I sold my Tesla Model 3 after two years and bought a Hyundai Ioniq 6.

My Tesla-owning friends looked at me like I’d just announced I was moving to a cave and giving up electricity. One literally said, “Why would you downgrade?”

Six months later? I don’t miss the Tesla. At all. And that’s coming from someone who defended Elon on Twitter for like three years straight.

Here’s what actually happened when I switched from the car everyone says is the best EV to… a Hyundai.

Why I Left Tesla (The Honest Version)

Let me be clear: I loved my Model 3. For about 18 months. Then little things started piling up.

The build quality issues got old. My passenger door had a weird creak that three service visits couldn’t fix. The trunk lid had a gap you could fit a credit card through. The paint? I swear someone sneezed on it and it chipped.

The service experience got worse. Early on, Tesla service was great. But by year two, getting an appointment took 3-4 weeks. Mobile service stopped coming to my area. And when I finally got in, they’d say “that’s within spec” for things that were clearly not normal.

The price increases were insulting. I paid $42,990 for my Model 3 in 2021. That same car now costs $38,990… but mine lost value faster than Bitcoin in a bear market. Tesla dropped prices, and my resale value dropped with it.

Autopilot stopped improving. I bought FSD (Full Self Driving) for $10,000 in 2021. They promised it would drive itself “by the end of 2021.” Then 2022. Then 2023. Six years later, it’s still just fancy cruise control. I felt scammed.

The Elon factor. Look, I don’t care about politics. But when the CEO is making headlines every day for reasons that have nothing to do with making better cars, it affects the brand. Driving a Tesla went from cool to… complicated.

But honestly? The real reason I switched was sitting in a friend’s Ioniq 6 and realizing it felt more premium than my Tesla.

First Impressions: The Hyundai Surprised Me

I test drove the Ioniq 6 expecting to be disappointed. I mean, it’s a Hyundai. I owned a Hyundai Sonata in 2012 that was about as exciting as oatmeal.

This was different.

The interior immediately felt nicer. Real buttons for climate control. Actual materials that didn’t feel like hard plastic. Ambient lighting that wasn’t trying to turn my car into a nightclub. It felt grown-up in a way my Tesla didn’t.

The ride quality was smoother. The Model 3 has sport suspension that makes you feel every pebble. Great for “driving feel,” terrible for my back on my 40-minute commute. The Ioniq 6 floats over bumps like a luxury car.

The design is polarizing but I liked it. Yeah, it looks weird. Like a Porsche 911 melted in the sun. But in person, it’s actually pretty cool. And it’s different. I was tired of seeing 47 Model 3s in every parking lot.

The dealer experience was… better? This shocked me. The Hyundai dealer actually had cars in stock. They didn’t try to upsell me. They let me test drive for 2 hours. The Tesla experience had become “order online, hope it arrives okay, deal with issues later.”

I bought the Ioniq 6 SEL (mid-trim) for $43,600. With federal tax credit and state incentives, my out-of-pocket was $36,100. Less than I paid for my used Model 3.

Month 1: The Honeymoon Phase

Everything was better. Or so it seemed.

The efficiency blew me away. My Model 3 averaged 3.8 miles/kWh. The Ioniq 6 was getting 4.5-4.8 mi/kWh consistently. Same routes, same driving style. I was using 20% less electricity.

On a road trip to visit my parents (220 miles each way), the Tesla needed two charging stops. The Ioniq 6 did it in one. Mind blown.

The tech was fine. Not as polished as Tesla’s, but it worked. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were nice to have back. I’d forgotten how much I missed having my actual phone interface on the big screen.

People kept asking about it. “What is that?” became a weekly question at the grocery store. The attention was fun. With the Tesla, nobody cared anymore – they’re everywhere.

The charging situation was my first reality check. I couldn’t just pull up to Superchargers anymore. I had to plan around Electrify America, EVgo, and other networks. The apps were clunky. Some chargers were broken. This was annoying.

But overall? Month one was great. I felt smart for switching.

Month 2-3: The Reality Check Begins

The Electrify America nightmare started. I’ve now experienced:

• Chargers that don’t start (just dead)
• Chargers that start then stop after 2 minutes
• Chargers that charge at 50 kW when they’re supposed to do 350 kW
• Chargers in the sketchiest parking lots imaginable

One time, I showed up to a station with 4 chargers. Three were broken, one was occupied by a Nissan Leaf charging at 40 kW (which takes forever). I waited 45 minutes. With Tesla, this never happened.

