Is the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N a better performance car than a BMW M3? I’ve driven it to find out

I’m a big fan of electric cars as daily drivers. They’re dirt cheap to run, quiet and relaxing behind the wheel and they can offer peppy performance, but for all-out fun I’ve always preferred petrol-powered models.

Electric cars tend to feel quite heavy thanks to their massive batteries, which tends to make them less fun in the corners. I, like many petrolheads, also enjoy the visceral sound of a nice engine revving to the red line. That’s something an EV can’t replicate, until now.

I’ve spent a few days with the Hyundai ioniq 6 N, which is an all-electric alternative to something like a BMW M3. It’s got two electric motors putting out a combined 650hp, propelling you from 0-60mph in a rather dramatic 3.4 seconds.

I can already hear the Tesla fans out there saying “Ha! My Model 3 Performance does 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds.” That’s not really the point.

I’ve driven plenty of very fast electric cars, but straight-line speed has never been my issue with hot EVs. I’ve always found them to be lacking in fun factor, and the Ioniq 6 N has that in spades.

Like the Ioniq 5 N SUV, this slinky saloon has virtual gearshifts and a fake engine noise. It spits as you “change up” and crackles on the “downshifts”, and it’s not just a sound experience either. It jolts when you change gear, and you can even bounce it off the rev limiter.

It’s the sort of silly streak I want to see in a sporty electric car. This isn’t an EV which takes itself all that seriously, and I couldn’t care less if a Tesla Model 3 is faster.

That said, there is one drawback. I found that when the fake revs hit a certain frequency, the bass from the speakers makes the door panels buzz in quite an unpleasant way. It can be annoying if you’re holding a gear mid-corner, but it doesn’t happen too often.

It’s not just the aural trickery either, the Ioniq 6 N is genuinely really good fun to drive. It’s not quite as agile as a BMW M3, but for a car which is 300kg heavier it does a good job of masking the weight. The steering is pin-sharp in its sportiest setting, and there’s loads of grip through the corners.

But the best part for me is the breadth of this car’s abilities. Once you’re done hooning about and just want some peace and quiet, simply press one of the N buttons on the steering wheel to turn off the noise and you have a quiet, surprisingly comfortable electric cruiser. It’s noticeably firmer than a standard Ioniq 6, but not to the point that it would get on your nerves,

I took this car on a journey of around 110 miles from our office in Bedfordshire to my home in Hampshire. The beginning part of that trip is on rather lovely country roads, where I made as much use of this car’s performance abilities as I could, followed by some rather boring motorways and urban roads.

The Ioniq 6 N averaged 2.9 miles per kWh, which I’d say is rather impressive considering we only got 2.6 miles per kWh from a Toyota bZ4X – a fairly dull family SUV with no performance credentials at all. It does equate to a real-world range of just under 230 miles though, which is some way off the 303-mile claimed figure.

As an out-and-out driver’s car, I still maintain that the BMW M3 is better. However, if you’re after the low running costs and relaxing, silent running of an EV, without sacrificing on fun, the Ioniq 6 N proves that electric cars can be a laugh. As an added bonus, it’s around £25,000 cheaper than an M3, too.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.