Hyundai’s Elexio midsize SUV now spotted in Australia

The Hyundai Elexio is a midsize electric SUV that Hyundai's joint venture, Beijing-Hyundai, built specifically for Chinese consumers. For quite some time, it seemed the Elexio was destined to stay put, but in a sudden pivot, the SUV is heading overseas, with the first major sighting in Melbourne, Australia.

The change from "China-only" to "globally heading" started with a few whispered rumors. Don Romano, the CEO of Hyundai Australia, first hinted at the possibility during a different launch event, calling the Elexio "a promising vehicle" that was under consideration for Australia.

The rumors are over - Elexio will officially launch in Australia next year, and the proof is literal: the midsize electric SUV was just spotted sitting on a car carrier truck in Melbourne. It seems that when a product is promising enough, country-specific boundaries don't last long.

The Elexio sits on the E-GMP platform, the same architecture that powers the popular Ioniq line and Kia's latest EVs. This foundation ensures that the Elexio is a serious competitor in the battery-powered segment - it has a substantial 88.1 kWh battery, which gives it a CLTC range of 449 miles on a full charge.

Fast charging means going from 30% to 80% capacity in about 27 minutes, and buyers will have the choice between a single-motor configuration or a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive option for better performance and traction.

The Elexio slides neatly into the midsize SUV category. Measuring 15.12 ft long, 6.14 ft wide, and 5.54 ft tall, it offers a wheelbase of 9.02 ft. It is slightly shorter than the Tesla Model Y, but its dimensions are quite similar to the BYD Yuan Plus, which is sold overseas as the Atto 3. This size puts the Elexio directly against Australia's other best-selling electric car, the Geely EX5.

What makes the Elexio truly unique, however, is its interior technology, a direct result of its origins. Designed in partnership with BAIC Motor, the Elexio features advanced Chinese tech integration. This includes ADAS supplied by tech giant Huawei. The real showpiece of the cabin is the massive 27-inch 4K widescreen display, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip.

The official overseas pricing has not yet been announced, but we expect the Elexio to be a value proposition in markets like Australia. The local Ioniq 5 currently starts at $76,200 AUD ($50,600) before local taxes, and speculation suggests the Elexio will be slightly less expensive.

In China, the pricing is very attractive, with pre-sale models offered in Fun, Smart, or Tech trims starting at RMB 119,800 - that's approximately $16,900. This aggressive pricing structure, even if much higher when it reaches Australia or potential neighboring markets like New Zealand, would position Elexio as an accessible entry into the world of high-quality EVs.

Despite the push into Australia, the Elexio is not a true global car in the way the Ioniq models are. Hyundai built it from the ground up to meet the specific tastes, designs, and technology preferences of Chinese buyers. This makes its journey to The Land Down Under an important test case for Hyundai, showing the brand's confidence in introducing a tech-heavy electric SUV into a different market landscape.

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