Compare the2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6VS 2023 Tesla Model S

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Ioniq 6 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Ioniq 6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model S doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ioniq 6 Limited has standard Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Ioniq 6 Limited has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ioniq 6’s standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Ioniq 6 has standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Ioniq 6 and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Model S is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

The Ioniq 6 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Model S’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq 6 2 years longer than Tesla covers the Model S. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Model S ends after only 8 years.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq 6 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model S.

There are over 4 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ioniq 6’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ioniq 6’s reliability 40 points higher than the Model S.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 3 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq 6 gets better mileage than the Model S:

The Ioniq 6 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Model S doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Ioniq 6 Limited AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the Model S pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ioniq 6 Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Model S (25.6 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ioniq 6’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Model S’ (38.8 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 650 pounds less than the Tesla Model S.

The Ioniq 6 is 6.6 inches shorter than the Model S, making the Ioniq 6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ioniq 6 SE is quieter than the Model S Plaid:

The Ioniq 6 has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (103 vs. 94).

The Ioniq 6 has .5 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model S.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Ioniq 6’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model S doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Ioniq 6’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The Ioniq 6’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Ioniq 6’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Model S’ headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Ioniq 6’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Ioniq 6 has standard extendable sun visors. The Model S doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Ioniq 6 Limited has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the rear seat, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model S doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Ioniq 6 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Model S doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Ioniq 6, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Tesla Model S isn't recommended.