The software updates are… fine. Tesla spoiled me with monthly updates that added new features. The Ioniq 6 has gotten three updates in six months. They fixed bugs. No new features. It’s stable but boring.

Autopilot – I mean, Highway Driving Assist – is not the same. Hyundai’s system works on highways. It keeps you in the lane, maintains distance, and works well. But it’s not as smooth as Tesla’s Autopilot. It ping-pongs in the lane a bit. And it nags you more to keep your hands on the wheel.

For actual highway commuting? It’s fine. For long road trips? I missed Autopilot.

The 12V battery died. This was bizarre. The main battery was fine. But the little 12V battery that runs the computers died at month 2. Car wouldn’t start. Had to get it jumped, then towed to the dealer.

Tesla uses a lithium 12V battery that rarely dies. Hyundai uses a traditional lead-acid battery. Apparently this is a known issue. They replaced it under warranty, but I lost a morning.

Month 4: Missing Tesla (A Little)

The Supercharger network is genuinely better. I took a 600-mile road trip and holy hell, I missed Superchargers.

Tesla Superchargers:

• Always in good locations (near food/bathrooms)
• 95%+ uptime in my experience
• Plug in, it charges, you leave
• Average charge time: 18-22 minutes

Electrify America:

• Often in weird spots (back of Walmart parking lots)
• Maybe 70% uptime
• Sometimes requires app troubleshooting
• Same charge time when they work, but “when they work” is doing heavy lifting

Road trip comparison (same route):

Tesla Model 3:

• Charging stops: 2
• Total charging time: 40 minutes
• Stress level: 2/10
• Chargers that worked: 2/2

Ioniq 6:

• Charging stops: 2 (but more strategic planning needed)
• Total charging time: 38 minutes (when chargers worked)
• Stress level: 7/10 (two stations had broken chargers)
• Chargers that worked first try: 2/4

The Ioniq 6 charges just as fast as the Tesla. But the infrastructure isn’t there yet. This is a huge deal for road trips.

The Tesla app was better. I could pre-condition the car, check charging status, and control everything from my phone. The Hyundai app works but it’s slower and less intuitive.

Sometimes it takes 30 seconds just to unlock the car from the app. The Tesla app was instant.

Sentry Mode – I missed it. Tesla’s cameras record when someone gets near your car. It’s saved me twice (hit and run incidents caught on camera). The Ioniq 6 has no equivalent. I bought a dashcam ($300) but it’s not the same.

Month 5-6: What I Don’t Miss About Tesla

But here’s the thing – even with those frustrations, I still don’t regret the switch.

The build quality is genuinely better. Nothing creaks. Nothing rattles. All the panels line up. The doors close with a solid thunk. It feels like a $43,000 car should feel.

My Tesla felt like a $35,000 car with $50,000 tech inside. The Ioniq 6 feels like a complete package.

The ride comfort is night and day. My back pain (real thing, not making this up) has improved since switching. The Ioniq 6 absorbs bumps. The Model 3 telegraphed every crack in the road directly to my spine.

For daily commuting, this matters way more than I thought it would.

No more service anxiety. With Tesla, something was always slightly broken. And getting it fixed was a battle.

With Hyundai, I have a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. If something breaks, I take it to the dealer down the street. They give me a loaner. They fix it. Done.

I’ve had zero issues beyond that 12V battery (which they fixed immediately).

The dealer network is better than I expected. There are three Hyundai dealers within 15 miles of me. There’s one Tesla service center 40 miles away that’s always booked.

When I needed that 12V battery replaced, I called at 9am, had an appointment at 11am, and was driving a loaner by noon. With Tesla, I’d still be waiting for a service appointment.

I don’t think about Elon anymore. This is petty, but I don’t care. I’m tired of people asking me about Elon. I’m tired of Tesla being a political statement. The Ioniq 6 is just a car. I like that.

