Hyundai Ioniq 3 breaks cover, set to launch in Europe this summer

The Hyundai Ioniq 3 has been officially unveiled at the Milan Design Week. The electric compact hatchback was presented as ‘Concept Three’ back in September last year. It is underpinned by Hyundai’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The EV is designed in Europe and manufactured at Hyundai Motor‘s İzmit plant in Türkiye. It remains to be seen whether it will make its way to the Indian subcontinent.

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Hyundai Ioniq 3: What’s on offer?

As mentioned earlier, the Ioniq 3 is underpinned by Hyundai’s E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform), which is also found on the Kia EV6. It stands at dimensions of 4,155mm (Standard model)/4,170mm (N Line model) x 1,800mm x 1,505mm, and has a 2,680mm wheelbase.

The electric hatchback follows Hyundai’s ‘Art of Steel’ design language, flaunting strong, precise surfaces. Up front, it features pixel lighting elements along with four illuminated dots aligned centrally to denote the letter ‘H’ in Morse code. The new ‘aero hatch’ typology gives the EV a class-leading drag coefficient of 0.263. Along the sides, the Ioniq 3 gets sharp character lines and a sloping roofline. It rests on 16-inch alloy wheels, which can be upgraded to 19-inch alloys on the N Line variant. The flush-sitting door handles lend a premium look to the profile. The rear diffuser is finished in black on the N Line model.

There will be 8 paint shades available on launch – Atlas White Solid, Phantom Black Pearl, Lumen Grey Pearl, Aurora Grey Pearl, Vibrant Blue Pearl, Ice Blue Pearl, Fierce Red Solid, and Fierce Red Matte.

The Hyundai Ioniq 3 can be opted in 3 interior colour themes – Black & Beige, Grey & Blue, and Grey & Black with red accents (N Line). The hatchback can seat 5 people and has a combined trunk capacity of 441 litres (boot + megabox). Depending on the variant, the EV will pack a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch central touchscreen display. This screen will run the Pleos Connect infotainment system based on Android Automotive OS (AAOS), becoming the first Hyundai model in Europe to do so.

Other features will include relaxation seats, a Bose sound system, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, Hyundai Digital Key 2, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging functionality, and more. On the safety front, the Ioniq 3 will pack 7 airbags, Hill Hold Control, Electronic Stability Control, and more features. The Hyundai SmartSense ADAS package will include features like Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA2), Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), Memory Reverse Assist (MRA), Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM).

Powering the Hyundai Ioniq 3 is a single, front-mounted electric motor. On the standard model, it generates a maximum power output of 135hp. This output is boosted to 147hp on the N Line variant. Both models generate 250Nm torque. The top speed of the EV is capped at 170km/h. 

There will be 2 battery pack options on offer – Standard Range (42.2kWh) and Long Range (61kWh). The former has a 344km driving range, while the latter can go up to 496km on a full charge. Using a DC fast charger, both battery variants can go from a 10-80% charge in 30 minutes. When it comes to AC charging, the SR and LR variants support speeds of up to 11kW and 22kW, respectively.

Mr Xavier Martinet, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Europe, said, “With IONIQ 3, we are bringing the bold design, driving enjoyment and advanced features of the IONIQ brand to a broader range of customers across Europe. Built for people’s real everyday needs, IONIQ 3 combines an expected segment-leading driving range and aerodynamics with extraordinary levels of space, comfort and practicality. IONIQ 3 also marks the debut of the Pleos Connect infotainment system, delivering sharp graphics, an intuitive user experience and broad customisation options – raising the bar for the segment.”

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Final Thoughts

Hyundai has not specified a launch date for the Ioniq 3, but it will go on sale in Europe in the next 2 months. Prices for the electric hatchback will be announced upon launch. We expect it to start around the £30,000 (~ Rs 37.89 lakh) mark. Upon launch, it will rival the Mini Aceman, MG4 EV, Renault 5, Ford Puma Gen-E, and Volkswagen ID 3.