The Budget EV That’s Challenging Tesla On Range And Innovation

In the world of electric vehicles, Tesla is basically the undisputed champion. The company was an early leader in this market, and it continues to push forward. In fact, the brand’s Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan both accounted for 40 percent of new EVs sold in the U.S. last year, and that’s even as Tesla’s overall sales declined by nearly 38,000 examples compared to 2023.

A couple big selling points of these Musk-mobiles are their innovative technology and very long range. In fact, the rear-wheel-drive, long-range Model 3 can drive up to 363 miles with a full battery according to the EPA, an extremely impressive figure. Similarly, the larger Model S four-door can travel more than 400 miles on a single charge.

Now, if you’re looking to go electric but, for whatever reason don’t want a Tesla, you don’t have to sacrifice much range or technology. There’s one four-door car that’s well-built, offers lots of standard equipment and has long enough legs to give the Model 3 a run for its money.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA.

Meet The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6

And what vehicle might that be? Well, The Hyundai Ioniq 6, a sedan the South Korean automaker accurately describes as an electrified streamliner. The vehicle has a long, low, and flowing body that helps it slice through the air with minimal resistance, something that helps improve efficiency and maximize driving range.

Impressively Long Legs

In long-range, rear-wheel-drive SE trim with 18-inch wheels, the 2025 Ioniq 6 is rated by the EPA at up to 342 miles on a charge, just 21 miles short of what the Model 3 can muster. Grabbing an EV with as much range as you can reasonably afford is a smart decision because it means you can drive farther between charging stops on road trips, you have extra wiggle room in cold temperatures when range diminishes, and the vehicle is more insulated from battery degradation as years and miles accumulate.

If you need a car with all-wheel drive, Hyundai also offers the Ioniq 6 with four driven wheels. This ensures you have enhanced traction in all weather conditions – rain, sleet, snow, and even on dry pavement if you’re hustling along your favorite twisting road. Naturally, this configuration does reduce the overall driving range, but not as much as you might expect. The SE trim with 18s is rated at a still-impressive 316 miles.

This Car Is A Charging Champion

The longest-range Ioniq 6 features a sizable, 77.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, one that charges at an incredibly quick rate. This pack should top out at around 235 kilowatts, which means that when you’re hooked to an appropriate DC fast charge, likely a 350-kW unit, the car should be able to go from a 10 percent state of charge to 80 percent (a quasi-industry standard) in just 18 minutes, a phenomenal performance.

Level 2 charging, the kind you’d do at home from a 240-volt AC outlet is impressive, too. The Ioniq 6 should be able to hit 80 percent in less than seven hours. Battery preconditioning, which preemptively warms up the pack, so the car charges as quickly as possible, is standard equipment, too. In addition to these options, Hyundai also offers a rear-drive version of the Ioniq 6 with a smaller, 53-kWh battery pack. This model is more affordable, but, not surprisingly, comes with a good bit less range, just 240 estimated miles.

Additional Technical Tidbits

Aside from excellent charging performance, the long-range, SE-trim version of this streamlined sedan also delivers good performance. The car’s single, rear-mounted electric motor is rated at 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This won’t set the world on fire, but you should never be wanting for get up and go in normal, everyday driving.

2025 Ioniq 6 Performance Specifications

Dimensionally, the Ioniq 6 has a 116.1-inch wheelbase, which is about three inches greater than the Model 3 rear-wheel-drive long-range’s hub-to-hub span. This Hyundai’s overall length is 191.1 inches, more than 5 inches greater than the Tesla’s bumper-to-bumper measurement. When it comes to storage space, the Model 3 does have a respectable advantage over the Ioniq 6. The Tesla’s trunk clocks in at 21 cubic feet, plus there’s a 3.1 cubic-foot front trunk. In comparison, the Ioniq 6’s rear storage compartment is only 11.2 cubic feet, and the small under-hood cubby clocks in at a measly 0.5 cubes.

