Hyundai's small electric hatchback is drawing attention for its affordable price and unexpectedly quiet ride.
The Ioniq 3 starts at £18,495 (~$24,715 USD) after a U.K. grant, according to content creator Robert Llewellyn, who tested the car on winding country roads.
Here's what to know
In a YouTube video from Everything Electric Cars (@fullychargedshow), Llewellyn drove a right-hand-drive version of Hyundai's smaller, lighter hatchback — currently not planned for a U.S. release but gaining steam as a contender for Europe's next big subcompact EV. The test vehicle had a 61-kilowatt-hour battery and an official WLTP range of 308 miles.
Llewellyn estimated that drivers could expect about 250 miles of real-world range, potentially reaching 280 miles in better weather. During the drive, efficiency hovered around 4 miles per kilowatt-hour before a climb brought it down to 3.8.
Llewellyn could barely hear the motor even when accelerating hard. He praised the sound insulation on narrow roads near the isolated launch site.
"It's so unspeakably quiet," he said.
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More background
The launch offered the first opportunity to test right-hand-drive versions, and he had driven no more than 20 miles before sharing his initial assessment. Both the design and the manufacture of the Ioniq 3 took place in Europe, according to Llewellyn.
Llewellyn praised the screen's responsiveness, noting its Google-based software and familiar Google Maps navigation. Alongside the large touchscreen, Hyundai retained physical buttons for functions such as seat heating and volume.
He also noted the generous rear-seat space for a car of its size.
Making its own steel gives Hyundai a role in supplying the raw material for its vehicles. Llewellyn highlighted that capability when discussing the South Korean corporation's extensive manufacturing operation.
What can be done?
For shoppers considering making their next car an EV, Llewellyn pointed to the U.K.'s £3,750 (~$5,011) electric car grant. He confirmed the Ioniq 3 qualifies.
With prices still unconfirmed, Llewellyn estimated that leasing or lease-purchase payments could fall between £200 (~$267) and £250 (~$334) per month.
Beyond the purchase price, he emphasized that it costs less to charge than to fuel a gas-powered vehicle. Reduced routine maintenance offers another potential benefit for drivers switching to electric vehicles.
Llewellyn tested a higher-end performance version. The equipment included in the entry-level model remains another consideration.
One commenter linked the arrival of smaller models to the channel and Llewellyn's decade-plus of coverage and support for electrification.
They wrote: "I think you have succeeded. We have reached a tipping point of dumping the diesel and fewer folks burn stuff. We have smaller affordable EVs. After 16 years, you have won. Congratulations."
Where can I learn more?
The Ioniq 3 joins a growing range of affordable electric cars.
• U.K. buyers gave Hyundai's Ioniq 3 its biggest prelaunch response yet.
• Hyundai's Inster stands out for space in Australia as affordable EV options expand.
• Hyundai's Ioniq V costs less than $15,000 in China but remains unavailable to Americans.
• Kia's EV3 starts under $30,000, adding another option for shoppers seeking affordable electric vehicles.
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