knew nothing about until that moment, and whose owner-driver was absolutely delighted with it. During the ride, he confirmed not only that the vehicle’s range was more than enough for its daily activity, but also that it had a very low maintenance cost — although he pointed out that, contrary to Tesla, it was necessary to take it in for regular checkups to maintain the warranty, something traditional brands do. He also highlighted the savings on fuel, given that City Hall had installed a free charging station next to his house.

I have since found a review of the Ioniq 6 in Wired. Besides being an attractive and well equipped car, it gave the impression that it had been designed as electric from the get-go. Its spartan interior…