Hyundai Ioniq 3 review

Have you ever stared at a photograph of the Great Pyramid of Giza or a bonsai tree, and only realised how big or small they are after spotting a person or hand in the frame? Certain objects simply defy visual measurement until they’re in a context that brings that sense of scale, and the new Hyundai Ioniq 3 is another of them.

In images and when parked on its own, this new electric car appears to be about the size of a family hatchback such as the Volkswagen Golf – or its electric sister the VW ID 3. However, at 4155mm long (or 4170mm if you go for the sporty looking N Line trim) the Ioniq 3 is actually closer in size to a VW Polo.

Or at least, it is on the outside. You see, despite being a comparatively small car, the Ioniq 3’s front and rear axles are farther apart than those of the Golf. And that translates into a surprisingly roomy interior.

We won’t get behind the wheel of the finished Ioniq 3 until later this year, but we have now tried a late prototype at one of Hyundai’s test tracks. So, let’s take a look at what it was like to drive, and how the Ioniq 3 stacks up in other key areas, including range, ease-of-use and costs.

What’s new?

- July 2026: We drive the Ioniq 3 in prototype form at Hyundai’s test track near Frankfurt

- April 2026: Production Ioniq 3 unveiled at Milan Design Week

- September 2025: Hyundai Concept Three revealed, previewing the design direction of the future Ioniq 3

Performance & drive

How fast is it and which motor is best?

All Hyundai Ioniq 3s are front-wheel drive and have a single electric motor, but there are two versions to choose from: the Standard Range, with 145bhp, and the Long Range, which makes do with 133bhp.

As a result of these modest power figures, acceleration obviously won’t blow you away. However, the performance feels livelier than you might expect, aided by the instant torque that electric motors deliver.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

While the steering in a lot of modern cars becomes much heavier when you select Sport or Dynamic mode (actually reducing your sense of connection with the road), in the Ioniq 3 there’s barely any extra weight – just a welcome increase in responsiveness.

Even in the standard mode, though, the steering is accurate. Plus, the Ioniq 3 feels pleasingly nimble and resists body lean pretty well.

Unfortunately, the test track that we got to drive the prototype on didn’t have any bumps or potholes to help us assess how comfortable the car is.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

As good as the Ioniq 3 already is dynamically, we do feel that the brakes could do with more tuning before sales begin. Yes, they’re smooth and predictable enough most of the time, but they can be a bit abrupt when you try to bring the car to a complete stop.

That said, you don’t always need to use the brake pedal to do that, because the Ioniq 3 has a one-pedal driving mode in which the car slows to a halt quite quickly when you lift off the accelerator.

Refinement is further enhanced by the fact that wind, road and motor noise all seem to be pretty well suppressed.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

The 41.0kWh (estimated usable capacity) battery in the Standard Range model officially allows it to travel 213 miles between charges, which trumps the 193 miles of the cheapest Renault 5.

True, the Renault 5 Comfort Range can manage 250 miles, but the Ioniq 3 Long Range (with its 58kWh estimated usable capacity) officially delivers 308 miles.

On the other hand, it’s worth noting that the longest range versions of the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID 3 are capable of up to 392 miles and 391 miles respectively.

As for charging, the Ioniq 3 Standard Range has a peak rate of 110kW, while the Long Range ups that to 200kW. The result of this is that both can be topped up from 10-80% in around 29 minutes.

For context, even the Comfort Range Renault 5 makes do with a peak charging rate of 100kW. Meanwhile, the Born and ID 3 top out at 170kW.

“Among other things, Hyundai had set-up a slalom course at the test track, which showed me how consistently the car responds to steering inputs.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Hyundai claims the Ioniq 3’s interior was inspired by a cosy living room, but in truth, it reminds us more of… well, a car.

Fortunately, it’s a well laid out one, with separate physical controls for the functions you use most often; for example, the audio volume, air conditioning and heated seats.

As a result, these controls don’t frustrate or distract in the way that the touch-sensitive sliders in the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID 3 do. What’s more, the Ioniq 3 has paddles behind its steering wheel that make it easy to adjust the level of regenerative braking.

Sadly, it’s impossible for us to judge quality at this stage, because the interiors of the prototypes we tried weren’t built from the same materials that will be used in customer cars.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

Like an increasing number of modern cars, the Ioniq 3 has a high-set digital instrument panel that you look over the steering wheel (rather than through it) to see.

