Driven Car Reviews Jun 3, 2026

2027 Hyundai IONIQ 3 Brings Fun, Practicality and the Art of Steel… to the Rest of the World

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Car

Ioniq 3

The Ioniq 3 is an electric car from Hyundai. It was shown at an event in Milan, and the main point is that it’s powered by electricity. The podcast brings it up because it’s a new model in Hyundai’s EV plans.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq 3

The Hyundai Ioniq 3 is Hyundai’s electric car that’s meant to be smaller than the Ioniq 5. It’s a real, production model, and Hyundai is showing it with a specific design idea they call “Art of Steel.”

Car

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a bigger electric Hyundai crossover. The host mentions it to explain that the Ioniq 3 is meant to be smaller.

Concept

Art of Steel

“Art of Steel” is Hyundai’s design theme. They’re saying the car’s shapes should look natural and simple, and they want the steel to influence the design instead of fighting against it.

Car

Boulder Bolder Suv

The Boulder is a concept SUV shown at the 2026 New York Auto Show. A concept car is a preview of what a company might build in the future. The podcast mentions it because it’s an early look at new design ideas.

Concept

body-on-frame

Body-on-frame means the car has a separate “skeleton” frame underneath, and the body mounts on top. It’s a common setup for trucks and rugged SUVs because it’s built to take more abuse.

Car

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is an SUV built for off-road driving. It uses a frame underneath the car, which can make it tougher for rough roads. It’s often mentioned because it’s a well-known example of this kind of design.

Car

Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco is an SUV made for off-road driving. It has a strong frame underneath, which helps it handle rough terrain. It’s mentioned a lot because it’s a popular example of this type of off-road design.

Term

design language

A “design language” is the consistent style a car brand uses across its vehicles. It’s the visual theme—like the way lines and surfaces are shaped—so you can tell the brand’s cars apart. Some brands even give these themes special names.

Brand

Cadillac had Art and Science

Cadillac “Art and Science” is a named design theme. It’s basically Cadillac’s way of describing the look and styling direction of their cars. The host is using it as an example of how automakers give design ideas catchy names.

Brand

Mazda's was dubbed Kodo Design

Mazda’s “Kodo Design” is a named styling theme. It’s meant to make the cars look like they’re moving even when they’re standing still. The host brings it up to illustrate how brands label their design ideas.

Term

flame surfacing

“Flame surfacing” is a design style where the car’s body has dramatic, flowing shapes. The idea is to create sharp, energetic lines that look like flames. It’s mentioned here as an example of a named design language.

Car

Chevy Bolt

The host compares the Ioniq 3 to the Chevrolet Bolt to talk about size. They’re saying the Ioniq 3 is a bit smaller, which they think would make it feel cramped for many U.S. buyers. It’s basically a “how big is it?” comparison.

Place

Milan

Milan is a city in Italy that the host uses as an example. They’re saying smaller cars make more sense in tight city streets, and they noticed EV charging was easier to find there. It’s a “city reality check” for why this EV fits Europe better.

Term

charging terminal

A “charging terminal” is where you plug in your electric car to charge it. The host is saying that in a city like Milan, it seemed easy to find places to charge. That makes EVs more practical for daily use.

Car

Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition is a large SUV designed to carry more people and cargo. It’s the kind of vehicle people buy when they want a lot of space for everyday use and road trips. It comes up when discussing which big SUVs are popular in the U.S.

Term

zero to 60

“Zero to 60” means how fast the car accelerates from a standstill up to 60 mph. It’s a simple way to compare acceleration between cars. Faster times usually feel more exciting when you pull away from a stop.

Term

battery sizes

The host is talking about two different battery sizes. Bigger batteries usually mean you can drive farther on a charge, and they can also affect how the car feels when accelerating. The numbers they give are in kWh, which is how much energy the battery holds.

Term

WLTP rating

WLTP is a standardized testing method used to estimate how far an EV can go on a charge. It’s useful for comparing cars, but your real range may be different in everyday driving. The host is using it to quote the Ioniq 3’s rated range.

