2026 Hyundai Elexio Elite Review

Hyundai has put itself into an interesting position with the new Elexio. Sourced from China and sharing its underlying architecture with the Kia EV5, this mid-size electric SUV represents a slight departure from the Korean brand's usual formula. It brings a lot of innovative technology, progressive styling, and a massive battery to the table, slotting neatly between the smaller Kona Electric and the premium, 800V-equipped IONIQ 5. However, while it wears a Hyundai badge and benefits from an Australian suspension tune, its origins are evident in its software and interior layout.

The Elexio is an impressive package that comes with a few notable asterisks, making it a highly compelling - but flawed - option in a fiercely competitive segment.

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The Elexio is launching in a two-variant lineup that targets the highly competitive mid-size electric SUV segment. A range-opening grade, simply named "Elexio", will arrive in the second quarter of 2026 priced at $58,990 plus on-road costs.

Meanwhile, the flagship Elexio Elite is in showrooms now with a compelling introductory price of $59,990 drive-away for both private and fleet buyers. This drive-away offer is valid until March 31, 2026, after which the Elite's price will shift to its standard MSRP of $61,990 before on-road costs.

In terms of market fit, the Elexio is aggressively priced to steal buyers away from popular heavyweights. At its introductory drive-away price, it significantly undercuts the equivalently battery-sized Kia EV5 Air Long Range ($61,170 plus on-roads). It also competes directly with the benchmark Tesla Model Y RWD ($58,900 plus on-roads) and the BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990 plus on-roads). While the BYD is cheaper and the Tesla is more efficient, the Elexio offers a substantially larger battery and more traditional SUV packaging. However, once prices revert to excluding on-road costs, it will face a much tougher battle against these established rivals.

2026 Hyundai Elexio Pricing

• Elexio - $58,990 (plus on-road costs, arriving Q2 2026)

Elexio Elite - $59,990 (Introductory drive-away until March 31, 2026) / $61,990 (plus on-road costs thereafter)

The Elexio looks like no other Hyundai SUV currently on the market, yet it seamlessly fits into the brand's electric portfolio. It heavily borrows the "parametric pixel" design language seen on the IONIQ 5 and the much larger IONIQ 9. The front end is dominated by cube-like, highly bright LED headlights and a sleek accent bar that spans the width of the plugged-up grille. Active aero flaps are integrated into the lower bumper to help with aerodynamics.

In terms of its physical footprint, the Elexio measures 4,615mm long, 1,875mm wide, and 1,695mm tall, riding on a 2,750mm wheelbase. Unsurprisingly, it shares this exact length, width, and wheelbase with its Kia EV5 structural sibling, though the Hyundai sits fractionally lower to the ground. This sizing places it right in the sweet spot for Australian families - it is noticeably larger than the brand's entry-level Kona Electric, but adopts a more traditional, upright SUV stance compared to the retro-futuristic, hatchback-style profile of the IONIQ 5.

When parked next to its most direct rivals, the Elexio is actually on the more compact side. The benchmark Tesla Model Y is quite a bit longer at 4,750mm with a 2,890mm wheelbase, while the BYD Sealion 7 is larger again at 4,830mm long with an even longer 2,930mm wheelbase. However, the Hyundai uses its dimensions cleverly. Because it avoids the sloping, coupe-like rooflines favoured by Tesla and BYD, its traditional, boxy packaging provides ample interior headroom and generous cargo space despite its smaller overall footprint.

Moving to the side profile, the Elite trim sits on rather large 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Kumho tyres. While they look undeniably great, the car feels slightly over-wheeled aesthetically. A surprisingly premium touch is the automatically opening charge port door. However, there are some strange omissions for a top-spec "Elite" trim - there is no tinted privacy glass for the rear windows, nor is there a sunroof. The rear is likely to be the most divisive angle, featuring a steeply raked windshield, bubbly rear panels and a pixelated light bar that gives it a highly futuristic presence.

