Hyundai Elexio 2026 Review

The 2026 Hyundai Elexio will be offered in two trim grades, starting from $58,990 before on-road costs 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 (until March 31).

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).

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’s pitched as a budget-friendly offering, is unlikely to be any time soon.

Standard features on the entry-level Elexio include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting throughout, smart entry with push button start, vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, Bluelink connected services (complimentary for the first five years of ownership) and an expansive 27-inch 4K touch-screen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth and AM/FM/DAB radio.

The flagship Elite (pictured) adds larger 20-inch alloys, leather-appointed seats with heating and ventilation up front, a 14-way power-adjust driver’s seat with memory, heated steering wheel, a second wireless phone charging pad and a powered tailgate.

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.

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.

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.

Now, the Elexio slots beneath the pricier IONIQ 5 (from $76,200) in Hyundai’s mid-size electric SUV range and with it, brings an impressive list of standard equipment and safety gear.

There’s nothing ‘budget’ about how it presents or drives, where on-road, 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.

Inside, the cabin is minimalist while a strong focus on storage. The amount 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.

Equipment levels are generous across the range, and safety is a standout, thanks to nine airbags and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems nabbing it a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

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.

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 may also divide opinion.

Pitched as a minimalist cabin, 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.

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 the 85km/h 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 going around 20km/h under the speed on the same country road, based on what the vehicle incorrectly read as the speed limit.

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.

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.

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:
Price: $61,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 160kW/310Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 88.1kWh lithium-ion
Range: 546km (ADR)
Energy consumption: 18.2kWh/100km (ADR)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2024)

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