Term

EPA's rating

The EPA’s rating is the official test-based estimate of how far an electric car can drive on one charge. The host is suggesting the real-world range is usually a bit lower than the headline number.

Term

front drive car

“Front drive” means the power goes to the front wheels. That can change how the car handles and how space is laid out inside.

Term

EGMP platform

EGMP is Hyundai’s EV platform—basically the shared design and engineering “base” that supports the battery and electric drivetrain. It helps Hyundai build different EVs more efficiently.

Term

400 volt system

The 400-volt system is the EV’s electrical “voltage level.” It affects how quickly the car can charge—400V cars are often a bit slower than the newest high-voltage EVs, but they can still be convenient if you charge at home overnight.

Term

frunk

A frunk is a trunk in the front of the car. On many EVs it exists because there’s no big engine taking up that space.

Term

pixel dots

“Pixel dots” are small dot-like design elements on the car’s exterior. They’re used to create a unique look so the model stands out.

Term

Morse code

Morse code is a way of sending messages using dots and dashes. The host is saying the car’s design dots are arranged to spell out an “H” using that system.

Term

rear fly line

A “fly line” is a design line that helps define the car’s shape from the side. Here, the host points out that the line tapers in a distinctive way toward the back.

Term

hard, sharp brakes

The host is talking about the car’s body lines. They’re saying the design avoids sharp, abrupt creases and instead uses smooth shapes.

Car

Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is a smaller SUV-style car meant for everyday driving. The podcast is suggesting that the next version could look more like another Hyundai design. It’s being mentioned because it’s a likely candidate for future styling changes.

Term

chess pieces

The host describes Hyundai’s design inspiration as chess pieces, implying a deliberate, geometric styling approach. It’s a brand/design concept used to explain why the Ioniq models have distinctive, purposeful shapes.

Term

Russian nesting dolls

This is a metaphor. The host means some car brands make models that look like the same design just scaled up or down, like nesting dolls.

Term

soft surfaces

“Soft surfaces” means the materials you touch inside the car are designed to feel more comfortable. The host is saying Hyundai is aiming for a friendlier, more relaxing interior.

Term

Plios Connect

Plios Connect is the car’s main touchscreen/infotainment system. The host says it runs on Android Automotive, so it’s built like a modern smartphone-style interface designed for cars.

Term

Android automotive platform

Android Automotive is the software system that powers the car’s screen and apps. It’s meant to make the interface feel more like a modern device and easier to use while driving.

Term

heated outboard positions

That phrase means the seat heaters are only in the two outside rear seats, not the middle one. So the people sitting on the left and right get heat.

Term

mega box

The “mega box” is the car’s big rear storage area. The host says it’s designed to be flexible—by moving the floor you can fit more stuff, and it has two floor positions to help you organize cargo.

Term

load floor

The load floor is the panel that forms the bottom of the cargo area. If you remove it, you can make the space bigger so it’s easier to fit larger items.

LIVE

For generations, the city has set the standard for design.

That is why we are here at Milan.

Hyundai took the raps off its all new Ioniq 3 in Milan, Italy, during Design Greek.

This is Hyundai Ioniq 3. All electric. Power your world.

This is not a concept car. It's production.

Being an Ioniq, you've probably figured out this is an EV, and being the 3,

that it slots in under the Ioniq 5 in size.

I'll get to all the details of the 3 in just a minute, but this is Design Week in Milan,

and Hyundai has a new design language that they really want people to know about,

a little behind the scenes.

So we created the idea of Art of Steel, and you see many of the sketches here

on the wall with this whole exhibition now going on.

FYI, Hyundai is the only automaker that makes its own steel.

It's even opening up a plant in the US to feed its American assembly plants.

The first mention of Art of Steel was the crater concept car that dropped at the 2025 LA Auto Show.

The second was at the 2026 New York Auto Show, where the bolder SUV concept was unveiled.

