The electric vehicle space is quickly moving out of the "expensive spaceship" paradigm as battery-powered cars become more common and more affordable. But the updated 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 proves that not every spaceship needs to be expensive—and this electric sedan certainly looks like one.
The folks at the Korean automotive YouTube channel HealerTV caught one of the first videos of the new Ioniq 6 in the wild in its native country (along with some cameos from the Hyundai Ioniq 9.) The new electric sedan is definitely going to be a head-turner, perhaps in a way we haven't seen since the Lucid Air first hit the streets.
While the video is fairly short, it shows three Ioniq 6s—black and white versions of the new car, plus the older model—out for a cruise. Here, you can really see the difference between the two models. The old double-deck spoiler, of which I was a fan, won't be missed. But what's most striking is the front end of the new Ioniq 6: it aggressively curves downward and has a pair of headlights and integrated turn signals so discreet you almost don't even notice them when they're off.
As we've reported before, the new Ioniq 6 made its public debut at the Seoul Mobility Show earlier this month. Right now, the design is about all we know; the other specs remain largely unknown. We expect that the Ioniq 6 could get the new, larger 63 kWh and 84 kWh batteries we've seen go into the latest generation of Hyundai Motor Group EVs. That could take it from being a 342-mile EV in current form to perhaps even closer to 400 miles, in single-motor form with the largest battery.
At the same time, the Ioniq 6 wasn't an especially strong seller in the U.S., despite critical acclaim. SUVs reign supreme here and as a four-door sedan, it couldn't put up numbers like the Ioniq 5 and the rest can. But if the price stays reasonable and the new one adds these updates and all this visual drama, perhaps it could do much better.
Are you excited for the new Ioniq 6? Let us know in the comments.
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
