Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric sedan matches Model Y with record safety rating score

South Korean automaker Hyundai has secured a five-star ANCAP safety rating for the second model in its EV-dedicated Ioniq line-up, the Ioniq 6 fully-electric sedan, which is due to go on sale for the first time in Australia on Wednesday.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program, more commonly referred to as ANCAP, announced on Monday that the Hyundai Ioniq 6 had received high scores across the four assessment areas, including a record high 97% in the Adult Occupant Protection area of assessment.

This record is matched only by the Tesla Model Y, and was is a result of a “very good” performance for vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests and low levels of injury risk across each of the destructive crash tests performed.

Additionally, the Ioniq 6 scored 88% (or 43.41 out of 49) under the Child Occupant Protection assessment category and 90% (14.49/16) for Safety Assist.

The only category the Ioniq 6 didn’t pass with flying colours was the Vulnerable Road User Protection category, with 66% (36.02/54).

According to the report, “The bonnet of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 provided weak to adequate protection to the head of a struck pedestrian over most of its surface, with POOR results recorded at the base of the windscreen and on the stiff windscreen pillars.”

Conversely, the Ioniq 6’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system was deemed to be capable of detecting and responding to other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, and “performance in testing was very good”.

“As electric vehicles don’t have large engine components under the bonnet, they have the potential to pose less risk to vehicle occupants in a frontal crash scenario, compared to petrol and diesel cars,” said Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP chief executive.

“We have seen that play out in testing of the Ioniq 6 – with only a very slight penalty applied for potential injury risk to adult occupants.”

Originally unveiled back in July of 2022, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 recently underwent official range tests in the United States, conducted by the US government’s Environmental Protection Agency, receiving a Final EPA estimated range of 361 miles, just over 580 kilometres.

Australians are theoretically able to get their hands on an Ioniq 6 – with a new drop of Hyundai EVs this coming Wednesday including both the Ioniq 5 and 6. But with demand as high as it is, you’ve got to get pretty lucky to secure one for yourself.