Confirmed: Hyundai Elexio locked in for Australia

HYUNDAI has confirmed the arrival of its Elexio electric SUV for Australia, the all-new model arriving in the first quarter of this year priced from $59,990 driveaway.

The Chinese-made Elexio will slot between the Kona Electric and Ioniq 5 in Hyundai’s expanding electric vehicle line-up, rivalling the likes of the Leapmotor C10, Kia EV3, Volvo EX30, and others.

Offered in a single grade, the Elexio Elite features a 160kW/310Nm motor driving the front wheels. Utilising Kia/Hyundai’s E-GMP 400-volt electric architecture, it features an 88kWh LFP battery capable of delivering up to 546km (WLTP) of driving range.

Hyundai says the Elexio may be charged from 10-80 per cent in as little as 38 minutes when connected to a 350kW DC fast charger.

Riding on a bespoke Australian steering and suspension tune, the Hyundai Elexio is said to offer a ride/handling compromise that “best suits our broad spectrum of uniquely challenging road conditions”.

While Hyundai says it is yet to confirm final specifications for the Elexio, it has announced equipment highlights that include 20-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, heated and power folding door mirrors, integrated roof rails, an acoustic windscreen, rear privacy glass, flush door handles, and a powered tailgate.

Five exterior colour choices will be available, including standard Crystal White and optional Dragon Red, Medium Grey, Pebble Blue, and Phantom Black.

Inside, the Elite grade is listed as offering leather-appointed upholstery, keyless entry and start, 14-way driver seat adjustment, four-way passenger seat adjustment, front seat heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, LED lighting, dual wireless device charging pads, five USB-C ports, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, dual-zone climate control, and rain-sensing wipers, while 60:40 split-fold rear seats expand the Elexio’s cargo capacity from 506- to 1540 litres.

Multimedia highlights extend to a 27.0-inch combined instrumentation and infotainment screen, head-up display, native sat nav, Hyundai Bluelink connected car services (with over-the-air updates), six-speaker sound, and four-zone voice recognition.

There is no word yet on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity.

On all the important safety front, we find such standard inclusions as nine airbags, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, front, side, and rear parking sensors, high beam assist, lane departure, follow, and keeping assistants, safe exit assist, and tyre pressure monitoring.

The Hyundai Elexio will be backed by a familiar seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with including capped-price servicing and roadside assistance. The high-voltage battery is warranted for eight years or 160,000km (whichever comes first).

“We’re excited to announce the addition of Elexio to our award-winning Hyundai SUV range,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia chief operating officer Gavin Donaldson.

“Elexio will offer an ideal blend of size, space, efficiency and value-for-money when it arrives early this year.

“We look forward to welcoming more Australians to the Hyundai SUV family, while continuing Hyundai’s ongoing commitment to electrification and intelligent mobility solutions.”