Following the award-winning success of the EV6 and EV9, the Kia EV3 is now available to buy in Europe and the UK. The brand’s first dedicated electric compact SUV to be built on its e-GMP platform and has a segment-leading 375 miles of range.

The South Korean manufacturer says the model is '“proven to perform equally well on highways, city streets, winding roads and long journeys” as well as being “one of the most efficient EVs on the market.”

Performance

The EV3 is powered by a 201bhp electric motor, giving it a 0-60mph time of just under 8 seconds. This is the case for both the 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh battery versions.

Range and Charge Time

Let’s first get into the important information for any prospective EV owner - range. As previously stated, the Kia EV3 can take you 375 miles on a single charge, and if you manage to stick purely to city driving, Kia says this will increase to 479 miles thanks to its i-Pedal technology and a Regenerative Braking System. A Driving Range Guide located on the instrument cluster will display maximum and minimum driving ranges achievable depending on your driving style.

Extensive wind tunnel testing has led Kia to figure out further ways of making its vehicles more efficient with active air flap technology and a boat tail shape helping improve aerodynamics. Further alterations to the wheel shape and rear lamps, as well as new side sill undercovers and changes to the underbody, make the underfloor airflow cleaner for reduced drag.

Using a 400V fast charger enables a 10-80% change in 29 minutes for the 58.3kWh battery version and 31 minutes for the 81.4kWh version. This means up to 125 miles of range can be added in 15 minutes and 800,000 Kia Charge charging points are now located across 28 countries in Europe for those looking to use it as a grand tourer.

Technology and Spacious Interior

The EV3 has a clean and modern interior, with its dashboard featuring a triple-screen panoramic display. The 12.3 touchscreen navigation screen, 12.3 driver display and 5.3-inch climate control display combine touch and controls to “minimise driver distraction.”

There’s also a selection of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, including Highway Driving Assist 2, Smart Cruise Control 2, and collision prevention systems.

The EV3 also sees the debut of Kia’s In-Car Payment system, which allows the driver to locate and pay for parking through the navigation screen. It’s also the first Kia vehicle to feature an AI Assistant with ChatGPT and customers can also unlock and start the car using a smartphone or smartwatch thanks to the Digital Key app.

This technology is all part of the spacious interior, which features sliding tables, expansive head and legroom, mood lighting and comfy ‘relaxation’ seats. Add in a 460-litre boot which should provide sufficient luggage space.

Price

Prices start from £32,995, which isn’t too bad in SUV terms. Kia’s next aim is to introduce and all-wheel drive (AWD) variant of the EV3.

Kia’s Future Plans

Looking forward, the brand aims to have 11 EVs on the market by 2026, increasing to 15 by the following year. This all ties into its overall aim of having a fully electric lineup in Europe by 2035.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Kia