The highly anticipated Hyundai IONIQ 3 has broken cover early, via Instagram, giving us an unfiltered look at the funky new EV which will be coming to Australia in 2027.
The design showcases a sporty, wedge-like profile, and, crucially, the pics show off an N Line variant. This gives the IONIQ 3 an aggressive edge that local hot hatch fans will absolutely froth over.
There are faint Veloster tropes woven into its DNA, right down to the truncated kammback silhouette. It’s a bold, angular departure from the jellybean shapes we’re so used to seeing in the entry-level EV space.
Hyundai’s signature retro-futuristic lighting is front and centre, featuring a distinct four-parametric-pixel motif across the front grille, which is smartly mirrored as the rear brake light. Adding to the drama out back is a cheeky spoiler that aggressively breaks up the rear window hatch, further cementing its hot-hatch appeal.
Inside, the leak reveals a minimalist but highly driver-focused setup. The standout is an instrument slit panel that looks strikingly similar to the Elexio setup, keeping the dash incredibly clean while delivering your essential readouts.
On the practicality front, the images also reveal a clever double floor in the boot, hinting at brilliant packaging despite the compact footprint.
So, what does this mean for Australia? While Hyundai remains tight-lipped on exact battery specs ahead of its official debut, expect it to share underlying architecture with the Kia EV3, meaning we should see highly competitive range and pricing.
The new model will also mean Hyundai Australia’s EV spread almost covers the entire market, in terms of different segments. Hyundai Australia director of sales, David Rodda, said:
“Our existing EV lineup already covers 85% of the market, and with the introduction of the STARIA Commercial Van later this year and IONIQ 3 hatch early next year, we expect to reach 96% overall EV market coverage.
“Hyundai’s current model lineup is our second generation of electric vehicles in Australia. We’ve been delivering EVs to Australians for eight years – and globally, we’ve been developing EVs for 35 years.”
We’ll have to wait for the full press drop to confirm the exact numbers and local launch timings. It’s scheduled to debut at just after midnight tonight (AEST).
