In the last ten years, the way of buying a car has changed radically. Today, the majority of vehicles sold are SUV hybrid urban vehicles, which have destroyed almost any other segment, especially among the most popular options on the market.

The fact that they are large cars, give a feeling of security and at the same time provide space makes them the preferred option for the majority. However, there is one type of vehicle that, although difficult, survives this push: the compact one.

It is true that this segment has also been very neglected, and finding an urban area below the 30,000 euros and with good autonomy it seems, today, almost impossible.

Faced with the push of Chinese brands, renault was one of the first to make a move with the Renault 4a movement that caught many careless, except other Asians: the Koreans from Hyundai, who counterattacked with the Ioniq 3. Maybe we are recovering in the compact cars that competition that was so lacking.

The new Ioniq 3

He Ioniq 3 —officially presented in April 2026, during Milan Design Week—is placed among the InsterHyundai’s smallest and cheapest electric car (3.82 meters), and the Kona Electric, which is around 4.35 meters. A gap that the brand did not have covered with a pure electric.

And here there is an important nuance: despite what was rumored for months (it was assumed that it would be called “Ioniq 2” and that it would be a small SUV), the definitive car is a hatchback, what Hyundai calls an “Aero Hatch”, with a highly aerodynamic silhouette.

It measures 4.15 meters long (4.17 in the N-Line finish), 1.80 wide and 1.50 high, with a wheelbase of 2.68 meters. A size that continues to be the most popular in Europe, because it combines urban comfort behind the wheel with enough interior space for family use.

Its direct rivals are the Renault 4, which has just arrived with a very good reception, the Kia EV2 itself (its twin within the group), the Cupra Raval, the Volvo EX30 and the Chinese electric cars that are around that price, such as the BYD Atto 2 or the Leapmotor C10.

He Ioniq 3 It also comes with a great advantage: the Hyundai service network and warranty in Europe, and the E-GMP platform in its 400 volt configuration, the same one that the Kia EV3 debuted and that it shares with the EV2. It will be manufactured in Türkiye.

Autonomy, engine and technology

Sharing a platform with the Kia EV2, the specifications of the Ioniq 3 They are very similar to those of its twin. There are two battery options.

The smallest and most affordable is 42.2 kWh, with LFP chemistry, and offers about 344 kilometers of autonomy in the WLTP cycle. The largest one, with 61 kWh and NMC chemistry, raises that figure to 496 kilometers, bordering on 500 with a car of just 4.15 meters, something notable in this price segment.

Curiously, and as in the EV2, the access version has the most powerful engine: 108 kW, about 147 HP, compared to the 99.5 kW of the Long Range. In both cases it is a single motor on the front axle, with a torque close to 250 Nm. Charging from 10 to 80% takes around half an hour, and there is alternating current charging of up to 22 kW.

Once inside, a relevant technological leap is perceived compared to the Inster or the kona. The big news is the new Pleos Connect infotainment system, based on Android, which debuts here in Europe.

It is supported by a central tablet-type screen of 12.9 or 14.6 inches – depending on the finish – accompanied by a second screen behind the steering wheel for driving information, with a clean and minimalist design. Of course, Hyundai has maintained physical buttons for frequently used functions, a detail that many will appreciate.

The price, around 30,000 euros

Hyundai wants to hit the table, and the intention is to launch the car below 30,000 euros in its entry version, sneaking under that psychological barrier. If the Auto+ Plan and brand financing are added to the price, the final figure can be much more attractive.

To put it in context, the Renault 4 starts at around 32,000 euros. If Hyundai manages to stay below 30,000 in the access version, with those 344 kilometers of starting range, it will have a very difficult argument to ignore that can derail sales.

He Ioniq 3 It is not the only electric that Hyundai is preparing for Europe – the range Ioniq is in full expansion—but it is probably the one that will arouse the most interest among those who do not want to spend a lot. It reaches the segment where there is the greatest sales volume and where the competition is tighter, with Chinese brands pushing for a long time in that segment. Renault has just reinforced it with the 4, and now it’s Hyundai’s turn. We will see if the price holds up when the final rate for Spain is confirmed.