The Numbers: What Actually Changed

Let me compare the two cars on metrics that matter:

Efficiency (miles per kWh)

Tesla Model 3 (2021 RWD):

• Summer: 4.2 mi/kWh
• Winter: 3.0 mi/kWh
• Average: 3.8 mi/kWh

Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2024 SEL):

• Summer: 4.8 mi/kWh
• Winter: 3.6 mi/kWh
• Average: 4.4 mi/kWh

Winner: Ioniq 6 (16% more efficient)

Real-World Range

Tesla Model 3:

• EPA: 272 miles
• Real highway: 235 miles (70 mph, AC on)
• Real mixed: 260 miles

Ioniq 6:

• EPA: 361 miles
• Real highway: 310 miles (70 mph, AC on)
• Real mixed: 340 miles

Winner: Ioniq 6 (75 miles more highway range)

Charging Speed (10-80%)

Tesla Model 3:

• Peak rate: 250 kW
• Average session: 22 minutes
• Supercharger network: Excellent

Ioniq 6:

• Peak rate: 350 kW (on 800V chargers)
• Average session: 18 minutes
• Charging network: Mediocre

Winner: Tie (Ioniq charges faster when it works, but Tesla’s network wins)

Cost of Ownership (6 months)

Tesla Model 3:

• Electricity (home charging): $180
• Public charging: $120
• Insurance: $990
• Maintenance: $0 (no issues)
• Total: $1,290

Ioniq 6:

• Electricity (home charging): $145 (more efficient)
• Public charging: $85
• Insurance: $870 (cheaper)
• Maintenance: $120 (12V battery, oil for… wait, no oil. Just that battery)
• Total: $1,220

Winner: Ioniq 6 ($70 less over 6 months)

Interior Quality (Subjective)

Tesla Model 3:

• Materials: 6/10 (lots of hard plastic)
• Fit and finish: 5/10 (panel gaps, creaks)
• Features: 8/10 (minimalist but functional)
• Overall: 6.3/10

Ioniq 6:

• Materials: 8/10 (soft touch, good fabrics)
• Fit and finish: 9/10 (tight, solid)
• Features: 7/10 (physical buttons nice, but tech less advanced)
• Overall: 8/10

Winner: Ioniq 6

Technology

Tesla Model 3:

• Infotainment: 9/10 (fast, intuitive)
• Autopilot: 9/10 (best in class)
• App: 9/10 (feature-rich, responsive)
• Updates: 9/10 (frequent, adds features)
• Overall: 9/10

Ioniq 6:

• Infotainment: 7/10 (works, has CarPlay/Android Auto)
• Highway Assist: 6/10 (decent, but not Tesla-level)
• App: 5/10 (slow, basic)
• Updates: 5/10 (rare, mostly bug fixes)
• Overall: 5.8/10

Winner: Tesla (not even close)

What I Miss About Tesla

Let me be honest about what I actually miss:

The Supercharger network. This is #1 by a mile. Road trips were effortless with Tesla. Now they require planning and backup plans.

Autopilot on long drives. Highway Driving Assist is fine for commuting. But on 4+ hour drives, Autopilot was genuinely better and less tiring.

The tech ecosystem. Everything worked together seamlessly. The app, the car, the charging, the updates. It was the iPhone of cars.

Sentry Mode. Having 360-degree cameras recording all the time was genuinely useful. I caught two parking lot incidents with it.

The minimalist interior. I thought I’d hate it at first, then I loved it. The Ioniq 6 has more buttons, which is nice, but sometimes I miss that clean, simple look.

Software updates. Getting new features every month was exciting. The Ioniq 6 feels stagnant by comparison.

What I Don’t Miss About Tesla

Service anxiety. Always something slightly broken. Always a hassle to fix.

Build quality issues. The creaks, the panel gaps, the paint chips. It felt cheap despite the price.

The cult. Tesla owners can be… intense. I’m happy to be out of that ecosystem.

Price volatility. Tesla dropping prices constantly killed my resale value. Hyundai’s pricing has been stable.

The minimalist interior (yes, I’m contradicting myself). Sometimes I just want to turn on the defroster without diving into a touchscreen menu.

Being a beta tester. Tesla treats customers like QA testers. Every update might break something. I’m over it.

What Surprised Me Most

How much range actually matters. The extra 75 miles of highway range changes everything. I’m not stopping to charge as often. I have a buffer for detours. It reduces stress significantly.

How much I value physical buttons. I thought I’d adapted to touchscreen-everything. But having actual buttons for climate, volume, and drive mode? Game changer for usability.

How much charging infrastructure matters. The car itself is excellent. But Electrify America is holding it back. This isn’t Hyundai’s fault, but it affects the ownership experience.