The idea is that key info – such as your speed and remaining range – is displayed closer to the base of the windscreen, and therefore easier to read at a glance. But all too often, the reality of this sort of arrangement for smaller drivers is that the top of the steering wheel blocks their view of the instruments.

Fortunately, Hyundai seems to have avoided falling into this trap; our 5ft 8in tester was able to get a clear view without compromising their driving position.

Forward visibility is also good, but the view of what’s behind is limited due to a shallow rear windscreen and the way the side windows tick upwards toward the back of the car.

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

In addition to the physical controls already mentioned, the Ioniq 3 features a high-definition central touchscreen, which measures in at 12.9in on cheaper versions and 14.6in if you go for N-Line trim.

Either way, there’s a new Android-based operating system with built-in navigation and AI-enhanced voice control, plus compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

We didn’t get much time to play around with this new system, but the key icons seem to be a decent size.

“In a Peugeot e-208, I have to drop the steering wheel onto my knees before I can see the speedo, but there’s no need to do this in the Ioniq 3.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

How much space does it have for people?

While it’s not quite as roomy as the Cupra Born and Volkswagen ID 3, the Hyundai Ioniq 3 still has plenty of space for four six-footers, so it’s a far more practical choice than our reigning Small Electric Car of the Year, the Renault 5.

As a bonus, the rear floor is flat, so even a central rear passenger shouldn’t be too uncomfortable.

The Ioniq 3 benefits from an open storage compartment above the glovebox and around the steering column for small odds and ends, and removable inserts in the cupholders in order to fit a wider range of bottle sizes.

There are also a number of mounting points for accessories, such as phone holders, torches and even an incense maker. Owners will be able to buy these accessories directly from Hyundai or make them at home if they have a 3D printer.

How much room does it have for luggage?

Don’t think that the roomy interior has been achieved by sacrificing boot space.

The Ioniq 3 has a 322-litre main load area, and while you don’t get any under-bonnet storage, there’s a 119-litre compartment underneath the boot floor. As a result, there’s a total capacity of 441 litres, which easily trumps the 385 litres of the ID 3, let alone the 326 litres of the Renault 5.

Our one slight niggle is that the rear seats fold down in a 60/40 split instead of 40/20/40, so you can’t transport longer items between two rear passengers.

“I wasn't only impressed by how deep the underfloor storage area is, but by how regular a shape it is, because this maximises usability.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

Pricing for the Hyundai Ioniq 3 is still to be confirmed, but we’d expect the Standard Range model to cost from around £25,000, which would make it quite a bit more expensive than the cheapest Renault 5 (£21,495)

On the other hand, you’re looking at £30,860 for the entry-level Volkswagen ID 3, while a Born will set you back even more (£34,495). So, given the practicality and range the Ioniq 3 offers, its likely pricing will be competitive.

Of course, the level of standard equipment (another thing that remains under wraps for now) will also play its part in helping us decide whether the Ioniq 3 represents good value. But we do know that you will be able to specify a Bose sound system and ‘Premium Relaxation’ front seats, which are heated and ventilated.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

In the 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey, Hyundai finished 14th out of 30 brands. However it still achieved a very healthy average dependability rating of 93.1%.

That said, it’s worth noting that the performance of its electric cars was mixed; the Ioniq 6 was fourth in class, with a 95.6% score, but the Ioniq 5 managed only 80.7%, leaving it 18th.

Like all Hyundais, the Ioniq 3 will come with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, whereas the Born, Renault 5 and ID 3 are covered for only three years/60,000 miles. 

As is the norm with electric cars, the Ioniq 3’s battery will be under warranty for eight years or 100,000 miles – whichever comes first.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

When it comes to safety kit, Hyundai’s European news site suggests that Ioniq 3 buyers can expect adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency steering, blind-spot monitoring, and seven airbags.

“Hyundai describes the Ioniq 3 as an ‘aero-hatch’. And given this focus on aerodynamics when designing it, I’d be surprised if it didn’t end up being one of the more efficient electric cars you can buy.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Buy it if…

- You want sleek looks, but still need practicality

- You want the reassurance of a long warranty

Don’t buy it if…

- You want something that pins you back in your seat when you put your foot down

- You’ve fallen for the lie that heavy steering makes a car sporty

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