It’s official. Hyundai is giving its electric hot hatch the N-Line treatment, and we are getting our first look at it.
Hyundai is giving its electric hot hatch an N-Line upgrade
Hyundai is gearing up to launch the IONIQ 3, a smaller sibling to the IONIQ 5. Although it’s part of the IONIQ series, the IONIQ 3 is set to debut with a new style.
We got our first look at it in September at the Munich Motor Show after Hyundai unveiled the Concept Three. The “Three” is Hyundai’s first compact EV in the IONIQ lineup, bringing a radical new look to the series.
The Aero Hatch design is “a new typology that reimagines the compact EV silhouette,” according to Hyundai. Although it still includes a few design elements from other IONIQ models, like the Parametric Pixel lights, you can clearly see that the IONIQ 3 is unique from the Hyundai vehicles we’re used to seeing.
With its official debut just around the corner, several camouflaged prototypes have been captured testing in Europe and South Korea.
Like Hyundai’s other electric concept vehicles, the IONIQ 3’s design appears to remain very close to the Concept Three, with a hot-hatch design and a ducktail spoiler.
New images from HealerTV (via TheKoreanCarBlog) reveal that a sporty N-Line variant will be added to the IONIQ 3 lineup.
Despite the camo, the photos reveal a sneak peek at the upgrades, including sportier head and taillights, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, and new N-branded wheels.
As TheKoreanCarBlog points out, Hyundai typically launches “N-Line” and “N” variants together, hinting at an upcoming high-performance version of the electric hot hatch.
Measuring 4,287 mm long, 1,940 mm wide, and 1,428 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,722 mm, the IONIQ 3 is in the same class as Kia’s popular EV3 and the Volkswagen ID.3.
We have yet to learn final specs or prices, but given that it will sit below the Kona Electric, the electric hot hatch is expected to start at around £25,000 ($33,700). The IONIQ 3 will likely be available with similar battery pack options as the EV3 (58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh), offering a WTLP range of about 365 miles.
The IONIQ 3 will offer the advanced tech, efficiency, and safety of the larger IONIQ models, but in a smaller, more affordable package.
Hyundai is expected to launch the IONIQ 3 in early 2026, possibly as early as the Brussels Motor Show, which starts on January 9, 2026. Earlier this week, Hyundai said it will reveal its “biggest EV” yet at the event, with plans to launch several new models.
Sadly, Hyundai is not planning to bring the electric hot hatch to the US thanks to the auto tariffs and recent policy changes. It does, however, already offer the most affordable EV lease in the US with the IONIQ 5 available for as low as $189 per month.
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