Hyundai Ioniq 6 2026 review: N - International preview drive

Excuse the anecdotal opening here, but it seems like anyone who was on the fence about electric performance cars and went on to drive a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N had their mind changed.

I’m not just talking about the people who bought one, but even rusted-on petrolheads and those in the CarsGuide editorial orbit - myself included.

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Except, here’s the thing. Its little sibling isn’t going to be less mature, quite the opposite.

Oh, and we’ve already driven it.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N is yet to be revealed as I write this. Even from behind the wheel at Hyundai’s HQ test facility in Namyang, South Korea, there were things being tuned for the production version and aspects of the spec sheet yet to be finalised.

If you’re reading this after the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 10 – 13), there have likely been more details announced and you’ll have seen the car sans-camo wrap. That, I can’t talk too much about, yet.

Its Goodwood reveal is very soon, but for now I can tell you this. If you liked the Ioniq 5 N but feel like you wanted something a bit more ‘serious’, the Namyang gang’s got you covered.

The Ioniq 6’s lower centre of gravity and sleeker look give that away just a bit, but being given the opportunity to ask Hyundai’s N engineers a volley of questions confirms it.

You could argue it’s a good thing Hyundai is only just getting around to the Ioniq 6 N, as the base car’s facelift seems to have been well received by those who weren’t so convinced by the launch version’s design.

Slimmer headlights and its altered facade go a long way to making the car look more sporting in the first place, but in N form there are some obvious additions even before the techy camouflage comes off.

The new set of wheels you can see in the photos, the disguised front bumper that gives a little away and, of course, the big wing hanging off the back.

It’ll all be much clearer when the car’s revealed a week from the time this story is published, along with a list of specs and features.

Broadly, expect the Ioniq 6 N to approximate its 5 N sibling on paper when it comes to things like outputs and techy details.

The 5 N has, most of the time, 448kW and 740Nm at its disposal thanks to its two motors driving all four wheels. But then there’s its 'N Grin Boost' mode, which temporarily bumps that up to 478kW/770Nm.

That means hitting 100km/h from rest in as little as 3.4 seconds with a very easy to use launch control system. Basically, expect all that but better.

You can alter things like its launch control, drift mode, boost and power delivery to such a degree that you’re pretty much covered in any situation.

The degree of detail is frankly nuts. Again, some of the tiny details carry over from the Ioniq 5 N like the digital tacho needle vibrating on idle.

Something that has changed, however, is the way its ‘N e-Shift’ system works - the mode that simulates gear changes and corresponding engine noise now has an extra 'gear'.

Essentially, there’s an extra ratio low-down in the sequence bringing the total faux gears from eight to nine, which was done to create more engagement with the shift mode at lower, 'everyday' speeds. The simulated redline also shifts up from 7000rpm to 8000rpm when N mode is engaged.

It all comes together to create a driving experience that, at times, makes you forget you’re driving an electric car. Whether that’s a good thing or not comes down to your philosophy.

A very small number of Australian journalists were given a controlled and supervised stint behind the wheel at Hyundai’s test area, in particular ‘Area C’ which is Namyang's high performance test track.

It’s not a very long circuit, but contains an easy-to-memorise variety of corners and elevation changes which means more time can be focused on paying attention to the dynamics of the car.

Having reacquainted myself with the Ioniq 5 N only a week before heading to South Korea to sample the 6 N, this new member of the Hyundai EV performance family feels like it takes the N philosophy and sharpens it up.

Without having done away with the huge element of fun that comes with an N badge, the Ioniq 6 N feels more like its intention is to rack up impressive lap times as opposed to solely sorting out a smile for the driver’s face.

It’s balanced, feels more mature than the 5 N, but it’ll still let you hang the tail out or nail a perfect launch over and over again.

It’s got a progressive nature to the way it corners and even breaks traction. You probably won’t find yourself out of control if you’re able to pay attention to its feedback. 

Gradually moving up through the drive modes, from Sport to N - and then with N Grin Boost engaged - means being able to feel not only the base potential of a well-tuned chassis, but also adding more and more power into the recipe.

Of course, track time is only part of the picture and it’s hard to say how composed the Ioniq 6 N will be as a road car. That said, it’s hard to imagine it not holding up if the 5 N’s compliance on-road is anything to go by.

Details like arrival timing, pricing and of course the full design reveal are all set to be the topic of future announcements, some of which may come a little later when it comes to Australian specifics.

So, watch this space… and stay excited for arguably the best-driving EV yet.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.