Hyundai Motor Europe recently took the wraps off the new IONIQ 3, a fully electric compact hatchback designed specifically for European markets. Developed, and manufactured at the İzmit plant in Türkiye, Hyundai says that the new model brings the “progressive spirit” of the IONIQ brand into a more compact and accessible footprint.
In contrast with the sporty N Line trim’s more aggressive stance with massive 19-inch wheels and a sharp driver-focused theme, the standard IONIQ 3 lineup focuses on clean surfacing, with 16- to 18-inch wheels on the standard model, in addition to swapping out the driver-centric layout for a brighter and more open interior.
At launch, European buyers can choose between two single-motor, front-wheel-drive configurations—the entry-level variant comes with a 42.2 kWh battery pack alongside a 144-horsepower electric motor and up to 214 miles of driving range under European testing standards. There’s also a Long Range version that packs a larger 61 kWh battery with up to 308 miles, though it uses a slightly dialed-back 133-horsepower motor for efficiency.
The IONIQ 3 also marks a major shift as the first European Hyundai to feature the PLEOS Connect infotainment system. Built on Android Automotive OS, PLEOS Connect features a highly customizable, smartphone-like user interface which is accessible on either a 12.9-inch or 14.6-inch center touchscreen. There’s a built-in app store for native third-party software like Spotify and YouTube, alongside Gleo AI, an advanced large language model voice assistant capable of handling conversational, multi-step natural language commands.