Korea’s Sports Sedan Dark Horse Is Still Coming to the US, Despite the Odds

Last summer, Hyundai pulled the curtain back on its second electrified performance offering in the form of the Ioniq 6 N. 

Seeing as the EV touted the sedan-profile of its non-N variant and integrated the same tricks as its hatchback stablemate, it proved an enticing prospect. It was a relief when the brand reaffirmed the car’s North American debut with an appearance at the LA Auto Show in November.

Hyundai

Now, however, there’s been word that Hyundai is taking a beat with the Ioniq 6 next year. While you’d think that’d mean the end of the road for the N, despite the odds, such is not the case.

Dropping the standard

The news first surfaced courtesy of Edmunds, as Hyundai confirmed to the outlet that it will not be bringing the standard version of its facelifted Ioniq 6 stateside for 2026. 

Hyundai

Instead, a company spokesperson announced that “Going forward, our award-winning Ioniq 6 lineup will consist of the all-new Ioniq 6 N,” while, “in the meantime, 2025 Ioniq 6 sedans continue to be available.”

Given Edmunds reports the non-N will still be sold in Canada next year, the decision is likely tariff-related. Hyundai builds the Ioniq 5 and the Ioniq 9 in the United States, while it exports the slippery Ioniq 6 from Korea.

Moreover, the model hasn’t enjoyed an especially warm reception from American buyers. Thanks to the discontinuation of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit last year, sales fell by 15 percent, down to some 10,478 cars and totaling less than a quarter of the Ioniq 5’s numbers. 

Hyundai USA

In any case, while Hyundai will still be slapped with tariffs on its Ioniq 6 N, the model was already set to arrive at a much higher price point than the standard Ioniq 6. Assuming it is sold in “limited quantities” at a projected MSRP of around $70,000 (versus some $37,850 for the 2025 Ioniq 6 SE), it’ll be much easier for the brand to eat the additional costs.

An electrifying prospect

Nevertheless, considering the current state of the EV segment, Hyundai could just as easily have decided to shelve the Ioniq 6 N, too. The fact that the car is still coming to the United States shows the brand’s commitment to fostering performance, something that’s commendable with many manufacturers going back on their electrification initiatives.

Hyundai

And there’s plenty of cause to be excited about the Ioniq 6 N, even if your preferences do skew more gas-powered. It’s an entirely different animal compared to its more economical sibling, and the differences go deeper than the big wing at the rear.

Chief among those being a lot more giddyup. With the addition of the same powertrain that appears in the Ioniq 5 N, Hyundai rates combined output for the Ioniq 6 N at a commensurate 601 horsepower, and the N Grin Boost function pushes that figure as high as 641.

On the road, this means that 0-60 mph is set to take a claimed 3.2 seconds when using the car’s N Launch Control. However, the Ioniq 6 N is set to be much more than a straight-line speedster.

Hyundai

After all, as part of the EV’s N designation, Hyundai has redesigned the suspension, added beefier brakes and fitted it with special tires. What’s more, it brings N e-Shift for simulated gear changes as well as N Active Sound + to fill the cabin with some artificial engine noise. 

Availability and pricing

According to Hyundai’s statements to Edmunds, the Ioniq 6 N will be arriving at dealers later this year. Pricing has yet to be announced, but it’ll likely fall somewhere above the Ioniq 5 N’s  $66,200 MSRP.

Hyundai

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

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