Hyundai ELEXIO Review

Hyundai introduces its first Chinese-built model to take on Tesla, BYD and Kia in the competitive mid-size SUV segment

Hyundai has followed the old adage that ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ with its first Chinese-built model, the fully electric ELEXIO mid-sized SUV.

Pitched as a budget-friendly and family focused soft roader that slots in between the Kona Electric and similarly sized but more premium IONIQ 5, the two-grade ELEXIO range starts from just under $60,000 before on-road costs and pairs a single 160kW front-wheel-drive powertrain with generous equipment and safety tech.

While it can’t match some rivals in terms of powertrain tech, the ELEXIO impresses with a plush cabin, huge touchscreen and composed ride.

It’s a compelling entrant, but is it enough?

How much does the Hyundai ELEXIO cost?

The 2026 Hyundai ELEXIO is a hugely important model for the brand, which until now, has been without an affordable rival to the likes the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, Kia EV5 and XPeng G6.

The ELEXIO is offered in two trim grades, starting from $57,990 driveaway for the eponymous entry-level model which isn’t scheduled to arrive in showrooms until Q2.

That means the flagship Elite ($61,990 plus ORCs) tested here is the only option available from launch, and it comes with a sharp drive-away price of $59,990 for a limited time.

As a result, it temporarily undercuts the equivalent Kia EV5 Air Long Range ($61,170 plus ORCs) but not quite the BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), and it’s near enough on par with the Tesla Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive ($58,900) and XPeng G6 Long Range ($59,800).

What standard equipment does the Hyundai ELEXIO feature?

Both models share an extensive list of standard equipment that includes:

• LED head lights and taillights
• Keyless entry
• NFC digital key
• Three-zone climate control
• Power windows
• Leather-appointed interior trim highlights
• Power adjustable driver’s seat
• 27-inch 4K widescreen infotainment and instrument unit
• DAB+ Digital radio
• Embedded sat nav
• Wireless smartphone mirroring
• Wireless charging pad
• Bluelink connected services
• Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability

The flagship Elite adds:

• Larger 20-inch alloy wheels
• Leather-appointed seats
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Power-operated tailgate
• Second wireless charging pad

What safety features does the Hyundai ELEXIO have?

Safety features are strong, with nine airbags (one more than the larger Palisade!), highway driving assist, lane centring and departure warning, driver attention warning, blind spot detection with collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic avoidance, high-beam assist, a 360-degree camera, and more.

The ELEXIO was recently awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating despite not actually being crash-tested in Australia. That’s because the local safety authority applied the same rating it issued to its twin-under-the-skin Kia EV5, albeit after some extra safety aid testing.

What is the Hyundai ELEXIO like inside?

Inside, the cabin is minimalist while a strong focus on storage. The number of cubbies, bins and pockets is seriously impressive and shows how much thought went into the interior design – it’s bound to appeal to families or people with lots of stuff.

It’s rather plush too and the striking 27-inch 4K screen that dominates the dash brings crisp graphics and loads of functionality.

Luckily, that massive touch-screen – which a reasonable person might agree is just unnecessarily big – comes with a range of games to play if you’re stuck waiting for a fast-charge.

The interior layout however may also divide opinion. There’s no traditional instrument cluster ahead of the driver, with key information instead relayed via a small head-up display.

It covers the basics, such as speed, range and navigation prompts, but seems to lack the capability of a conventional binnacle. That said, we didn’t have a great deal of time on this short launch drive to delve into the settings.

Most functions – including climate controls – are buried within the massive central touchscreen, which can require more exploration than some drivers might care for.

Finally, there’s no spare wheel – not even a space-saver. Instead, buyers get a tyre repair kit, a common modern compromise that at least helps preserve the SUV’s decent (but not class-leading) 506-litre boot which expands to 1540 litres with the rear seats folded.

Oh yeah, and there’s no frunk. Boo.

What is under the bonnet of the Hyundai ELEXIO?

Every ELEXIO is powered by the same 160kW/310Nm electric motor – driving the front wheels – and 88.1kWh lithium-ion (LFP) battery pack that’s claimed to offer up to 562km and 546km of driving range in base and Elite grades respectively.

A maximum DC charge rate of 150kW provides a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 38 minutes, which is hardly groundbreaking, while maximum AC charging is capped at 10kW.

Hyundai says a standard 7kW home charge will take approximately 13 hours from empty to full.

Unlike the related Kia EV5, the ELEXIO isn’t offered with all-wheel drive and, given it is pitched as a budget-friendly offering, is unlikely to be any time soon.