We want to allow the honesty of the material that we're building from, like steel,

to inform the simplicity of the design, trying not to manipulate it into ways that it doesn't want to go.

This was arguably the hit of the show, and a departure for Hyundai since

it's a body-on-frame truck, like Wrangler, Bronco, and Fourrugger.

And yeah, it's a concept, but the strong belief is this is pretty much what the production version

will look like. Here at Design Week, Hyundai had an installation that was all about getting its

Art of Steel message out. It was pretty involved. Put simply, the design language is about simple

and more natural forms. Instead of torturing the material into shapes that doesn't do well,

the curves are more organic. The physics of the material are respected.

And the best way to explain this visually is paper, actually. Members of the press were

invited to trace some patterns, do some cutting, and then construct their own sculptures.

In metal, the result is something like this. And the paper models, they helped us to sort of

shape and to bend steel to explore a little bit a new design language, because obviously steel is

quite a, you know, strong material. And therefore, this was a really good sort of human-scale way of

exploring a new design language. And we pitched it with small paper models to our management.

They loved it. And here we go. Fast forward, we created Ioniq 3 with it.

In the automotive world, design languages are ever-changing. And oftentimes,

the automakers do give them names. It's not just Hyundai. Cadillac had Art and Science.

Mazda's was dubbed Kodo Design. BMW had flame surfacing.

Bad news for Americans who find this an appealing piece of transportation.

It's not going to be coming to the United States, because frankly,

it's too small for our market. It's actually about five inches shorter and inch narrower

than a Chevy Bolt. Also, it's manufactured in Turkey. And you know, tariffs?

Even the quickest look at all the vehicles in Milan proves that the cars are on the smaller side.

Sure, there are some larger ones, even some American vehicles. But in an hour looking for one,

this is the only pickup I ever saw. And really, in general, Americans would find the cars small.

Even smaller and downright tiny. I saw a lot of these fiat. EVs are definitely catching on in

Europe where fuel prices tend to always be higher. This is the price per liter. So multiply it by

four to get a little bit more than a gallon. Just looking around, it seemed like it was

pretty easy to find a charging terminal. So yeah, in a city like Milan, smaller cars work

really well. In America, not so much. They'd be up against expeditions and suburban. Also,

the US would find this a little bit pokey. Zero to 60 for the regular pack is just under nine

seconds. For the larger one, just over nine seconds. Those two battery sizes are 42.2 kilowatt

hours and 61 kilowatt hours. The big pack is rated at 308 miles, but that's the WLTP rating.

The EPA's rating is more realistic. So let's say 230, maybe 240 to be optimistic.

Americans would want more range. This is a front drive car. Power is rated at either 147

or 135 horsepower. And while this is based on the EGMP platform, the three has a 400 volt system.

So it won't charge as fast as big brother five, but it will easily juice up overnight.

And that's where the convenience is. Let's take a closer look at the three. Just so you know,

I only get 15 minutes with this car. So I'm going to be using a lot of the handout video,

just so you know. All right, time to play. Frunk or no frunk,

lock in your answers. I'm going to say no frunk because Hyundai doesn't tend to do that. And

yep, I'm right. Now the advantage of this is all the components are in the nose.

And that opens up space in the cabin. Look at all that space. You could put a small purse there,

a small backpack. In person, this is a very appealing shape. And it's not just the fierce

red matte paint. Like many Ioniq models, there are pixel dots. And of course, you know that it

represents the letter H in Morse code. Okay, maybe you don't, but your grandfather does.

H of course, stands for Hyundai. The first thing that draws eyeballs is the rear fly line that

has a distinctive taper to it. And as for the art of steel design, there are no hard, sharp

brakes in this vehicle. The hood flows gracefully into the fenders. It's very organic. We may not

see this vehicle in the US, but I can see where the next generation Kona or Tucson adopts a similar

look, keeping in mind that Hyundai doesn't do design like most automakers that practically do

Russian nesting dolls. Its inspiration is chess pieces. Each vehicle has its own purpose

and unique look. The cabin of the Ioniq 3 is inspired by a pole street. Let's face it, soft

surfaces are appealing. And the team was trying to make the interior more livable and inviting.