Stepping into the front of the Elexio reveals an interior that feels remarkably different from traditional Hyundai products like the Palisade or Santa Fe. Unlike the ultra-minimalist, stark approach of the Tesla Model Y, the Elexio boasts a more traditional, highly plush cabin that focuses on immediate comfort. Soft-touch materials, synthetic suede dashboard linings, and leather-appointed seating create a premium, upmarket atmosphere. In the Elite grade, the driver is treated to a 14-way power-adjustable seat featuring memory settings, adjustable side bolsters that grip you securely, and a two-way cushion extension. Both front seats are heated and ventilated, and the driver gets a heated, leather-appointed steering wheel that feels great in the hands.

The conventional physical buttons and logical layouts Hyundai is known for have been largely replaced by a sprawling 27-inch, 4K panoramic integrated TFT LCD display. Measuring just one centimetre thick, the screen boasts incredibly crisp viewing angles for an LCD panel - rivaling the equally large OLED panels in Genesis products - and runs on Hyundai's new Android Automotive-based Connect-C infotainment software. It integrates wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alongside built-in features like a dedicated camping mode, car wash mode, and even playable arcade games. Directly in the driver's line of sight is a standard non-film Horizon-type Head-Up Display (HUD), which projects clear and easily readable driving data onto the windscreen, and can be toggled on or off depending on your preference. Though I will say that it will take some adjusting to remember that all your driving status indicators, including your turn signals, are all the way over on the screen to your left.

For drivers accustomed to physical climate controls, this screen-heavy setup will also require a learning curve. Temperature and fan speeds are now adjusted by pulling up a quick-select menu on the screen or mapping the function to a steering wheel button. While the display is visually stunning, it does suffer from some ergonomic and software optimisation issues. Because smartphone projection pushes to the far side of the wide screen, shorter drivers may struggle to comfortably reach their apps. Furthermore, there are noticeable software bugs present at launch - most notably, adjusting the passenger-side climate control on the screen currently alters the driver's temperature instead, a strange glitch for a dual-zone system.

Storage and everyday practicality, however, are major strong suits for the front cabin. The floating centre console provides excellent utility, featuring dual wireless smartphone charging pads and a clever rotatable cupholder guard that flips out to secure up to four bottles. A word of warning, though - standard-sized cans might slide around through corners if not secured properly. Below the floating console sits a massive, suede-lined lower storage shelf to keep loose items from rattling. Finally, the soft centre armrest lifts to reveal a deep cubby housing three separate USB-C fast chargers, ensuring your devices stay powered up on long road trips.

Overall, there will be some people turned off by the screen-forward approach, and the execution leaves a little to be desired, but the Elexio’s interior still feels solidly constructed, with good ergonomics and premium comfort at the forefront.

The back seat of the Elexio is where this SUV truly shines. Legroom, headroom, and toe room are all exceptional, making it one of the most accommodating vehicles in its class. The seats themselves are ergonomically designed and very comfortable.

Hyundai has also included thoughtful touches for rear passengers. The air conditioning vents are mounted on the B-pillars rather than the back of the centre console, ensuring unobstructed airflow. You will also find suede-lined storage cubbies, two USB-C ports, and a flat floor. While I’d hazard a strong guess that the Chinese-market version receives a built-in fridge in the centre console, Australian models make do with a slide-out storage drawer instead, though Hyundai does offer a 25L or 36L portable fridge accessory for $1,299 and $1,399 respectively, and can be powered by Vehicle-to-load.

The Elexio offers a very respectable 506 litres of boot space, accessed via a smart power tailgate. The loading aperture is wide, making it easy to fit bulky items, and the vehicle includes a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function capable of outputting 3.5kW of power - a feature the Tesla Model Y was missing up until the most recent Model Y L - and perfectly adequate for charging appliances or powering your campsite. Dropping the 60:40 split rear seats expands the space to a cavernous 1,540 litres.

Disappointingly, instead of utilising the space up front for a functional "frunk" (front trunk) to store charging cables, the area has been completely sealed off, which feels like a missed opportunity for an EV built on a dedicated electric platform, though unlike many competitors, the Elexio comes with a front-mounted electric motor only.

Powering the Elexio is a single front-mounted electric motor producing 160kW of power and 310Nm of torque. In the world of modern electric vehicles, these figures are relatively modest, and the performance reflects that. While Hyundai claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 8.1 seconds, independent real-world testing saw it clock in at a relatively sluggish 8.85 seconds.

