Hyundai Launches Chinese-Made Electric SUV to Challenge Tesla and BYD in Australia

JAKARTA - Hyundai again surprised the Australian electric vehicle market. Instead of adding to the established Ioniq family, the South Korean manufacturer introduced a model with a different approach.

The new model is named Hyundai Elexio, an electric SUV developed through a joint venture between Hyundai and its Chinese partner. Coming with its own identity, Elexio appears as a model that is different from Hyundai's existing EV line, both in terms of design and market objectives.

Launching from Carscoops, Thursday, January 8, this car is scheduled to enter the Australian showroom this quarter and is only offered in one variant, namely Elite. In Australia, the Hyundai Elexio is priced starting at AU $59,990 or around Rp. 675 million.

The banner places it right between the Kona Electric and the Ioniq 5, as well as targeting popular rivals such as the BYD Sealion 7, KIA EV5, and the Tesla Model Y. For comparison, the Hyundai Kona Electric in Australia is sold from AU $45,990, while the Ioniq 5 can only be redeemed with a minimum of AU $71,990.

With its mid-range price position, Elexio offers an attractive proposition between size, mileage, and price. Although not the cheapest in its segment, the BYD Sealion 7, for example, is priced at AU$54,990, while the Kia EV5 is slightly lower at AU$56,770.

The price difference becomes even more contrasting when compared to the Chinese market, Elexio is sold starting at 119,800 yuan, or about 25,000 AU dollars, less than half the price of the Australian version. However, the aggressiveness of electric car prices in the Chinese domestic market is known to be difficult to be a direct benchmark for the global market.

Technically, the Hyundai Elexio is built on the E-GMP platform, but with a 400-volt electrical system, not 800 volts like the Ioniq 5. As a consequence, the 88 kWh lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery takes about 38 minutes to fast DC charge from 10 to 80 percent.

Hyundai has not revealed its peak charging speed, but claims a range of up to 546 km based on the WLTP cycle, with an average energy consumption of 18.2 kWh/100 km. The power source comes from an electric motor on the front wheel that produces 160 kW (214 hp) and 310 Nm of torque.

The front-wheel drive configuration was chosen for efficiency and more affordable prices, although it may be less tempting for rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive enthusiasts. Interestingly, although the specifications of the Australian version of Elexio are almost identical to the Chinese version, Hyundai made one crucial adjustment.

The suspension settings are optimized specifically for Australian road conditions, a step expected to improve everyday driving comfort. In terms of features, the Elexio is equipped with Hyundai's latest Connect-C infotainment system displayed via a giant 27-inch screen for drivers and passengers.