Kia has revealed the latest addition to its electric vehicle line-up. The EV3 is a compact SUV that follows Kia’s new styling and naming format for its EVs and is set to supersede the Niro. Like the EV9 and the upcoming EV5, it’s based on the dedicated EV architecture and follows the ‘Opposites United’ philosophy.
As the naming suggests, this is a much smaller model, though still a five-seater SUV. It has the distinctive Kia ‘tiger’ nose design, with daylight running lights in its star map lighting signature shape front and back.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this new EV though is its range. With a large 81.4kWh battery, its WLTP rating promises up to 600km or (372 miles) of range. That’s more than even the EV9 offers and puts it on par with cars like the Renault Scenic E-Tech and the Polestar 3.
Inside the cabin, the EV3 features a flat floor and a completely open centre console with a sliding table design in the centre. The horizontal floating dash includes a 12.3-inch driver display, a 5-inch air-conditioning panel and a 12.3-inch central display, all running together to create an apparent 30-inch wide display unit. There’s also a 12-inch head-up display to keep your eyes on the road.
The entertainment system boasts theme customisations to personalise the look and introduces both streaming services and in-car gaming for the first time to the Kia EV range. This is designed to keep you entertained while charging. However, the 128kW charging speeds mean it can charge from 10-80% in around 31 minutes. Not as speedy as some other Kia EV models (the EV6 and EV9 will do 350kW), but still rapid enough.
Sizewise, the EV3 is fractionally smaller than the existing Kia Niro EV – which also comes in PHEV and mild hybrid versions. However, thanks to the dedicated EV platform it offers plenty of storage, with a 460-litre boot and a 25-litre frunk for the charging cables.
The EV3 is expected to debut in Korea this July, with UK availability and pricing still to be confirmed. However, I expect pricing will be around the £42-44k mark.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
As T3's Editor-in-Chief, Mat Gallagher has his finger on the pulse for the latest advances in technology. He has written about technology since 2003 and after stints in Beijing, Hong Kong and Chicago is now based in the UK. He’s a true lover of gadgets, but especially anything that involves cameras, Apple, electric cars, musical instruments or travel.
-
Garmin Enduro 3 review: a battery life bruiser that lives for the adventure
Taking almost all of the best bits of the Fenix 8 and slapping it in a lighter, longer-lasting package makes the Enduro 3 one very enticing smartwatch for those wanting to go the distance
By Leon Poultney Published
-
What Squid Game season 2 trailer tells us about new series – 5 easter eggs explored
What easter eggs and fun references to the original series can be found in Squid Game S2's new trailer?
By Mike Lowe Published
-
Kia hopes to fix electric cars' biggest problem by 2030
Could the Kia EV1 be the electric car we've been waiting for?
By Chris Hall Published
-
Kia EV3 tease excites with scaled-down EV9 vibes – late May launch confirmed
Kia's next-gen electric SUV looks like it has come from the future
By Chris Hall Published
-
You will soon be able to control Samsung smart devices from your Kia
Hyundai and Tesla jump in on the SmartThings action, too
By Leon Poultney Published
-
Kia's Concept EV4 is here and it wants a slice of Tesla's pie
The Korean brand aims to redefine the electric sedan
By Leon Poultney Published
-
Kia Cee’d 2012 Review: Hands-on
The Kia Cee'd is back! Find out what we make of the Korean company's latest drive
By T3.com Published