2026 Hyundai Ioniq 3 Reviews

The car landscape has dramatically changed in the past 10 years, with new brands entering the fray and dynamic market conditions shifting buyer wants.Data from 2016 shows how different the cars were captivating the attention of Aussies only a decade ago.The Toyota HiLux led the way, and the Ford Ranger was not far behind, but there was a theme of hatchbacks dominating the other top places. The Toyota Corolla took out second place, while the Hyundai i30 was in third and the Mazda3 sat in fifth. Toyota continued to feature down the list with the Camry sedan, followed by the Australian built Holden Commodore. Further down list, the SUV revolution can be seen to take shape in Australia, starting with the Mazda CX-5. After the Mitsubishi Triton ute in ninth place, there were three SUVs in the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-3.The best-selling brands in 2016 has changed a lot compared to today. Toyota is still parked up at the top of the charts, but several big names have now been replaced by Chinese carmakers.Mazda and Hyundai occupied second and third, while Holden secured fourth. The Japanese duo of Mitsubishi and Nissan followed next, with Volkswagen being the only European brand in the top 10 after that. Subaru came ninth in the standings, with Kia finishing in 10th, highlighting the brand’s rapid development in Australia. Top selling cars 2016 Top selling brands 2016 In 2021, there were clear changes to the market, but also some consistent themes.The HiLux and Ranger duopoly was in full swing at the top of the standings, with Toyota’s ute still edging Ford’s.Third position showed SUVs were taking over as the RAV4 picked up a huge chunk of sales.There were still examples of a past market, with the i30 and the Toyota Corolla hatches sandwiching the D-Max ute.Further down, SUVs increase their presence further, with the Mazda CX-5, Toyota Prado and MG ZS all making up the top 10, along with the Triton ute. Pure internal combustion power remained a dominant player, with best-sellers such as the RAV4 and Corolla still yet to make its full hybrid transition. Top selling cars 2021 Toyota was still on top as a brand in Australia, while Mazda and Hyundai continued their holding in the top three. Ford was hot on the heels of Hyundai, followed by Kia which had surged up the sales charts in five years to claim a spot in the top five. Mitsubishi and Nissan still occupied high places in the standings as did Volkswagen. The big shift was the appearance of the only Chinese brand in the top 10, in MG. This foreshadowed what we see today where BYD is fast approaching a potential top-two finish in Australia.Subaru picked up a 10th place finish. Top selling brands 2021 Fast forward to 2026, and only three top 10 sellers from 2016 remain. The Ranger and HiLux continue their battle at the top of the standings, but they are in decline.Some unfamiliar names a few years ago are emerging as top choices for Aussie motorists.The Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV has emerged as the best-selling SUV in 2026 to date.Hyundai's Kona is next on the list followed by the D-Max Ute.Mitsubishi's Outlander large SUV is sitting sixth, while the long-awaited launch of the new Toyota RAV4 has resulted in a burst of sales for the popular family car.The Mazda CX-5 remains a regular feature at the top of the sales charts, with GWM's Haval Jolion sitting in ninth currently.Rounding out the top 10 is Ford Everest.This data only represents the first four months of the year, but it does show the general trends of where the market is headed.Top selling cars 2026 (up to April)Top selling brands 2026 (up to April)There are no surprises in the top four best-selling brands so far, with Toyota out in front, followed by Mazda, Kia and Ford.A monster month from BYD has pushed the Chinese giant brand into fifth, overtaking Hyundai. This is despite the brand not having a single car in the top 10 best sellers.The final four highlight the success of Chinese brands in Australia as GWM, Chery and MG are all present, along with Mitsubishi.Former mainstays Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen are gone, and Holden has closed up shop completely.