It is fast enough for daily commuting and navigating city traffic, but it lacks the instant, punchy acceleration expected from an EV. This is especially apparent when compared to the rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model Y or the significantly more powerful 230kW BYD Sealion 7. Furthermore, pushing the car hard out of a corner reveals the limitations of its front-wheel-drive architecture, occasionally resulting in understeer or the traction control system abruptly cutting power to manage wheelspin. It is a powertrain tuned entirely for sedate, comfortable family driving rather than driving engagement.

The Elexio is fitted with a substantial 88.1kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery sourced from BYD. Hyundai claims a combined WLTP efficiency of 18.2 kWh/100km and a maximum driving range of 546km for the Elite grade. However, real-world testing indicates the vehicle is quite inefficient, regularly hovering around the 19.5 to 20.0 kWh/100km mark. This is consistent with results we found in the closely related Kia EV5 on our long-term test, and it brings the realistic driving range closer to 450km. It is worth noting that the upcoming base "Elexio" grade boosts the claimed WLTP range up to 562km thanks to its smaller 18-inch wheels, thought it will remain to be seen how well they translate to additional real-world range.

While the Elexio packs a much larger battery than the Tesla Model Y single motor RWD (~60kWh), the Tesla's superior efficiency and charging network integration mean the real-world usability gap is smaller than the battery sizes suggest. The Hyundai does, however, boast a higher claimed WLTP range (546-562km) than the similarly priced BYD Sealion 7 (482km).

On the positive side, the Elexio comes standard with a battery heating system and a heat pump - a crucial feature that its Kia EV5 sibling lacks in its lower trims. This ensures the range won't plummet as drastically during cold winter mornings. DC fast charging peaks at 150kW, allowing for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in approximately 38 minutes, which is acceptable and matches the Sealion 7 but trails behind the Model Y and the ultra-fast 800V architecture found in the IONIQ 5.

Despite the underwhelming straight-line speed, the Elexio is fundamentally a very pleasant car to drive on the road. Hyundai Australia has applied a bespoke local suspension tune to the MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear setup, a well-known strategy that ensures the vehicle is optimized for our uniquely varied and often poor-quality road surfaces. The effort has certainly paid off, giving the Elexio a distinctly different and arguably more settled feel than some of its platform-sharing siblings.

While the ride leans slightly towards the firmer end of the spectrum - largely due to the heavy, visually striking 20-inch alloy wheels fitted to the Elite grade - it remains highly composed and surefooted. It handles bumps, potholes, and undulations with classic Hyundai confidence, feeling significantly more planted and controlled than some of its softer-sprung, wallowy competitors in the mid-size SUV class. Once up to highway speeds, it becomes a remarkably quiet and comfortable cruiser, with the ride quality noticeably improving and smoothing out as speeds increase.

When it comes to cornering and dynamic handling, the Elexio is highly predictable but clearly tuned for family duties rather than spirited driving. The steering is light and accurate, making urban manoeuvring a breeze. However, if you push the car aggressively out of a tight corner, it quickly reveals the limitations of its front-wheel-drive architecture. You will encounter occasional understeer, and the traction control system will abruptly cut power to manage wheelspin, reminding you to dial back the pace and enjoy the comfortable ride instead.

Unfortunately, this otherwise serene and composed driving experience is frequently interrupted by the vehicle's highly intrusive active safety systems. The speed limit recognition is frequently inaccurate, chiming incessantly when it incorrectly misreads a school zone or side-street sign. To disable these overbearing chimes, drivers are forced to navigate through multiple screen menus or hold down steering wheel mute buttons every single time the car is started. Furthermore, while the emergency lane keeping operates well, standard lane keep assist (LKA) can be overly aggressive yet inconsistent on dashed and solid lines, translating to an annoying and twitchy on-road steering experience that detracts from the car's otherwise excellent local suspension tune.