Predictably Generous Standard Equipment

Aside from long warranties and great build quality, one thing Hyundai is famous for is the amount of standard equipment its vehicles come with, and the Ioniq 6 is no exception. At no extra charge, this car is fitted with a digital instrument cluster and a central touchscreen, both of which measure 12.3 inches. There are also power windows and locks, a power-operated trunk lid, an eight-way power driver’s seat and LED headlamps, all standard.

If you want to spend a bit more, heated and ventilated front seats are optional, as is a 360-degree camera system to make parking in tight quarters easier. A head-up display is even available on the range-topping Limited trim, allowing you to keep tabs on your speed without taking your eyes off the road.

There Are Plenty Of Great Driver Aids, Too

The list of standard advanced driver assistance technologies is long, too. Hyundai gives you adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability for easy driving, even in heavy congestion. Automatic high beams are included, as well, and so is rear cross-traffic alert, which warns you of oncoming vehicles while backing up. Lane-keeping assist is another freebie, as is forward collision warning to help prevent frontal crashes. Blind spot monitoring is included, too, and so is Safe Exit Warning, so nobody opens their door into another vehicle or pedestrian. Hyundai’s Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist technology is also standard. This technology keeps tabs on the vehicle’s blind spots and, in certain situations, can even automatically apply the brakes to prevent a crash.

About one of the only optional advanced driver aids on Ioniq 6 is Hyundai’s Blind Spot View monitor. This system takes the standard blind spot monitoring system one step further by incorporating a camera in each side-view mirror. When you hit the turn signal, it sends a video feed from the relevant camera right to the digital instrument cluster, so you can see if any vehicles or objects are in your blind spot, a clever feature.

You Also Get A Sleek And Spacious Interior

As with other EVs including the Tesla Cybertruck and Hyundai’s own Ioniq 5, the latter of which is boxy and angular, the Ioniq 6’s exterior design is futuristic and exuberant. The car has a gracefully curving roofline, a low front end and a sort of terraced rear end with not one, but two spoilers. This sedan is unmistakable, resembling almost nothing else on the road today, though the Model 3 does have an advantage in styling cleanliness. This Tesla is much simpler, with far fewer visual frills on the exterior.

The Interior Is Great, Too

Matching the exterior, this Hyundai’s cabin is excellent as well. The build quality is top-notch – everything is carefully screwed together – the materials used are all of good quality, even in entry-level models, and the seats are comfortable. The front buckets are supportive enough for long-distance drives and the backbench practically offers miles of legroom, plus the floor is nearly flat, so there’s no annoying hump for passengers to contend with. The only downside here is that headroom in the rear is a little tight because of that sloping roofline, so be aware if you’re of the taller persuasion.

The two 12.3-inch displays in this car are praiseworthy as well. The digital instrument cluster is easy to read, and the infotainment system that runs on the touchscreen is intuitive and extremely responsive. Other automakers could learn a lot from Hyundai’s in-car tech.

Here’s a list of some of the standard equipment the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 comes with.

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen
• Power windows
• Power door locks
• Power-operated trunk lid
• 8-way power driver’s seat
• LED headlamps
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability
• Automatic high beams
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keeping assist
• Forward collision warning
• Blind spot monitoring
• Safe Exit Warning

A Refreshing Alternative To A Tesla Model 3

Tesla has led the EV industry for years now, forcing other OEMs to play catch up. Elon Musk’s vehicles offer great range, excellent infotainment technology and have some truly innovative features. Early and unfettered access to the

Supercharger network
is another major plus, though these vehicles are still far from perfect.

The Model 3, for instance, has had certain quality issues over the years, such as control arm problems and paint defects, plus some drivers do not care for the unusual interior controls including the lack of physical air vent adjusters and the non-traditional instrument cluster. The good news is, if you don’t want one of these Tesla sedans, you can still get an EV that delivers many of the same benefits. The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan offers loads of great tech and provides excellent range (even though it’s not quite as long as the Model 3’s).

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Trim Prices

Aside from all the benefits the Ioniq 6 SE Long Range model with 18-inch wheels offers, this Hyundai is also a strong value, checking out for right around $43,895 including $1,195 in destination fees. That figure compares very favorably to the Model 3, which starts at $42,490 before destination fees.