It still surprises me just how many good, affordable cars fail to make their way to certain markets. Whether it be due to regulatory reasons, differences in consumer tastes, production constraints, or simply because automakers don't think the numbers add up, there's a whole world of interesting metal that never gets the opportunity to cross certain borders.
The new Ioniq 3 is the latest victim of this, and a particularly frustrating example, might I add. Hyundai has built a compact electric hatch specifically around European needs, with a starting price equivalent to around $30,000 in the UK, a decent city range, and the sort of funky styling that makes it stand out in a sea of anonymous EV crossovers.
Yet while Europe is getting Hyundai's smallest Ioniq, the automaker says it currently has no plans to sell the car in the US. And that's a shame, because the US could arguably use more cars like this, not fewer. American buyers have spent years being nudged toward ever-larger crossovers and SUVs, while small hatchbacks have gradually disappeared from the mainstream.
The Ioniq 3 goes in precisely the opposite direction. At 163.6 inches (4,155 mm) long, 70.9 inches (1,800 mm) wide, and 59.3 inches (1,505 mm) tall, it’s 7.3 inches (185 mm) shorter than the i30 hatchback, while being about as wide and roughly 2 inches (50 mm) taller, giving it something of a crossover stance. All while weighing around 3,400 to 3,500 lb (1,550 to 1,580 kg).
There’s a definite hint of the Veloster in there. And I can see the design dividing opinions for sure … I mean, where do I sign up to get circular headlights back on our cars?
With a targeted class-leading drag coefficient of just 0.263, Hyundai claims that the new Aero Hatch design "reimagines the compact EV silhouette." The car comes from a design operation headed by SangYup Lee – the same bloke whose résumé includes the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro and Bentley Bentayga, while his time at Hyundai has included cars such as the Genesis GV80.
The hatch comes powered by a front-mounted electric motor, but somewhat unusually, it's the smaller-battery version that gets more grunt. The 42.2-kWh model produces 145 hp (108 kW) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque, while the 61-kWh version makes 133 hp (100 kW) and the same torque. The former gets from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 8.8 seconds and tops out at 105 mph (169 km/h), while the latter takes 9.5 seconds and tops out at 102 mph (164 km/h).
The smaller 42.2-kWh battery offers up to 213 miles (343 km) of projected WLTP driving range. More importantly, plug it into a sufficiently powerful DC fast charger and Hyundai says it'll go from 10 to 80% in around 29 minutes.
There’s also a bigger 61-kWh pack that boosts range to as much as 308 miles (496 km), depending on trim, with a 10-to-80% DC charging time of around 30 minutes. The electric hatch employs a 400-V architecture instead of the 800-V system found on the IONIQ 5, helping keep the price down.
What you get inside is based on the trim you choose. Starting with the entry-level Advance trim, you get a 12.9-inch Pleos infotainment system, six-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and push-start button, sun visors with vanity mirrors, an electrochromic rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power outlet, 16-inch alloys, electrically adjustable door mirrors, and a host of safety features.
Moving up to the Premium trim will get you a 9.9-inch digital instrument cluster, automatic windshield wipers with rain sensors, a wireless charging pad, a battery heating system with pre-conditioning, 17-inch alloys, heated side mirrors, and rear privacy windows.
The blingy N Line Evo comes with 19-inch wheels, a larger 14.6-inch infotainment system with more capabilities, a surround-view monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, Remote Smart Parking Assist, Memory Reverse Assist, among others.
Inside, it gets smart storage options, including an underfloor storage system called "Megabox." Hyundai also adds that it "sets the benchmark in the segment" with a total boot capacity of up to 15.5 cubic feet (441 L), comprising 322 L of conventional luggage space and another 119 L beneath the floor.
The Ioniq 3 will primarily take on the likes of the Ford Puma Gen-E, MINI Aceman, Volvo EX30, Renault 5 E-Tech, and Volkswagen ID. Polo. It is produced at Hyundai Motor Türkiye's İzmit factory, where it has become the plant's first electric vehicle.
Starting at £22,245 (around US$30,000) in the UK, it’s a shame it won’t make its way Stateside.
Source: Hyundai
