Hyundai opens IONIQ 3 orders in Europe from about $30,000

The order books opened Monday. In Britain, Hyundai’s new IONIQ 3 electric hatch starts at £22,245, or roughly $30,000, putting a compact member of the IONIQ family within reach of a wider group of buyers. It is Hyundai’s first compact EV in the lineup, and the company says interest has surpassed that recorded for any previous new Hyundai model, gasoline or electric.

The range is split between two batteries. The entry Advance uses a 42 kWh pack and offers up to 213 miles of WLTP range. Higher trims use a 61 kWh battery rated for up to 308 miles. The IONIQ 3 is available in four UK versions—Advance, Premium, Ultimate and N Line Evo—with prices reaching £31,945 for the top model.

Hyundai has traded some charging hardware for a lower-cost design. Unlike the IONIQ 5, the IONIQ 3 uses a 400V electrical architecture rather than 800V. DC fast charging still takes about 29 minutes from 10% to 80% with the standard battery and around 30 minutes with the long-range pack.

The hatch is 4,155 mm long and slightly smaller than the Kia EV3 and Chevrolet Bolt EV, according to Hyundai. Its aerodynamic body has a drag coefficient of 0.263, while the interior adds underfloor “Megabox” storage and up to 441 liters of boot capacity. The car also introduces Hyundai’s Pleos Connect system in Europe and the UK, with a 12.9″ or 14.6″ central screen, smartphone-style apps, route planning and Vehicle-to-Load, which lets the car’s battery power external devices.

So what changes in practice? European buyers get a new compact EV with a starting price of about $30,000, up to 308 miles of claimed range and charging that remains close to half an hour despite the cost-focused 400V system. Hyundai began production at its Izmit plant in Turkey last Friday, with an initial annual capacity of 30,000 IONIQ 3 vehicles and showroom arrivals expected in late September. The model is designed and built in Europe for the European market.