I was thinking about getting the Ioniq 5N, but I found out that there aren’t any hitch receivers for it because something in the rear bumper hangs too low. I need a 2" hitch for an e-bike rack (for 2 bikes that are too heavy for roof or hatch mounts). I could go with the non-N Ioniq 5, but then I saw some great deals on the 2024 EV6 GT, which seems pretty close in specs to the 5N.
I’ve seen some hitch receivers for the EV6 that say they’re not compatible with the GT, but others don’t mention it. Does anyone have a hitch installed on their GT? If so, which model works, or does it have the same issue as the 5N?
Also, Ioniq 5 owners say that when reversing with a bike rack on, the rear sensors automatically hit the brakes unless you disable them each time. Is this an issue on the EV6 as well?
Second question: I live in Virginia and winter is coming. We get freezing temps, snow, and ice. I’ve never driven on anything other than all-season tires. How much am I going to regret buying a car with summer tires?
For your second question: I tend to take risks, but even I can say summer tires are absolutely useless in snow. You’ll need all-season or winter tires, or you might want to start looking at Uber rides when it snows. They’re also not great on cold, dry roads but downright dangerous in snow.
Check out the EcoHitch; it’s listed as working for the EV6 GT. My 2023 GT doesn’t have trailer wiring, but that shouldn’t matter for a bike rack. Also, your first order of business should be getting all-season or winter tires. Summers aren’t going to cut it in cold weather.
I’ve got a Stealth Hitch on mine, no issues at all.
You’ll definitely need all-seasons at the very least. Ideally, grab a dedicated set of winter tires and wheels. Summer tires turn into hockey pucks once temps dip below 40°F, and they’re useless in even a light snow.
Yep, there are rear hitches for the GT, so you’re good there. But yes, the rear sensors will freak out with a bike rack on, and you’ll need to disable them every time you start the car.
As for tires, just get winter tires. All-seasons won’t do as well in serious winter conditions, and summers are a no-go.
I used the stock tires on my EV6 last winter here in the Pacific Northwest. They were fine on cold, dry roads, but things got sketchy when the roads were wet. Once it snowed, I had to switch to one of our cars with proper winter tires. This year, I’m putting winter tires on the EV6 so I can use it more regularly (getting them this Friday).
For the hitch, I’ve been told that the Stealth Hitch fits the GT, but their website doesn’t specifically mention it. I’m waiting for Black Friday to see if there’s a discount. Here’s the link: https://stealthhitches.com/products/kia-hitch-shr63002
I have the Stealth Hitch with a Küat Piston 2 bike rack. I had to use a Dremel to cut part of the gravel guard to access the hitch receiver, but other than that, installation was easy if you have the tools and a jack.
When backing up with the rack on, I hold the reverse camera button to turn off the parking collision assist. You’ll have to turn off the sensors every time you put the car in reverse and the collision assist after every restart. It’s annoying but not as bad as it could be—no need to dig through menus.
In the northeast, I swapped to all-season tires. If it drops below 40°F or snows, I highly recommend getting all-seasons or winter tires.