Germany names the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N as the car of the year
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N continues to earn international recognition just a few months after its market launch. This Korean sports car has now won one of the awards at the 2027 German Car of the Year competition, an event in which the brand has previously stood out with other IONIQ series models.
This recognition comes in an especially competitive edition. A total of 47 automotive journalists from Germany and other countries evaluated 109 new models, with over 60 electric vehicles among the contenders. Not all jury members were able to test every model, but the process resulted in 16,305 individual ratings and 3,261 complete evaluations.
The IONIQ 6 N impresses with its sporty approach
The Hyundai IONIQ 6 N was selected as the winner in the Performance category, reserved for models with top-tier performance. The jury particularly praised the combination of power, handling precision, and a driver-focused design—exactly the aspects Hyundai aims to highlight as key features of its N lineup.
The IONIQ 6 N goes beyond simply increasing the power of the regular IONIQ 6. Hyundai has developed a car designed for driving pleasure on both roads and racetracks, featuring specific tuning and various functions aimed at making steering more direct. It is, to date, the most aggressive version of Hyundai’s electric sedan.
The propulsion system uses two electric motors, delivering up to 478 kW, equivalent to 650 horsepower, along with a maximum torque of 770 Nm when the N Grin Boost is activated. With this feature enabled, the IONIQ 6 N can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 257 km/h.
But perhaps one of the most interesting features of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N lies in its attempt to recreate certain sensations associated with traditional sports cars. The N e-Shift system simulates gear shifts, while N Active Sound+ produces an artificial sound linked to sporty driving. These aren’t necessary elements for moving the car, but they are part of the experience Hyundai aims to offer with its N lineup.
In terms of energy performance, the IONIQ 6 N is equipped with an 84 kWh battery. Its certified range reaches 487 kilometers, and thanks to its 800-volt architecture, it can go from 10% to 80% charge in about 18 minutes when using a 350 kW charger under optimal conditions.
The selection of the IONIQ 6 N also represents another significant recognition for Hyundai in Germany. The IONIQ 9 won the Premium category award in the 2026 edition, while the IONIQ 6 took home the New Energy category prize in 2024. Previously, the IONIQ 5 was named German Car of the Year in 2022 and also won in the New Energy category.
The new award adds to the one the IONIQ 6 N received earlier this year. At the 2026 World Car Awards, it was named World Performance Car, outperforming models such as the BMW M2 CS, Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, Land Rover Defender OCTA, and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 Pro in that category.
This German award does not yet mean Hyundai has been chosen as Car of the Year in Germany. The IONIQ 6 N is one of five category winners advancing to the final round of the 2027 German Car of the Year competition. The selection of the overall winner is scheduled for November 2, 2026, after the final tests of the five competing models.
Beyond the final result, this recognition once again highlights the unique path Hyundai is taking with its N models. The IONIQ 6 N combines the performance figures typical of a high-performance sports car with technology that aims to retain some of the sensations that have defined this type of vehicle for decades, but adapted for electric cars.