Hyundai has unveiled the most wallet-friendly version of its all-electric Ioniq 3 subcompact hatch. Cost-saving measures have touched upon its looks, interior rim and powertrain specs, so you’d better find out what you’re paying for in advance.
The production will be localized in Turkey, and the sales should start in a month or two, Hyundai says. Funnily, there’s been no mention of a price yet, but we fully expect it to start comfortably under €30,000. That’s the only way it’s realistically going to compete.
Compared to the beefed-up Ioniq 3 N-Line unveiled a few months ago, the base EV looks downright tame. The big front air intake is gone, the contrasting black trim isn’t as ubiquitous, and the available wheels are now sized from 16 to 18 inches large, while the N-Line comes bundled with larger 19-inch rollers. A glance at the rear end reveals a shrunken diffuser and a similarly downsized spoiler.
Inside, the touchscreens on the dash are doing fine, but the trim all around looks cheaper, and so do the seats. Note how they seemingly no longer have any kind of advanced lumbar support. On a brighter note, Hyundai claims the base Ioniq 3 will be its first EU-market vehicle to arrive with the latest Pleos Connect infotainment system on board, packing some of the latest AI features.
The budget-friendly car relies on a single e-motor rated at 147 PS (145 hp / 108 kW) for getting around. It uses a 42.2-kWh battery pack rated at 344 kilometers (213 miles) of range per charge. A long-range alternative is available with 61 kWh and 500 kilometers (310 miles) at its disposal, but it takes a hit to the motor output, capping it at 135 PS (133 hp / 99 kW) for efficiency reasons.