Hyundai will introduce the IONIQ 3 in less than a month. It’s expected to be more affordable than the Kona Electric, but Hyundai’s new EV will be much more advanced.
When will Hyundai launch the IONIQ 3?
We will see the IONIQ 3 for the first time at the Munich Motor Show in early September. Although Hyundai Europe’s CEO, Xavier Martinet, claims its IONIQ series is now the number two EV brand behind Tesla, this could be just the start.
Martinet told TopGear that the Inster EV and IONIQ 3 “are cheaper, so they’ll give us total coverage of the EV market.
The new EV, expected to arrive as the IONIQ 3, will sit between the Inster EV and Kona Electric in Hyundai’s lineup. According to TopGear, the IONIQ 3 will be slightly smaller than the Kona Electric, but more advanced. In the UK, the Hyundai Kona starts at £34,995 ($47,000), so prices are expected to start at about the same or even slightly less.
Like the Kia EV3, the UK’s best-selling retail EV through the first half of the year, the Hyundai IONIQ 3 is expected to be offered with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh battery pack options for a WLTP range of about 260 and 365 miles.
Instead of the 800V electrical system used in the IONIQ 5, 6, and 9 models, the IONIQ 3 will use a cheaper 400V setup.
The interior will feature Hyundai’s latest software and new Pleos operating system, offering a smartphone-like user interface.
To save on costs, Hyundai will build the IONIQ 3 at its plant in Turkey. Martinet wants Hyundai to be just as big in the EV market as it is with gas and hybrid vehicles. Regarding EV sales, he explained that it “isn’t an absolute race but a race against the other manufacturers. We want the same share in all types of powertrain.”
Although adoption has been slower than some expected, Martinet still said, “people don’t go back to ICE” after owning an EV.”
Top comment by Pete Za
Instead of the 800V electrical system used in the IONIQ 5, 6, and 9 models, the IONIQ 3 will use a cheaper 400V setup.
Just out of curiosity, is an 800V setup really more expensive? You can cut your copper wiring needs in half (thickness wise) with the higher voltage to transport the same amount of power. Do the other electronics needed to handle the higher voltages outweigh the cost savings from copper?
Hyundai is expanding its lineup with new low-cost EVs, but still plans to continue selling gas-powered, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and fully electric (EV) vehicles. It’s also looking to introduce extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), which use a gas engine to power the battery.
Although the IONIQ 3 isn’t expected to arrive in the US, thanks to the new tariffs on imports, Hyundai still offers some of the most affordable EVs on the market.
After cutting prices again last month, the new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 can now be leased for as low as $179 per month. It’s hard to find any monthly lease under $200, but for a $45,000 electric SUV, it’s a steal.
The Kia EV3 is already a top-selling electric vehicle in Europe and the most popular retail EV in the UK this year. Will Hyundai top it with the IONIQ 3? We’ll find out more soon. Stay tuned.
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