2026 Hyundai IONIQ 3: 496 km Range Aero Hatch From $33,500

Hyundai pulled the cover off the all-new IONIQ 3 at Milan Design Week on April 20, 2026, and pitched the car with a single line: this is more than freedom. Behind the marketing copy is a genuinely interesting machine: a B-segment all-electric “Aero Hatch” positioned squarely below the popular IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 in the Hyundai EV lineup. With a class-leading 496 km of WLTP range from its 61 kWh battery, an aerodynamic 0.263 drag coefficient, and a starting price of around £25,000 ($33,500) when sales begin in the third quarter of 2026, the IONIQ 3 takes direct aim at the Volkswagen ID.3, Renault Megane E-Tech, and Kia EV3 in Europe’s most competitive electric segment.

Performance & Specs

Layout	Front motor, FWD
Battery options	42.2 kWh / 61 kWh
Architecture	400V E-GMP platform
Power (Standard)	147 hp / 250 Nm
Power (Long Range)	135 hp / 250 Nm

The IONIQ 3 is offered exclusively with a single front-mounted electric motor driving the front wheels — no AWD or N-performance variant has been confirmed for launch. The Standard Range model produces 147 hp (110 kW) and 250 Nm of torque, while the Long Range variant trims output slightly to 135 hp (101 kW) but retains the same torque figure. Both setups deliver smooth, responsive urban performance, with the Standard Range hitting 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and the heavier Long Range version doing the same in 9.6 seconds — counterintuitively, the smaller-battery model is the quicker one. Top speed for both variants is electronically limited to 165 km/h. The IONIQ 3 is built on Hyundai Motor Group’s proven Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which it shares with the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60. The platform is tuned here for efficiency rather than performance, with a low drag coefficient of 0.263 Cd contributing directly to the segment-best range numbers.

POWERTRAIN TYPE	Pure Electric (single front motor)
HORSEPOWER (Standard)	147 hp (110 kW)
HORSEPOWER (Long Range)	135 hp (101 kW)
TORQUE	250 Nm (both)
0-100 KM/H	9.0 s (Standard) / 9.6 s (Long Range)
TOP SPEED	~165 km/h
BATTERY	42.2 kWh / 61 kWh
ELECTRIC RANGE	344 km / 496 km (WLTP)
DRIVETRAIN	FWD
DRAG COEFFICIENT	0.263 Cd

Dimensions & Practicality

Length	4,155 mm
Width	1,800 mm
Height	1,505 mm
Wheelbase	2,680 mm
Body style	5-door “Aero Hatch”

At 4,155 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, and 1,505 mm tall, the IONIQ 3 lives squarely in Europe’s B-segment — roughly the size of a Volkswagen Polo or a Ford Puma, but lower-slung with a steeply raked roofline that Hyundai calls the “Aero Hatch” silhouette. The 2,680 mm wheelbase is competitive for the class and translates into adult-sized rear legroom. Cargo capacity is one of the IONIQ 3’s standout practical features: a 322-liter main boot above an additional 119-liter underfloor “Megabox” storage compartment, for a total of 441 liters of cargo volume — comfortably beating the Volkswagen ID.3 (385 L) at this trim level. There is no front trunk because the electric motor occupies the bonnet space, but the smart underfloor storage more than compensates. The IONIQ 3 will also come in an N Line trim that grows length to 4,170 mm with sportier styling and trim-specific 19-inch wheels.

LENGTH	4,155 mm (4,170 mm N Line)
WIDTH	1,800 mm
HEIGHT	1,505 mm
WHEELBASE	2,680 mm
CARGO VOLUME	322 L (main) + 119 L (Megabox) = 441 L total
FRUNK	None (motor in bonnet)
SEATING	5

Charging & Battery

The IONIQ 3 uses a 400V electrical architecture — not the 800V system found in the larger IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 — which keeps cost down at the expense of peak DC charging speeds. Even so, the battery accepts a healthy DC fast charge that takes the cells from 10% to 80% state-of-charge in approximately 29 minutes. The headline charging spec is on the AC side: a 22 kW onboard AC charger is standard, allowing the larger 61 kWh pack to fully replenish from a compatible Type 2 wallbox in roughly 3 hours — significantly faster than the typical 11 kW limit on most rivals at this price. For owners with workplace or destination charging, that 22 kW AC capability is a genuinely meaningful real-world advantage. Both battery packs use lithium-ion chemistry; Hyundai has not announced a heat-pump option for cold-weather efficiency, but the IONIQ family’s integrated thermal management has historically been one of the industry’s best.

