Hyundai’s electric hatch goes on sale with up to 308 miles of range, starting at about $25,000

The IONIQ 3 has received more interest than any Hyundai vehicle in the UK ever. Starting at about $25,000, Hyundai’s electric hatch undercuts much of the competition.

How much does the Hyundai IONIQ 3 cost in the UK?

Hyundai opened orders for the highly anticipated IONIQ 3 in the UK and Europe, its first compact electric vehicle under the IONIQ branding.

The response so far has been “extraordinary,” Ashley Andrew, president of Hyundai Motor UK, said after launching the new IONIQ 3 on Monday.

According to Andrew, the electric hatch has received “more customers registering their interest before launch than any new Hyundai we’ve introduced in the UK.” With the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant available on every trim, the IONIQ 3 is one of the most affordable, long-range EVs on the market.

The IONIQ 3 is now available to order in the UK, starting at just £18,495 OTR, or roughly $25,000, including the grant.

It’s available with two battery packs: 42 kWh and 61 kWh. The base IONIQ 3 Advance trim with the 42 kWh battery starts at £18,495 OTR and offers up to 213 miles of WLTP range.

The extended-range IONIQ 3 Advance with the 61 kWh battery starts at £21,995 ($29,000) and offers a “class-leading” WLTP range of up to 308 miles. That also includes the UK government ECG grant.

Hyundai is offering leases from £355 a month for the IONIQ 3 Advance with the 61 kWh battery. The offer is with a £355 deposit and 8.9% APR, including the £3,750 Electric Car Grant

At that, Hyundai’s electric hatch is cheaper than much of the competition, including the Renault 5 E-Tech, priced from £21,495 in the UK, including the ECG. It also undercuts BYD’s new plug-in Dolphin G DM-i (£23,990).

Hyundai said that those who already placed an order can convert their reservation into a full order and receive the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant instead of the previous £1,500 Hyundai Reservation Saving.

The IONIQ 3 measures 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″), which is even a bit smaller than the Kia EV3 and Volkswagen ID.3.

While it’s under the IONIQ brand, the electric hatch features a distinct new “Aero Hatch” silhouette that maximizes efficiency with a drag coefficient of just 0.263. 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 also Hyundai’s first vehicle in Europe equipped with its new Pleos Connect infotainment system.

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

Hyundai’s SmartSense driver assistance technology, Hyundai Digital Key 2, Plug & Charge, an integrated EV Route planner, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) all come as standard.

Unlike the IONIQ 5, which uses 800V, the IONIQ 3 uses a 400V architecture. With DC fast charging, the 42 kWh battery can still recharge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes. The 61 kWh battery takes about a minute longer, at around 30 minutes.

Hyundai also opened IONIQ 3 orders in Europe, starting at about €28,950 ($33,000) in Germany. The electric hatch is available to lease from €209 per month in Germany.

Unfortunately, Hyundai has no plans to bring the IONIQ 3 to the US. The compact EV is designed and produced in Europe for European buyers.

The IONIQ 5, however, remained among the most popular electric vehicles in the US through September.

Hyundai’s sister company, Kia, also launched the EV3, a compact electric SUV that starts at just $30,000 in the US.