What is the Hyundai ELEXIO like to drive?

There’s nothing ‘budget’ about how it drives, where it’s impressively composed.

Front-wheel-drive EVs can often struggle to contain their instant torque – wheel spinning and scrambling for grip under heavy acceleration – but Hyundai has done a commendable job in this application, even if it comes as a result of the ELEXIO’s modest 160kW/310Nm outputs and 2.1-tonne mass.

The result, however, is smooth, predictable acceleration rather than thrilling performance and it’s an easy SUV to drive in everyday conditions, with light steering and a well-calibrated brake pedal that’s, again, predictable.

Ride quality is another highlight, thanks in part to Hyundai’s local ride and handling program, with the ELEXIO smoothing over lumps and bumps in the road and settling quickly after sharper hits.

Unlike some EVs that can feel overly soft or floaty, it strikes a good balance between comfort and control.

Also of note, Hyundai says it addressed a long-standing gripe with overly intrusive driver aids – discovered not just in Hyundai/Kia vehicles, but plenty of other modern cars – when tuning ELEXIO locally.

Hyundai execs said its local evaluation program extended beyond chassis and suspension improvements, with local engineers – along with engineers flown over from Korea and China – said to have worked extensively on fine-tuning ADAS systems for our roads.

The driver attention monitoring at least proved refreshingly unobtrusive on test.

While the 2026 Hyundai ELEXIO is largely polished, it’s not perfect.

Early in our drive, every one of the driver’s 14-way power seat adjustments suddenly stopped working, only to return minutes later. An isolated glitch perhaps, albeit not one you’d expect from a new vehicle.

The ELEXIO rides on a 400V version of Hyundai Motor Group’s e-GMP architecture and while it helps keep costs down, it also leaves the ELEXIO trailing key rivals like the Tesla Model Y, XPeng G6 and even Hyundai’s own IONIQ 5 when it comes to fast-charging capability.

A maximum 150kW DC fast-charging rate is claimed to take the ELEXIO’s battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 38 minutes; much slower than some rivals claiming to do the same in 20 minutes or less thanks to 250kW+ charging speeds.

On the consumption front, our initial drive suggests the ELEXIO might struggle to meet its 546km claimed driving range by some margin.

Our first 60km drive loop, comprising a mix of energy-sapping highway and rural roads, delivered a consumption reading of just over 21kWh/100km, and saw the battery drop from 99 to 84 per cent charge.

That’s not too far off Hyundai’s 18.2kWh/100km claim, but our brief testing suggests a real-world range of well under 500km.

And, although we found most of the driver aids quite good, the speed sign recognition system annoyingly reads yellow advisory corner speeds as enforceable limits, leading to frequent speed warnings – our test vehicle was warning us we were speeding in a 100km/h zone, because it was stuck on an 85km/h reading after passing a yellow sign.

We didn’t have the smart cruise control engaged at the time, but discourse after the drive loop suggested that other ELEXIOs were then stuck driving around 20km/h under the speed limit on the same country road, based on what the vehicle incorrectly read.

Meanwhile, the lane-keep assist system occasionally misread lane markings and nudged the car toward solid centre lines – admittedly on a stretch of country road with centre line markings only – requiring corrective steering.

It’s easily disabled via a button on the steering wheel, but it can be unnerving, if not dangerous, when unexpected.

How much does the Hyundai ELEXIO cost to maintain?

Hyundai covers the ELEXIO with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, provided servicing is completed through Hyundai’s dealer network – due every 24 months or 30,000km – while the high-voltage battery is covered for eight years/160,000km.

Should I lease a Hyundai ELEXIO?

The 2026 Hyundai ELEXIO makes a strong first impression, headlined by a plush cabin, an enormous (arguably oversized) touchscreen and a composed, comfortable ride.

While it’s positioned toward the more attainable end of the mid-size electric SUV market, it doesn’t feel cut-price, and nor should it at around $60k.

The brand is banking on legacy – and its near four decades in Australia – to reinforce buyer confidence, particularly as a wave of newer, sharper-priced rivals with better tech and faster charging capability continue to establish themselves locally.

However, the ELEXIO’s singular powertrain and battery configuration won’t suit everyone.

The simplicity may appeal to some, but others might be pushed toward rivals offering more variety, including a broader range of battery sizes and dual-motor all-wheel drive, even if those alternatives wear less-familiar badges.

2026 Hyundai ELEXIO Elite at a glance:

Editor’s Rating: 7.4/10

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