Hyundai opened orders for the IONIQ 3, its new entry-level electric hatch, starting at about $30,000.

Hyundai opens IONIQ 3 orders in the UK and Europe

The IONIQ 3 has received “the highest-ever level of customer interest recorded for a new Hyundai model,” the company said last month. That includes gas and electric vehicles.

Hyundai opened orders for the new electric hatch in the UK on Monday, its first compact EV from the IONIQ lineup.

It’s available in four trims: Advance, Premium, Ultimate, and N Line Evo, with standard and extended-range battery options.

The base Hyundai IONIQ 3 Advance trim with the standard 42 kWh battery starts at £22,245, or roughly $30,000. Upgrading to the larger 61 kWh battery starts at £25,745 ($35,000).

Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai and Genesis UK, said the IONIQ 3 “delivers genuine EV innovation at a price point that makes electric mobility attainable for even more households.”

The Standard trim comes with the 42 kWh battery, offering a WLTP range of up to 213 miles, while the Premium, Ultimate, and N-Line Evo are powered by the 61 kWh battery, which provides up to 308 miles of range.

Hyundai IONIQ 3 (Source: Hyundai)

While it’s positioned as a little sibling to the IONIQ 5, the IONIQ 3 brings a new look to the lineup with Hyundai’s Art of Steel design language.

The new Aero Hatch shape “reimagines the compact EV silhouette,” Hyundai said, delivering a best-in-class drag coefficient of just 0.263. The design is not only extremely aerodynamic, but it also opens up the interior.

Hyundai IONIQ 3 (Source: Hyundai)

Measuring 4,155 mm (163.5″) in length, 1,800 mm (70.9″) in width, and 1,505 mm (59.3″) in height, with a wheelbase of 2,680 mm (105.5″), the IONIQ 3 is even slightly smaller than the Kia EV3 and Chevy Bolt EV.

Despite its compact size, the IONIQ 3 has smart storage throughout the interior, including a “Megabox” underfloor storage.

Hyundai IONIQ 3 interior (Source: Hyundai)

With a total boot capacity of up to 441 liters, Hyundai said the IONIQ 3 “sets the benchmark in the segment.”

The IONIQ 3 is Hyundai’s first vehicle in Europe and the UK that’s equipped with its new Pleos Connect infotainment system and software.

Hyundai IONIQ 3 interior with Pleos Connect infotainment system (Source: Hyundai)

Based on Android Automotive OS, the system is more like using a smartphone with apps and customizable screens, similar to what Tesla uses. It’s available with a 12.9″ or 14.6″ center infotainment screen and an optional driver display.

Other features include Hyundai Digital Key 2, Plug & Charge, an integrated EV route planner, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality.

Hyundai IONIQ 3 trim	Battery	Starting Price	Electric Range
Advance	42 kWh	£22,245 ($29,800)	213 miles
Advance	61 kWh	£25,745 ($34,500)	308 miles
Premium	61 kWh	£27,445 ($37,000)	308 miles
Ultimate	61 kWh	£29,945 ($40,000)	308 miles
N-Line Evo	61 kWh	£31,945 ($42,700)	308 miles

Hyundai IONIQ 3 UK price and electric range by trim (Source: Hyundai UK)

Unlike the IONIQ 5, the electric hatch uses a 400V architecture rather than an 800V one to reduce costs.

With DC fast charging, the IONIQ 3 can still recharge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes with the standard (42.2 kWh) battery. The long-range (61 kWh) battery takes around 30 minutes.

Hyundai is also opening IONIQ 3 orders in Europe. In the Netherlands, IONIQ 3 prices start at €27,995 ($32,000). It’s available with the same battery pack options (42 kWh or 61 kWh) and six trims: Select, Trend, Vision, N-Line, Prime, and N-Line Evo.

Hyundai IONIQ 3 prices by trim and battery pack in the Netherlands (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai expects IONIQ 3 models will begin arriving in showrooms in late September. Last Friday, the company began IONIQ 3 production at its Izmit plant in Turkey.

The facility will initially produce 30,000 IONIQ 3 vehicles annually. Next year, Hyundai will begin production of the next-generation BAYON and i20.

Electrek’s Take

Another affordable, practical electric vehicle that those in the US will miss out on. The IONIQ 3 is designed and built in Europe for the European market.

On top of that, the Trump Administration’s tariffs would make it too costly to import. Hyundai does offer the IONIQ 5, which is still among the most affordable (and most popular) EVs in the US, starting at $35,000. Unlike the IONIQ 3, which is made in Europe, Hyundai builds the IONIQ 5 at its Metaplant outside of Savannah, GA, for the US, enabling it to offer it at lower prices.

Hyundai’s sister company, Kia, also announced last week that prices for the 2027 EV3 start at just $29,890 in the US.