Motoring: New IONIQ 6 offers a sophisticated, intelligent long-range electric vehicle

IONIQ 6, a compact four-door sedan, boasts a luxury-car-quiet interior. The body is rigid. Combine rigidity with hydro suspension bushings, frequency-sensitive variable shocks, and increased axle stiffness temper impact harshness to a smooth ride. This while shod with 20-inch rims and low-profile 245/40 Pirelli P Zero tires. That, and the lower center of gravity, pay big dividends in cornering prowess.

Furthermore, steering wheel-mounted paddles allow tweaking handling manners to suit road conditions and driving styles. There are three drive modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. Each mode offers a different level of acceleration, which in turn places different demands on battery drain. Normal mode is intended for driving around town and at interstate speeds. Eco mode, designed to eke out maximum range, saps zoom, making an IONIQ 6 lethargic. In contrast, Sport mode adds zoom to throttle response, enabling a five-second, zero to 60 mph elapsed time.

Another worthy feature is regenerative braking, which converts deceleration into electricity by converting the motor to a generator.

Here, too, there are different levels. One-pedal driving mode, lifting the foot off the accelerator, causes the car to decelerate and come to a stop. Level 1 regen, the best choice for all-around driving, mimics the compression braking of an internal combustion engine vehicle. Ipedal, ideal for heavy stop-and-go traffic, lends one-pedal driving, bringing the IONIQ to a complete stop without brakes. Finally, Level 0 eliminates regen when cruising in heavy traffic.

Hyundai's impressive E-GMP T800-volt electrical architecture platform allows speedy recharging. For example, a fast charger delivering 250 kW or higher tops off an IONIQ 6 battery from a low of 10 percent charge to 80 percent in as few as 18 minutes. A lesser 150-kW charger requires 25 minutes, and a 50-kW charger requires as much as an hour.

More good news: On a road trip, the navigation system automatically plots an optimal route based on battery charge and searches for charging stations along the route. Hyundai asserts its single-motor, rear-drive IONIQ 6 RWD Long Range fitted with the 77.4-kWh battery pack (big battery option) has a certified range of 382 miles, more than enough range to drive from the corridor to Chicago without having to seek out a charging station and have to kill time waiting for the charge.

I drove the upscale rear wheel drive long range model. Pedal to the metal, its 225 horsepower propelled the sedan from zero to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds. With the big 77.4-kWh battery, the range will be from 350 to 360 miles.

The 12.0-inch touch-sensitive screen, adjacent to the instrument panel, controls an array of communications, infotainment and vehicle management systems. It also offers over-the-air software updates to upgrade e-motor and battery controllers, plus navigation system mapping and media software.

Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are accommodated. Bluetooth multi-connection allows two devices to pair simultaneously: One for cellphone calls and the other for streaming music. The premium Bose audio system has eight speakers and includes a subwoofer.

This vehicle has not been crash-tested. Finally, the basic warranty term runs for five years or 60,000 miles, while the anti-perforation term runs for seven years with unlimited mileage.

Automotive journalist, Tim Banse, wrote The Gazette's Motoring car review column from 1989 to 2013 and has published stories in Popular Mechanics and Yachting magazine. He's toured carmaker factory floors in the U.S. and Japan and raced cars at Riverside, Watkins Glen, and Michigan International Raceway press events. He's stood close enough to a crash test to feel the shock wave reverberate off his chest. His first car was a vintage '56 Chevy Belair.

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