The Elexio has achieved a maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating under the stringent 2023-2025 testing criteria. This rating is largely based on data from the closely related Kia EV5, alongside Elexio-specific active safety and pedestrian impact testing. It scored impressively across the board: 88 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 86 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 77 per cent for Vulnerable Road Users, and 85 per cent for Safety Assist. Structurally, the vehicle is very sound, though ANCAP testers did note a slight footwell rupture in the frontal offset test and the standard centre airbag failed to fully prevent head contact between the front occupants in the oblique pole test.

The Elexio is comprehensively packed with Hyundai's "SmartSense" suite, leaving nothing off the table for family protection as standard. The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system performed exceptionally well in ANCAP's testing across all scenarios, proving highly capable of detecting and reacting to cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, even in complex junction and crossing situations.

Standard equipment across the range includes nine airbags (covering dual front, side chest, side head, and a front centre airbag), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-centring for highway journeys. The vehicle also features a surround-view monitor, safe exit assist to prevent opening doors into oncoming traffic or cyclists, and a multi-collision braking system to mitigate secondary impacts after a crash.

Hyundai Elexio Standard Safety Features

• 9 Airbags (dual front, side chest, side head, and centre airbag)
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Car, Pedestrian, Cyclist, Motorcycle, Junction & Crossing detection
• Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM) & Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
• Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2)
• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
• Driver Attention Warning & Direct/Indirect Driver Monitoring
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) & Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (iACC)
• Surround View Monitor (SVM)
• Multi-Collision Braking System & Automatic Emergency Call (eCall)

While specific servicing intervals and pricing have not been completely detailed for the 2026 model year, buyers can expect the Elexio to be covered by Hyundai Australia's standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, alongside an eight-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery. Maintenance for electric vehicles is generally cheaper than their combustion counterparts, and the inclusion of Over-The-Air (OTA) software update capability means some system improvements can be handled without visiting a dealership.

Elexio Standard Features

• 160kW / 310Nm Single Motor (Front-Wheel Drive)
• 88.1kWh LFP battery with heat pump
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• 27-inch ultra-thin 4K panoramic integrated display
• Android Automotive (Connect-C) infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• Cloth upholstery
• 6-way power adjustable driver seat
• LED headlights and tail lights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Over-The-Air (OTA) software update capability
• Bluelink Connected Car Services & Digital Key 2.0
• 9 Airbags
• Highway Driving Assist 2
• Surround View Monitor & Blind-Spot View Monitor

Elexio Elite Standard Features

(In addition to or replacing standard Elexio features)

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Leather-appointed seats
• 14-way power adjustable driver seat with memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Head-Up Display (HUD)
• Dual wireless charging pads
• Smart power tailgate
• Remote Smart Park Assist 3

The Hyundai Elexio arrives as a highly compelling, if somewhat unorthodox, addition to the brand's electric stable. Its greatest strengths lie in its packaging and comfort. By adopting a traditional, boxy SUV shape, it delivers vast, class-leading interior space and a cavernous boot within a footprint that is refreshingly easy to park. Add in the plush ride quality tailored specifically for Australian roads, a massive 88.1kWh battery, and a striking screen-heavy cabin, and it presents a very family-friendly proposition.

However, the Elexio is a vehicle of distinct compromises. While it packs a large battery, its high energy consumption blunts its real-world range advantage over more efficient rivals. The front-wheel-drive powertrain is sluggish and lacks the dynamic punch expected in this class, feeling decidedly pedestrian next to the rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model Y or the potent BYD Sealion 7. Most frustratingly, the serene driving experience is constantly interrupted by overbearing, inaccurate active safety chimes and a lane-keep assist system that lacks finesse, requiring an annoying daily ritual of menu-diving to disable.

Ultimately, whether you should buy the Elexio comes entirely down to timing and price. At its introductory $59,990 drive-away offer, it represents a staggering amount of metal, battery, and equipment for the money, significantly undercutting the equivalently sized Kia EV5 Air Long Range. At this launch price, it is an absolute bargain and incredibly easy to recommend for families seeking space and comfort over outright performance. However, once that introductory period ends and the price shifts to $61,990 before on-road costs, it becomes a much harder sell. At that higher premium, the polished driving dynamics, superior software, and unmatched efficiency of the benchmark Tesla Model Y make the Elexio's quirks too hard to ignore. Simply put: if you want one, buy it now.