Hyundai’s next Chinese-built car has just been revealed and it remains a possibility for Australia.The Ioniq V sedan has appeared in Chinese homologation documents for the first time, having made its official debut at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show last month.The Toyota Camry-sized sedan will have full-electric and range-extender variants when it goes on sale in China.It looks like the Ioniq V will be a China-exclusive model at this stage, with potential for a global launch in the future, meaning Australia has not been ruled out. “We make it our business to study all overseas models and look at their potential for Australia, however there are currently no plans to launch Ioniq V locally,” a spokesperson from Hyundai Australia told CarsGuide.Hyundai's global boss Jose Munoz said at the reveal of the Ioniq V that its Chinese cars will define global vehicles, which points to its future export potential.“With significant investments into Beijing Hyundai, 20 new models coming over the next five years, the official launch of our Ioniq brand in China and the unveiling of Ioniq V, this is the most committed, the most ambitious, and the most exciting chapter we have ever written in this market.“China is where the future of mobility is being defined, and Hyundai intends to help define it, In China, For China, and ultimately, for the world.”Hyundai is already introducing Chinese-built cars to Australia, with the Elexio mid-size SUV, opening the door for future China-sourced models Down Under.The brand has been boosting its EV push in Australia, eager wipe out the fines incurred in the 2025 New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) performance period. Supply (unsold and pre-built stock) of its Inster, Kona electric and Elexio SUVs all increased by at least 50 per cent between Q1 and Q2 of 2026, with more sales expected to follow. There are limited other details available for the Ioniq V, with more expected to be released closer to launch. We know the car will have an 800-volt platform, supporting super fast charging. It has a standout design, featuring a sloping bonnet and frameless windows. It has an angular light set-up with sharp creases along the body. On the inside, there is a 27-inch central touchscreen spanning much of the dashboard, along with a head-up display. The Ioniq V is the first of 20 new Chinese Hyundai models being planned in the next five years. 

Hyundai has taken its well-established three-row large SUV and given it a hybrid powertrain. Is it the winning combo?

Has Hyundai turned its 'ugly duckling' into a beautiful swan? The all-new Hyundai Ioniq 6 N gives the brand's polarising electric sedan a high-powered makeover. Featuring supercar levels of performance and a raft of groundbreaking technology, the Ioniq 6 N is a technical masterpiece. But is it an exciting and engaging performance car to drive? We test it on road and track to find out.

We know that Hyundai is working on a new dual-cab ute, with the brand confirming an in-house-developed workhorse model that will arrive before the end of the decade, both in the USA and in Australia.What we don’t know, or at least not entirely, is why.It’s long been Australian automotive lore that to be successful in Australia, a ute has to be a part of the line-up.Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen, Jeep – amongst others – have all heeded the call and found a dual-cab for their line-ups.But that was then and this is now.These days, the ute market is contracting. Mid-size SUVs are the vehicle of choice in our market again. Auto giant Toyota forecasts that the new normal won’t be changing again anytime soon.Then there’s the other pressure – China.Our market has never before been so flooded with affordable ute offerings from brands like BYD, GWM, JAC, Foton, LDV and MG. Chery will join the party shortly with its diesel plug-in hybrid.Despite the influx of new brands, fewer people overall are choosing utes. In fact, the segment has shed more than 2500 sales since the beginning of the year, compared with the first three months of 2025.Swollen segment, shrinking sales. Not a great combination.Whatever the reason, there’s no doubting the Kia Tasman hasn’t delivered the sales it was expecting to, though hopes are still high that it will eventually reach its lofty annual sales target of around 20,000 vehicles, with the help of a facelift, new powertrain options and a stronger focus on fleet customers.Other newcomer brands have fared even worse.What will the market look like in 2028 and beyond? Fuel prices won’t be going down, at least over long-term trending, that’s for sure. And customer tastes seem to already be trending in the opposite direction.  In the US, where the market is massive (though dominated by the Toyota Tacoma), and where Chinese brands so far don’t exist, is no doubt the global motivator, but the going in Australia could prove tougher than they might be expecting for the Korean giant.I have no doubt the Hyundai ute will be impressive. The Boulder concept unveiled in New York looks spectacular, and the brand has been on a tear of quality products of late.But it could be timing, not the product itself, that presents the biggest headwinds.

