Hyundai has begun accepting orders for its new electric car, the IONIQ 3, in the United Kingdom, ahead of expanding orders to other European markets. Prices for the compact electric hatchback start at £22,245, or around $30,000, for the entry-level Advance version equipped with a 42-kilowatt-hour battery.
The company positions the IONIQ 3 as the least expensive electric car in the IONIQ family, with four trim levels in the United Kingdom: Advance, Premium, Ultimate, and N Line Evo. The car is available with two battery options, allowing buyers to choose between price and range.
Two Batteries and a Range of Up to 308 Miles
The entry-level Advance trim comes with a 42-kilowatt-hour battery and offers a range of up to 213 miles according to the WLTP standard. The Premium, Ultimate, and N Line Evo trims use a larger 61-kilowatt-hour battery, with a range of up to 308 miles according to the same standard. Pricing for the version with the larger battery starts at £25,745, or around $35,000.
The car uses a 400-volt electrical architecture instead of the 800-volt architecture used in the IONIQ 5. According to Hyundai, the standard battery can be charged from 10% to 80% using DC fast charging in around 29 minutes, while the long-range battery takes approximately 30 minutes.
Compact Design and Practical Space
The IONIQ 3 adopts Hyundai’s new design language, which the company calls Art of Steel, in an Aero Hatch body that Hyundai says achieves a drag coefficient of 0.263. The car measures 4,155 millimetres in length, 1,800 millimetres in width, and 1,505 millimetres in height, with a wheelbase of 2,680 millimetres.
Despite its compact dimensions, the car includes multiple storage solutions, including a Megabox space beneath the cabin floor, while the luggage compartment offers a capacity of 441 litres, according to Hyundai. The company says this capacity represents a notable benchmark within the car’s segment.
New Infotainment System
The IONIQ 3 is Hyundai’s first car in Europe and the United Kingdom to use the Pleos Connect infotainment and software system. The system is based on Android Automotive OS, with customizable screens and app support, and is available with a 12.9- or 14.6-inch central display, along with an optional driver display.
Other equipment includes Hyundai Digital Key 2, Plug & Charge functionality, an integrated route planner for electric vehicles, and a Vehicle-to-Load function that allows the car to be used as an energy source for other devices.
Delivery and Production Timelines
Hyundai expects IONIQ 3 cars to begin arriving at showrooms in late September. The company has also opened orders in Europe, beginning in the Netherlands at €27,995, or around $32,000, with the same two battery options and six trim levels: Select, Trend, Vision, N-Line, Prime, and N-Line Evo.
Production of the car began on the Friday before the report was published at Hyundai’s plant in the Turkish city of Izmit, with an initial capacity of 30,000 cars per year. The facility plans to begin producing the next-generation BAYON and i20 next year.
What Does This Mean for Buyers Outside Europe?
Hyundai designs and produces the IONIQ 3 for the European market, so the information provided does not include an announcement about its launch in the United States. According to Electrek’s assessment, the tariffs referenced by the Trump administration could make importing the car into the U.S. market costly. By contrast, Hyundai produces the IONIQ 5 for the U.S. market at its plant near Savannah, Georgia, helping it offer the car at a starting price of $35,000. Kia, Hyundai’s sister company, has also announced that the 2027 EV3 will start at $29,890 in the United States.