Hyundai Ioniq 3 Review & Prices

Hyundai’s electric cars rarely fade into the background, and the new Ioniq 3 is no exception. It’s a compact electric hatchback with sharp styling, a roomy interior and up to 308 miles of range, sitting above the tiny Hyundai Inster and below the much larger Ioniq 5.

Unashamedly retro-futuristic, it’s like the 2010 Tron movie - happy to look both old and brand-new all at once.

It’ll provide an alternative to the Renault 5, Volkswagen ID.Polo, Cupra Raval and closely related Kia EV2. It’s around the same size as a Volkswagen Golf, though its low nose, sweeping roofline and chopped-off tail make it look more like a shrunken Ioniq 6 than a conventional family hatchback.

Thin pixel-style lights run across the front and rear, while four illuminated dots represent the letter H in Morse code. Flush door handles and carefully smoothed bodywork help make the Ioniq 3 very slippery through the air (improving range), while the sportier N Line version gets more aggressive bumpers, 19-inch alloy wheels and a much larger rear spoiler.

Inside, there’s a small digital driver display mounted high behind the steering wheel and either a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch central touchscreen depending on trim. The new infotainment system is based on Android Automotive, with access to the Google app store, connected navigation, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Physical controls remain beneath the screen for frequently used functions.

Hyundai Ioniq 3: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 213-308 miles
Efficiency: 5.0 miles per kWh
Battery size: 42 - 61kWh
Max charge speed: 115kW
Charge time AC: Around 8 hours 45 minutes, 0-100%, 7kW – 61kWh battery
Charge time DC: 30 minutes, 10-80%
Charge port location: Right side front
Power outputs: 135-147hp

A long wheelbase and completely flat floor should make the Ioniq 3 more spacious than its compact dimensions suggest, although we’ll reserve judgement until we’ve sat in the finished UK car. Boot space is quoted at 441 litres, but that figure includes a substantial 119-litre ‘Megabox’ beneath the floor; the main compartment holds 322 litres. That’s a bit less practical than a Renault 4 or Cupra Raval but bigger than the Renault 5 or Mini Aceman.

There are two battery options. The Standard Range model has a 42kWh battery, 147hp and an official range of 213 miles, while the Long Range version gets a 61kWh battery, 135hp and can cover up to 308 miles. Both are front-wheel drive and neither is particularly fast, taking 9.0 and 9.6 seconds respectively to reach 62mph.

Rapid charging from 10-80% takes about half an hour. An 11kW onboard charger is standard, while 22kW AC charging will be optional. Vehicle-to-load capability can power external electrical equipment from the drive battery.

We’ve not driven the Ioniq 3 yet, but experience with Kia’s EV2 equivalent and other electric Hyundais means we expect it to be light and easy to drive around town, quiet at speed and more comfortable than sporty. We’ll need to try it on British roads before judging its comfort, steering and real-world efficiency.

On paper, though, the Ioniq 3 looks very promising. It combines distinctive styling with a genuinely useful range and what appears to be an impressively practical interior, although its price will determine whether it becomes one of the best small electric cars on sale.

Check out the latest Hyundai Ioniq 3 deals available through Carwow, or see what you could save with an Ioniq 3 lease deal. Check out other Hyundais for sale, or take a look at our selection of used Hyundai models. You can also sell your current car through Carwow when the time comes to make the switch.

UK prices, trim levels and an on-sale date for the Hyundai Ioniq 3 haven’t been announced yet. Standard and sportier N Line versions have been revealed, with 42kWh and 61kWh battery options available.

The closely related Kia EV2 starts at £27,995, so we expect the Ioniq 3 to cost somewhere around £28,000 when it arrives.