Hyundai will soon launch the high-performance Ioniq 6 N electric sedan in Australia, but the regular versions of this facelifted car are still nowhere to be seen.The South Korean carmaker no longer features the regular Ioniq 6 on its Australian website, only showing a register your interest portal for the new Ioniq 6 N.“Our local launch timing for non-N facelift Ioniq 6 variants is still to be confirmed, we have some work to do to develop a robust business plan,” said a Hyundai Australia spokesperson.“For now, our focus is on offering one high-performance halo variant of Ioniq 6.”It’s worth noting that Hyundai decides to only offer the Ioniq 6 N in Australia and not the regular versions, it won’t be the first market to do so.Hyundai USA previously confirmed it would launch the facelifted Ioniq 6 in late 2025 or early 2026 but axed it before it could arrive. It now only offers the Ioniq 6 N.The South Korean carmaker revealed the original Ioniq 6 back in 2022 ahead of its launch in Australia in 2023.The exterior design was a polarising topic of conversation with the electric sedan’s original look.Hyundai attempted to address this with the mid-life update, which smoothed out the front and rear designs. It also introduced a sporty-looking N Line trim.The update also brought bigger battery options – 63kWh and 84kWh units – meaning more range. Hyundai claims the Ioniq 6 now offers up to 680km of range depending on the variant, according to WLTP testing.In Australia a total of 1214 examples of the Ioniq 6 have been sold since it was introduced.In the first four months of 2026 a total of 17 examples have been sold. Tesla sold a total of 1776 Model 3s and BYD sold a total of 1304 Seal sedans over the same period.Hyundai did slash the asking price of the pre-update Ioniq 6 by up to $34,000, depending on the variant, late last year to clear stock. These were all model year 2023 (MY23) examples.

Hyundai has released the pricing and specifications for a new ballistic electric car called the Ioniq 6 N. It will start from $115,000 (before on-road costs), which is nearly $20K more than the most expensive Ioniq 6 variant on sale in Australia, but a similar price to the Ioniq 5 N SUV. The car shapes up as a rival to other electric performance sedans, such as the Tesla Model 3 Performance, BYD Seal Performance and the Polestar 2.The Ioniq 6 N is a sizeable step up in price on those competitors, which sit in the $80K bracket. Hyundai’s example trumps many of its competitors when it comes to output, with 478kW and 770Nm.It can shift from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds quicker than the Ioniq 5 N. The Ioniq 6 N has a top speed of 257km/h.It has an 84kWh battery, which offers 10-80 per cent charging in 18 minutes and has a total driving range of 487km. The car features Hyundai’s torque distribution system, which is able to distribute torque between the front and rear wheels, or all four together. It also comes with huge braking power, courtesy of 400mm front disks and 360mm rear disks. The Ioniq 6 N is already available in showrooms.2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N pricing Australia 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N engine and efficiency 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N standard features Head-up displaySatellite navigationHeated and ventilated front seatsWireless phone chargerPower tailgate 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N safetyThe Ioniq 6 N is currently unrated under the ANCAP testing system. Standard safety features: 6 airbagsBlind spot assistLane change assistForward collision avoidance assistEvasive steer assistLane keep assistFront, rear and side parking sensorsAdaptive cruise control2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N dimensions 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 N warranty and servicingThe Ioniq 6 N is covered by a fiver/unlimited-kilometre warranty. This can be extended to a seven-year warranty when all services are conducted on time at an authorised dealer.There is also an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty. 

