Shoppers Were Expecting the Ioniq 6 N to Be More Affordable, But It Appears That's Not the Case | Carscoops

      Hyundai's latest flagship, the Ioniq 6 N, may be priced closely to the larger Ioniq 5 N in South Korea. Reports indicate that the starting price for the Ioniq 5 N in the US is $68,000, which is significantly higher than the cost of the Tesla Model 3 Performance. Despite the high price, the Ioniq 6 N promises exceptional driver engagement for an electric vehicle.

      American consumers interested in the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N could face some price surprises if the Korean pricing reports are accurate. While it was anticipated that the Ioniq 6 N would offer a competitive alternative to the Tesla Model 3 Performance, initial pricing leaks suggest it might be in a different category altogether. Rather than offering a lower price point than competitors, the Ioniq 6 N might be aligned more closely with Hyundai’s existing performance EV, the Ioniq 5 N.

      Recent sources indicate that the Ioniq 6 N is projected to begin at approximately 77 million won in South Korea, or roughly $55,000. That seems ideal, right? However, the Ioniq 5 N is also priced at 77 million won in Korea, but its cost has risen to $67,800 in the US. If this speculation holds true, the Ioniq 6 N could similarly launch at around $68,000 in the US market.

      This potential pricing may come as a surprise since the entry-level Ioniq 6 is nearly $5,000 less expensive than the base Ioniq 5 in the US. Many believed this implied that the Ioniq 6 N would underprice the slightly larger Ioniq 5 N. Furthermore, since the Ioniq 6 N is Hyundai's second high-performance EV sharing numerous components with the Ioniq 5 N, it was expected that costs could be reduced.

      If the Ioniq 6 N is priced above $65,000, it would be considerably pricier than the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which starts at $54,990. While the Ioniq 6 N has a notable advantage with an extra 131 horsepower and more driver-focused features, making it more fun to drive, the Tesla remains slightly quicker in acceleration terms, reaching 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.1 seconds compared to the Hyundai's 3.2 seconds.

      Regardless of the pricing, the Ioniq 6 N is poised to be an exciting EV, featuring an 84 kWh battery and dual electric motors that typically produce 601 horsepower, or up to 641 horsepower with the N Grin Boost function activated.