Hyundai facelifts Ioniq 6, confirms Ioniq 6 N

HYUNDAI Motor Company Australia (HMCA) has confirmed that a mid-life upgrade to the Ioniq 6 fully-electric sedan will come to Australia despite relatively slow sales of the Tesla Model 3 rival that launched in 2022.

Revealed in Seoul this morning, the facelift ushers in revised styling, minor interior updates, and the addition of a sportier N Line variant to the Ioniq 6 range—which itself will sit below the now-confirmed, high-performance Ioniq 6 N.

The four-door sedan—dubbed “electrified streamliner” by its maker—will launch in updated form in Australia in the second half of this year, while the full-fat Ioniq 6 N will follow about six months later in early 2026, bringing 478kW Ioniq 5 N hardware to a sedan body style for the first time.

A more assertive N Line trim level enters the global Ioniq 6 range with this update but HMCA has not yet confirmed whether the mid-tier grade will be included in the local line-up.

The Ioniq 6 N Line will enjoy only a brief stint as the most performance-orientated variant in the range with the rapid Ioniq 6 N set to be fully revealed in the middle of 2025.

Until now, the Ioniq 6 N had only been heavily implied through demonstrations of the company’s RN22e ‘rolling lab’ prototype which previewed the use of dual-motor, high-output EV mechanicals, artificial gear shifts and engine noise generation before even the Ioniq 5 N was revealed.

The facelifted Ioniq 6 introduces a range of exterior changes focused on further optimising aerodynamic efficiency while bringing the sedan in line with Hyundai’s evolving design language.

Key alterations include a revised headlight treatment featuring slim, split units with a thin upper daytime running light (DRL) and a compact lower main beam assembly. A flatter bonnet and simplified apron create a more horizontal front-end stance while the rear end gains a more pronounced ducktail spoiler replacing the compromised two-piece element seen on the original design.

Inside, the changes are considerably more minor. Materials for door card trim and the steering wheel have been replaced while a climate control panel has been enlarged for easier use. The basic cabin layout, including its twin 12-inch displays, otherwise remains unchanged.

Despite a number of accolades and strong road test performances, the Ioniq 6 has remained a niche model in the Australian market with just 374 deliveries in 2024, down from 623 units in 2023. Those numbers are dwarfed by the segment-leading Tesla Model 3, which recorded more than 17,000 deliveries in both years.

The pricing gap between the two rivals is significant with the Ioniq 6 range opening at $67,300 before on-road costs for a basic variant fitted with a 53.0kWh battery, while the longer-range variants (77.4kWh) start from $73,300 BOCS.

Australian buyers currently have access to a relatively broad Ioniq 6 line, including the choice of the two aforementioned battery sizes, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and three variants—the eponymous base Ioniq 6 base trim, the mid-tier Dynamiq, and the top-end Epiq.

While HMCA has not announced pricing or specification changes for the mid-year facelift (including whether the breadth of the range will be trimmed), a price and positioning reassessment could accompany the local launch to reflect more competitive conditions in the EV space since the Ioniq 6 launched.

Further, GoAuto understands that significant stock of the outgoing Ioniq 6 must be cleared, likely at discounted prices.

The Ioniq 6’s SUV-shaped sibling, the Ioniq 5, has enjoyed noticeably stronger take-up in Australia, with 933 deliveries recorded in 2024.