Hyundai has confirmed it will build a new SUV aimed at the Chinese market in the first half of 2027.It’s expected this SUV will be a production version of the Earth concept that was revealed earlier this month.This forthcoming SUV from the South Korean carmaker will be produced in China by Beijing Hyundai, which is a long-standing joint venture with BAIC Group.Little details about the production version of the Hyundai Earth concept are confirmed yet but it will feature an electric (EV) or range-extender (REEV) powertrain, or perhaps the option of both.It will likely form part of the new Ioniq sub-brand in China and sit alongside the angular Ioniq V sedan that was revealed last week at this year’s Beijing motor show.The Hyundai Earth concept features blocky exterior styling with prominent skid plates and exposed bolts as accents.There are also rear coach doors and no B-pillar, allowing for one large opening to the cabin. This is a common feature in concept cars.Inside there are four individual seats with air cushions, plus interior ambient lighting that’s claimed to mimic tree shadows.It’s unclear how much of the Earth concept’s design and technology will carry over to the production model. If the Ioniq V is anything to go by, expect it to remain fairly close to the concept.The Earth concept isn't the only boxy SUV concept Hyundai has revealed recently.Earlier in April it revealed the Boulder concept which appears to be aimed at the North American market and is built on a body-on-frame architecture.At this stage it’s unclear whether the production version of the Hyundai Earth concept will remain a China-only product, or if it will be exported to other markets.There's already a precedent for Hyundai to export models produced by Beijing Hyundai to other markets. The Elexio mid-size electric SUV, for example, launched in Australia earlier this year.The Ioniq V and the forthcoming production version of the Earth concept form as a catalyst for Hyundai’s renewed commitment to the Chinese market.The South Korean carmaker has confirmed it will launch 20 new models in China over the next five years. It’s unclear how many of these will be unique models for China.Hyundai will be focusing on the mid-size to large vehicle segments in China, with both EV and REEV powertrains.“China is an essential market for Hyundai Motor Company,” said Hyundai Motor Company CEO Jose Munoz.“The world's most demanding EV consumers, the fastest development cycles, the deepest battery supply chain, and an advanced innovation ecosystem. That is why we are tripling down on our commitment to China.“With significant investments into Beijing Hyundai, 20 new models coming over the next five years, the official launch of our Ioniq brand in China and the unveiling of Ioniq V, this is the most committed, the most ambitious, and the most exciting chapter we have ever written in this market.“China is where the future of mobility is being defined, and Hyundai intends to help define it, In China, For China, and ultimately, for the world.”

