Hyundai opened UK orders for its Ioniq 3 electric hatchback on Oct. 5. The base Advance trim costs £18,495 (roughly US$25,000) once the government's full £3,750 Electric Car Grant is taken off. The headlines doing the rounds blend two different cars, though. The car that costs about $25,000 isn't the one with 308 miles of range, and neither one is going on sale in the US.
What you need to know
- It's a UK price, after a grant. Before the grant, the Ioniq 3 starts at £22,245 (around US$30,000). Every version qualifies for Band 1 of the Electric Car Grant, the full £3,750 (US$5,000).
- 308 miles is a WLTP figure for one trim. The 61 kWh Advance is rated at 308 miles (496 km) on the European WLTP test cycle, which tends to give higher numbers than the US EPA test. The cheapest car uses a 42.2 kWh battery and is rated at 213 miles (343 km). When Hyundai first published these figures in August, they were still "pending final homologation" (final type approval).
- Range falls on the upper trims. Bigger wheels and extra kit cost miles:
| Trim | Battery | WLTP range | UK price after grant | In US dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance | 42.2 kWh | 213 mi (343 km) | £18,495 | 25,000 |
| Advance | 61 kWh | 308 mi (496 km) | £21,995 | 30,000 |
| Premium | 61 kWh | 303 mi (488 km) | £23,695 | 32,000 |
| Ultimate | 61 kWh | 300 mi (483 km) | £26,195 | 35,000 |
| N Line Evo | 61 kWh | 265 mi (426 km) | £28,195 | 38,000 |
- It's built in Turkey and won't come to the US. Production is at Hyundai's plant in İzmit. Hyundai says it currently has no plans to sell the car in America.
- Hyundai says demand is strong. UK president Ashley Andrew said more people registered interest before launch than for any new Hyundai the company has introduced in Britain. Customers who reserved early get the £3,750 grant in place of the £1,500 reservation discount Hyundai first offered.
On price, Auto Express says the base car undercuts the Renault 5, Cupra Raval and VW ID. Polo by a few thousand pounds and matches the Citroën ë-C3. Its Kia EV2 sibling starts at £24,245 even with the grant. Charging runs on a 400-volt system, and Hyundai quotes about 30 minutes for a 10 to 80% fast charge on the 61 kWh pack.
Hyundai says cars reach UK retailers this month. The next things to watch are final homologated range figures and whether real-world tests get close to 308 miles. Would a Turkish-built small EV around $30,000 tempt you if tariffs ever let it into the US?
Sources
- 1.All-New Hyundai IONIQ 3 Opens for UK Orders with £3,750 Electric Car Grant · Hyundai Motor UK
- 2.Hyundai Motor UK announces New IONIQ 3 electric hatchback pricing · Hyundai Motor UK
- 3.Hyundai Ioniq 3: entry-level electric hatch eludes USA · New Atlas
- 4.New Hyundai Ioniq 3 price drops to £18,495 with EV grant · Auto Express
- 5.Hyundai IONIQ 3 offers up to 308 miles range and starts at $25,000 · Electrek
Reported by the WattsUpNext desk from the sources linked below. Spot an error? Tell us at corrections@wattsupnext.com.
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