BATTERY	42.2 kWh / 61 kWh
ARCHITECTURE	400V (E-GMP)
AC CHARGING	22 kW (~3 h full charge for 61 kWh)
DC FAST CHARGING	10–80% in ~29 min
RANGE (WLTP)	344 km / 496 km

Design & Interior

The IONIQ 3’s exterior carries forward Hyundai’s signature Parametric Pixel lighting language — sharp, blocky LED elements that wrap around the front and rear ends. A small but clever design touch is four central pixel dots in the front and rear fascia, which spell out the letter “H” in Morse code as a brand signature. The Aero Hatch silhouette dispenses with traditional hatchback proportions for a swept, coupe-leaning roofline that flows into a discrete rear deck, helping the car achieve its 0.263 Cd drag figure. Flush door handles and aerodynamically optimized 17-inch and 19-inch wheel options complete the exterior. Inside, Hyundai is pitching the cabin as a “simple, spacious, and intuitive” environment — minimalist surfaces, a single horizontal screen architecture, and recycled-content fabric and trim materials throughout. The new infotainment system is the standout: dual 12.3-inch curved displays with Hyundai’s latest software platform, plus a large augmented-reality head-up display that projects navigation cues directly onto the road ahead. A panoramic glass roof is available on higher trims, and ambient lighting can be color-coordinated with the cabin temperature.

Technology & Features

The infotainment runs Hyundai’s next-generation operating system with native Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, OTA software updates, and integrated EV-specific functions including charging-station navigation, real-time range-prediction based on weather and traffic, and pre-conditioning controls. Standard equipment includes a 12.3-inch driver instrument display, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless smartphone charging, multi-zone climate control, and Bluelink connected services with a digital key system. The IONIQ 3 is the first Hyundai to feature the brand’s new infotainment generation, with a redesigned UI that emphasizes single-glance information density and gesture controls.

Safety & ADAS

The IONIQ 3 ships standard with Hyundai SmartSense, the brand’s comprehensive driver-assistance suite. Key features include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with car, pedestrian, cyclist, and junction crossing detection; Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go; Lane Keep Assist (LKA); Lane Following Assist (LFA); Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA); Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist; and Highway Driving Assist 2.0 for hands-on lane centering at motorway speeds. A 360-degree surround-view monitor and remote smart parking assist (the same trick that lets the IONIQ 5 park itself remotely) are available on higher trims. Hyundai is targeting a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, which the parent E-GMP platform has consistently achieved across the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kia EV6 sister vehicles.

ADAS LEVEL	L2 (Hyundai SmartSense, HDA 2.0)
KEY FEATURES	FCA, SCC, LKA, LFA, BCA, Rear Cross-Traffic Avoidance, HDA 2.0, 360° Camera, Remote Smart Parking
NCAP TARGET	5-star Euro NCAP

Available Versions

VERSION	POWER	BATTERY	RANGE (WLTP)	0-100 KM/H	PRICE (EST.)	KEY DIFFERENCES
Standard Range	147 hp	42.2 kWh	344 km	9.0 s	~£25,000 ($33,500)	Entry trim with smaller battery and quicker acceleration; ideal for urban use
Long Range	135 hp	61 kWh	496 km	9.6 s	~£28,000 ($37,500)	Class-leading range from the larger pack; slightly slower due to extra weight
N Line	147 hp / 135 hp	42.2 / 61 kWh	340 / 490 km	~9.0–9.6 s	~£31,000 ($41,500)	Sport-styled body, 19-inch alloys, unique interior trim, available on both batteries

Pricing & Availability

The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 3 enters production for European markets in the third quarter of 2026, with initial sales focused on the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Nordics. Starting price for the Standard Range trim is expected to land around £25,000 ($33,500), with the Long Range trim adding roughly £3,000 and the sport-styled N Line topping the lineup at around £31,000 ($41,500). Hyundai has not officially confirmed a North American launch for the IONIQ 3 — the model is targeted at Europe and Asia where compact hatchbacks remain the dominant body style. UK and EU buyers will benefit from Hyundai’s standard 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty plus an 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty.

How It Compares

The IONIQ 3 carves out an interesting position in the European compact-EV race. The Volkswagen ID.3 remains the segment’s power benchmark with up to 326 hp on its rear-driven GTX trim, but the IONIQ 3 undercuts the entry ID.3 by roughly $8,000 while delivering more range than the base ID.3 Pure trim. Renault’s Megane E-Tech is the closest match on size and FWD layout, but its smaller 60 kWh battery tops out at 450 km of WLTP range — 46 km short of the IONIQ 3 Long Range. The most direct rival is actually Hyundai’s Korean sister, the Kia EV3, which uses a similar E-GMP platform but offers more power (201 hp) and a larger 81.4 kWh battery option pushing range to 605 km — albeit at a price closer to $44,000. The IONIQ 3 splits the difference: more affordable than the Kia, more efficient than the Renault, more range than the entry VW.