For those of you who are looking to buy a new car but aren’t looking at an EV yet, we’ve put together a list of our top-five popular cars that run on the cheapest kind of petrol.Yep, there’s a lot of pressure right now to buy an electric car and avoid high petrol prices.But if you’re not ready for an EV and want to stick to petrol, there’s a way to still save money: buying a car which doesn’t need more expensive premium fuel.Premium fuel such as 95 RON or 98 RON is always more expensive than 91 RON, but with petrol prices so high right now any saving is good.At the time of writing, 91 RON was averaging 200c/litre, while 98 RON was 223c/litre. Filling up a 60L tank with 91 RON is currently $120 while 98 RON will set you back $133.80. So currently there’s about a $14 difference between 91 RON and 98 RON for an average-sized fuel tank. If you’re filling up once a week, that’s about $730 a year.For all we know, prices could go up more and depending on the situation and where our fuel is sourced from, so the gap between higher- and lower-grade fuels could expand.Yes, there’s 95 RON, but that is still more expensive than 91 RON.So, we’ve handpicked five of Australia's best-selling cars that don’t need premium unleaded and instead can run on a minimum of 91 RON. Hyundai’s Kona is a small SUV that comes in three variants – a pure petrol, a series-parallel hybrid and a fully electric. You’ll be happy to know both the pure petrol and hybrid petrol cars only need 91 RON.Fuel efficiency in the hybrid is excellent at 3.9L/100km over a combination of different driving conditions.The hybrid is offered across the entire range, which is great to see.The entry price into the Kona range is $33,700 plus on-road costs.GWM’s Haval Jolion is another small SUV, which is a little larger than the Hyundai Kona, but it also comes in pure petrol and series-parallel hybrid, both of which needing just 91 RON.The hybrid's combined fuel consumption is 5.1L/100km.It’s fantastic to see that the hybrid is offered right across the Jolion range.The entry grade in the Jolion range costs $26,990 drive-away.One of the original mid-size SUVs, the Nissan X-Trail in this latest generation is a superb family car that is offered in petrol and series hybrid variants.Now the pure petrol versions need only 91 RON. Nissan says the hybrids need a minimum of 91 RON, but 95 RON is recommended.Of course, you should follow the manufacturers advice here to ensure your X-Trail lives a long and happy life, but it’s good to know that 91 RON will do if you’re in a pickle.The other good news is that you really don’t need to step up to the more expensive hybrid to save fuel.The hybrid is fuel efficient at 6.0L/100km, but the regular petrol will use 6.1-6.5L/100km depending on the grade.  The entry grade of the Nissan X-Trail range lists for $38,140 plus on-road costs.The Mitsubishi Outlander is another mid-size SUV icon and comes in two variants – a pure petrol and a plug-in series-parallel hybrid (PHEV).Nissan says both the pure petrol version and PHEV need only 91 RON, which is a nice surprise.Fuel consumption in the PHEV is outrageously good at 1.5L/100km in combined driving conditions, but seriously you’ll have to charge it regularly to get this – and I mean every day.The combined consumption of the regular pure petrol Outlander ranges from 7.5-8.1L/100km depending on the grade.The entry grade in the Outlander range starts at a list price of $39,990 plus on-road costs.Chery’s little Tiggo 4 SUV is the smallest car in our selection (about a match-stick shorter than the Kona) and comes in both pure petrol and series-parallel hybrid form.The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, however, isn’t as fuel efficient as you might think in this not-so-big SUV. The combined fuel consumption according to Chery is 7.4L/100km. But the hybrid variant is much better with 5.4L/100km .The entry price into the Tiggo 4 range is $23,990 drive-away. 

Hyundai has renewed its commitment to the Chinese market at this year’s Beijing motor show, claiming it’ll launch 20 new models over the next five years.The South Korean carmaker is officially spinning out its all-electric Ioniq brand and its first dedicated model is the Ioniq V electric liftback.A production version of the recently revealed Venus concept, the Ioniq V has an angular design that from some angles is reminiscent of a Lamborghini Temerario, but with an extra set of doors.Ioniq claims it offers up to 600km of electric range, according to lenient CLTC testing. No other official powertrain details have been provided yet.The Ioniq V measures in at 4900mm long, 1890mm wide and has a 2900mm wheelbase. This makes it around the same size as a Sonata sedan.It features a 27-inch central touchscreen that flows into the front passenger compartment, as well as a head-up display.Ioniq notes that the V's suspension tune is optimised for comfort and stability, as well as low road and wind noise in the cabin.A Hyundai Australia spokesperson said there are no plans to introduce the Ioniq V locally.Despite this, there is precedent for Chinese-built Hyundai products to launch in Australia. The Hyundai Elexio mid-size electric SUV launched locally earlier in 2026.Beyond the Ioniq V, the brand has confirmed it will launch an SUV model in China in the first half of 2027. No further details have been provided but it will likely be based on the Earth concept, which is a boxy SUV.Hyundai claims its further model launches in China will focus on the mid-size to large vehicle segments, with both electric (EV) and range-extender (REEV) powertrains.“China is an essential market for Hyundai Motor Company,” said Hyundai Motor Company CEO Jose Munoz.“The world's most demanding EV consumers, the fastest development cycles, the deepest battery supply chain, and an advanced innovation ecosystem. That is why we are tripling down on our commitment to China.“With significant investments into Beijing Hyundai, 20 new models coming over the next five years, the official launch of our Ioniq brand in China and the unveiling of Ioniq V, this is the most committed, the most ambitious, and the most exciting chapter we have ever written in this market.“China is where the future of mobility is being defined, and Hyundai intends to help define it, In China, For China, and ultimately, for the world.”