How little I care about 0-60 times. The Model 3 does 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. The Ioniq 6 does it in 7.2 seconds. In real-world driving? Doesn’t matter at all. Both are quick enough.

How much dealer service matters. I thought the “no dealers” thing was a Tesla advantage. It’s not. Having a local dealer who actually fixes things is way better.

The Big Question: Would I Switch Back?

If someone offered to trade my Ioniq 6 for a brand new Model 3 right now, would I take it?

Honestly? No.

The Model 3 is a better tech product. The Ioniq 6 is a better car.

For me, “better car” wins.

If Tesla fixed their service issues, improved build quality, and stopped the price volatility, I’d consider it. But as things stand now? I’m happy with my choice.

Who Should Buy Each Car

Buy the Tesla Model 3 if you:

• Care most about technology and software
• Want the best driver assistance (Autopilot)
• Take frequent road trips (Supercharger network is king)
• Love over-the-air updates and new features
• Want a minimalist, tech-forward interior
• Are willing to accept average build quality

Buy the Hyundai Ioniq 6 if you:

• Want maximum efficiency and range
• Prefer a more traditional luxury feel
• Value build quality and reliability
• Mostly charge at home (less reliant on public charging)
• Want a comfortable, quiet ride
• Prefer physical buttons and controls
• Care about dealer service network

Don’t buy either if you:

• Can’t charge at home (both are harder without home charging)
• Need to tow anything (neither is rated for towing)
• Live somewhere with brutal winters (both lose significant range in cold)
• Need a huge cargo area (both are sedans with decent but not massive trunks)

The Real Talk Final Verdict

After six months in the Ioniq 6, I’d rate my ownership experience 8.5/10.

The car itself? 9/10. It’s excellent.

The charging infrastructure frustration? 5/10. This is the only thing holding it back.

My Tesla Model 3 ownership at the two-year mark was maybe 7/10. The car was great at first but the service issues and build quality problems wore me down.

If Hyundai gets access to Tesla Superchargers (which is supposedly happening in 2025), the Ioniq 6 becomes a nearly perfect EV. The car is better, the efficiency is better, the build quality is better. The only weakness is the charging network.

If Tesla improves their build quality and service, the Model 3 remains the best tech product on wheels. But I’m not holding my breath.

Month 6 Update: No Regrets

I’m writing this exactly six months after trading my Model 3 for the Ioniq 6.

Total miles driven: 14,200
Times I’ve regretted it: 3 (all during road trips with broken chargers)
Times I’ve been happy with the switch: Daily

The Ioniq 6 isn’t perfect. No car is. But it’s a better fit for what I actually need:

• Comfortable daily commuter ✓
• Efficient and long range ✓
• Solid build quality ✓
• Hassle-free ownership ✓
• Doesn’t make me think about the CEO ✓

The Tesla Model 3 was exciting. The Ioniq 6 is satisfying.

I’ll take satisfying over exciting for a daily driver.

Your Questions Answered

“But what about resale value?”

Teslas hold value better, true. But I’m planning to keep this car 8-10 years. By then, depreciation evens out. I’m not worried about it.

“Can’t you just use Tesla Superchargers with an adapter?”

Not yet. Hyundai says Supercharger access is “coming in 2025.” I’ll believe it when I see it. If it happens, this becomes a no-brainer choice.

“What about FSD – don’t you miss it?”

I paid $10,000 for FSD. After two years, it was still just fancy cruise control. Highway Driving Assist does 80% of what FSD does for free. I don’t miss spending $10K on vaporware.

“Isn’t Tesla constantly improving?”

Yes, but so are competitors. The gap is narrowing. Tesla’s lead in software doesn’t offset their problems in hardware and service anymore.

“What if something major breaks?”

10-year/100,000-mile warranty. If the battery or motor fail, Hyundai replaces it free. Tesla’s warranty is 8 years/120,000 miles. Both are solid, but I like the extra 2 years.

“Do you think you made a mistake?”

Ask me again at year 2. But right now, six months in? No regrets. This was the right move for me.

Last update: 6 months post-switch
Current mileage: 14,200 miles
Current satisfaction level: 8.5/10
Would I recommend this switch to others? Depends on your priorities. But for me? Absolutely.

Got questions about the switch? Drop them below. I check comments daily and respond to everything.