Canada keeps falling behind other parts of the world that are getting cool, small and likely inexpensive electric vehicles.

The latest such vehicle is the newly unveiled Hyundai Ioniq 3.

At this time, the small electric hatchback appears to be destined for Europe only.

The electric car looks a bit as if the Genesis GV60 and the Hyundai Veloster had a child.

Design-wise, Hyundai said the car uses the “Art of Steel” design language, which is described as being inspired by the raw tension and purity found in steel production.

“Surfaces are reduced to a few deliberate volumes that create a strong and precise visual impact, reflecting the natural behaviour of sheet metal,” the company said.

Ioniq 3 specs

The small EV is built on the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) with a 400-volt architecture.

Standard range models get a WLTP projected range of 344 kilometres while the long range models are estimated to get up to 496 kilometres.

The car has 144 hp (107.8 kW).

Hyundai said the car will recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes with DC fast-charging. The car also has AC charging capability of up to 22 kW.

It also has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, allowing the EV to power external devices.

The Ioniq 3 has a drag coefficient of 0.263 Cd.

Despite the car’s small size, it gets a generous 441 litres of storage space.

The Ioniq 3 also has Hyundai SmartSense advanced driver assistance systems, which include Highway Driving Assist 2, Remote Smart Parking Assist and a blind-spot view monitor.

In N Line trim (pictured), the car rides on 19-inch wheels. Available wheels range from 16 to 19 inches across the model range.

On the inside, the car gets a 12.9-inch infotainment screen as standard and has an available 14.6-inch display.

The EV was designed in Europe and is produced in Türkiye.

Other small EVs not sold here

Several automakers that sell cars in Canada have announced small electric cars for Europe and other markets that aren’t likely to be sold here.

A few such vehicles include the Kia EV2, Nissan Juke and Nissan Micra among others.

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