Hyundai Opens UK Orders for Ioniq 3 Electric Hatchback Starting at £18,495
The compact EV qualifies for local government incentives to reach a roughly $25,000 starting price, but Turkish assembly and tariffs keep it out of the US.
Hyundai has officially opened orders in the United Kingdom for the Ioniq 3, an all-electric compact hatchback designed specifically for European driving requirements, Engadget reported (https://www.engadget.com/2277678/hyundai-ioniq-3-all-electric-hot-hatch-goes-on-sale-in-the-uk/). First introduced in April, the entry-level vehicle starts at £18,495 (approximately $25,000), a figure made possible by a £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant that applies to every trim in the lineup.
The launch follows significant regional pre-order interest. Ashley Andrew, president of Hyundai Motor UK, stated in a company announcement that the Ioniq 3 attracted more customer interest registrations ahead of launch than any previous Hyundai model introduced in the country.
The entry-level Advance trim features a 42-kilowatt-hour battery delivering an estimated 213 miles of range. At the top end of the lineup, the N-Line Evo model retails for up to £31,945 (around $42,000) and includes a 61 kWh battery providing up to 308 miles of range. The vehicle runs on a 400-volt electrical architecture that charges from 10 percent to 80 percent in roughly 29 minutes, with minor variations depending on battery capacity.
The Ioniq 3 also serves as Hyundai's first vehicle in Europe to incorporate its new Pleos Connect infotainment system, built on Google's Android Automotive OS. The interface runs on either a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch display depending on trim level, with optional add-ons including heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and safety tools such as Highway Driving Assist 2 and Blind View Monitor.
Hyundai confirmed it has no plans to offer the Ioniq 3 in the United States. In addition to targeting European market preferences, the EV is manufactured in Turkey, meaning US import tariffs would undermine the vehicle's low price point. American buyers looking for compact or mid-size electric options in the broader brand family are instead pointed toward the larger Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the Kia EV3, which starts at approximately $31,000.
Sources
Written by
The Company Wire
Inside the companies building what’s next. Reporting on startups, technology, funding and the people shaping them.
