Hyundai Caught Testing a Compact Electric SUV — IONIQ 4 or IONIQ 1?

Hyundai’s electric lineup keeps expanding, and the latest evidence comes from the roads of South Korea, where a camouflaged compact SUV prototype was filmed during development testing. The timing is telling: Hyundai has only just begun taking orders in the UK and Europe for the IONIQ 3, its first compact EV designed and built specifically for European buyers. Now the company appears to be working on something even smaller and more utility-focused.

The spotted vehicle departs noticeably from the IONIQ 3’s “Aero Hatch” silhouette. Instead of a sleek, aerodynamic profile, the prototype carries a taller, boxier stance that reads as a conventional SUV. Size is difficult to judge from the footage, but the test mule resembles an earlier prototype photographed in March, which Chinese outlet Autohome suggested was likely a Hyundai IONIQ 1. That vehicle wore an “HE1” test tag — a detail worth noting, since earlier Hyundai EV prototypes such as the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 used “ME” and “NE” designations, with the trailing “E” signaling the E-GMP platform underneath.

Hyundai has not officially confirmed what the production model will be called, and the naming remains open. Industry watchers expect the B-segment crossover to slot into the range as the IONIQ 4, though the IONIQ 1 badge has also been floated. Earlier glimpses of the interior hinted at Hyundai’s newer Pleos Connect infotainment system, pointing to a modern cabin despite the compact footprint.

If the architecture follows through as anticipated, the new SUV could share much of its hardware with the Kia EV3. That model ships with battery options of 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh in global markets, delivering WLTP ranges of up to 344 km and 497 km respectively. In the US, the same two packs carry EPA estimates of up to 221 miles on the smaller battery and 321 miles on the larger one. Such a formula would give Hyundai a competitively priced electric entry with genuine usable range.

The broader context is Hyundai’s aggressive product push. At its August CEO Investor Day, the automaker outlined plans for 100 new or refreshed vehicles through 2030, spread across North America (58), South Korea (49), Europe (41), and India (26). Alongside the IONIQ 3 and a refreshed Tucson, the roadmap includes an electric A-SUV for India, a global B-SUV, and a dedicated B-SUV for Europe — a lineup that makes a small, boxy electric crossover a logical next step. With prototypes already racking up test miles, official specifications should surface before long.