They even made a model to remind them what they were going for. Also, just want to say,

I want a room like this in my house. Ioniq 3 is not a large car, but gotta say, once you're inside,

it feels a size larger than it is. And lots of storage cubbies. You've got this here,

you've got your glove box, the center console is easy to get to. The cup holders are easy to

reach. You've got a phone charge pad, storage, storage, and you've got a display right in front

of you where it belongs. You don't have to look to the side. Ioniq 3 isn't coming to the US, but

this is, this interface is called Plios Connect. It's based on the Android automotive platform.

It looks great. It's got good touch response. Plus, look at this folks, actual physical buttons for

the things that you use the most. The automakers are finally listening. The four dot Morse code

motif is not the only Easter egg. Hyundai challenged us to find them all, but with limited time,

I'll have to do it the next time I'm in Europe. Normally in a vehicle this size, the back seat

is going to be a penalty box. Not this car. It's actually pretty roomy. I'm five foot nine. I've

just enough headroom. Knee and leg room is great. My size 11s have enough foot room. And yeah, you

could easily get two full sized adults in here. If they're thinner, you might actually be able to

get three. Plus, there are pockets on both seat backs. You've got USB ports, adjustable vents.

Oh, and I just discovered the outboard positions are heated. Remember, this is more of a basic car.

Ioniq three doesn't have a trunk. It has a mega box. Now, this looks like a pretty standard

hatchback trunk, right? But take away the load floor. Look at all that space. It's about 15 and

a half cubic feet, pretty big for a vehicle this size. And the floor has a dual level.

Well, there you go. Your first look at the all new Ioniq three. It'll be coming out in the fall

of 2026. If you live in Europe, the big debate among the automotive journalists here was whether

or not it will ever come to the US. Some of my colleagues are holding out hope. And even though

I tend to be an optimistic guy, I don't think so. We'll just have to admire the art of steel from

afar. I'll leave you with this. I really wish Americans understood the joy of driving a smaller

car. They can be a lot more relaxing to drive, especially in tight urban areas. They're easier

to park. Besides, most people only drive with one person in the car. You don't really need all that

much room. Thanks for watching. Hey, a reminder that this video is very different from the reviews

that I normally do. So check those out. You can find me on all the major social media platforms.

And if you have a question, leave it in the comments. I'm really good about getting back to people.

From Belan, I'm Tom Volk with Driven.

About this episode

Hyundai’s IONIQ 3 gets a global reveal in Milan, framed by the “Art of Steel” design idea and a process that starts with small paper models and ends in bent steel. The hosts then connect the packaging and practicality—400V charging, a realistic 230–240 mile expectation, and a front “nose” layout—to why it likely won’t come to the U.S. Finally, they tour the Android-based “Plios Connect” interface and the flexible “mega box” cargo setup.

400 volt system Android Automotive platform Art of Steel battery sizes body on frame Cadillac had Art and Science charging terminal design language EGMP platform EPA's rating

Chevrolet Bolt Ford Bronco Ford Expedition Hyundai Boulder Hyundai Ioniq 3 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Hyundai Kona Jeep Wrangler

Original notes

The new 2027 Hyundai IONIQ 3 has a lot going for it. It's affordable (starting at €30,000), roomier than a car this size has any right to be, and debuts Hyundai's new Art of Steel design language. But Americans will look longingly at it from across the pond since it's (for now at least) not coming the Land of the Free. Though parts of it, like the new design approach and the Android Automotive-based Pleos Connect infotainment system will show up on our shores. Tom Voelk travels to Milan, Italy for Design Week to check out what we in the U.S. can't have.

Tom attended a Hyundai sponsored event to produce this video. Opinions remain his own.

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