New Kia EV3 Coming Soon: Specs, Price and Release Info

Like the look of the Kia EV9 but intimidated by the price and sheer size of it? Fear not, because it’s just the first of a new family of stylish electric crossovers from the brand, including this smaller and more affordable EV3. With the EV4 and EV5 it’s a busy time for Kia, the solid electric tech it’s established in existing models now paired with seriously stylish and assertive design. We wouldn’t blame rivals for looking nervous…
• Size-wise the EV3 is a little bigger than a Soul EV and a fraction smaller than the e-Niro – looking beyond the Kia family think Renault Megane E-Tech 100% Electric or Volvo EX30 as a guide, and likely rivals • Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S model line-up with two battery sizes available, all using a 204 horsepower motor for best-case acceleration of 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds • Standard-range model nails affordable starting price with an official range of 267 miles, which will be fine for the school run or commute while long-range version can cover 372 miles if you regularly travel longer distances • All models get triple-screen interior layout, with digital instruments, 12.3-inch central touch-screen and smaller touch control pad for heating and ventilation controls • Pricing starts at £32,995 in base Air trim and up to £43,895 for the top of the range GT-Line S with the bigger battery and extra kit like a heat pump and more

The Kia EV9 looks like a motor show concept car made real, and a real head-turner on the road for its bold design. Same goes for the EV3, which uses a version of the same blocky, futuristic design with the slim, vertical daytime running lights accentuating the square-cut lines. Interestingly Kia talks of a sloping, hatchback style roofline but from the pictures it looks taller and more crossover in profile, underlining just how traditional car design categories are now blurring. In terms of model line-up the EV3 follows the established progression through Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S, the Air available with a smaller battery to hit a more affordable starting price while also offering the option of the bigger 81.4kWh pack standard on the rest of the range. Colours look to be a lot more exciting than the grey or silver norm, with Sunset Orange standard and choice of six ‘premium’ paint colours the only cost option on the car.

Interior and technology

While usefully compact overall the EV3 has a relatively long wheelbase – which is to say the space between the front and rear wheels – to increase interior space. In some rivals this comes at the cost of boot capacity but Kia seems to have kept this decent as well, boosted by a small storage ‘frunk’ at the front of the car. The stylish minimalism of the exterior is matched inside, with paired screens to create large central display and additional touch controls for the heating and ventilation. We’d prefer physical switches but such is the way of things these days. In better news Kia has been thinking hard about practicality, with a lower storage area between the seats big enough for handbags, rucksacks or work satchels and a fold-out table for your laptop if you want to catch up on work emails while charging. You’ll have to do that quickly given how quickly the EV3 can top up its battery at a suitably powerful charger, mind! There’s also a commendable focus on sustainably sourced and recycled materials for the cabin fixtures and fittings as well, with seats, headliner, floor mats and boot floor all made from easily recyclable PET with a view to end-of-life impact as well.

As predicted the EV3 is built on the Hyundai-Kia electric car platform, called E-GMP and shared with models like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5. No bad thing there. Two battery options will be available, these comprising an already generous 58.3kWh and really quite big 81.4kWh for the Long Range version. The 267 miles of range for the standard battery should be enough for most regular driving while the latter promises 372 miles of official range, both using the same 204 horsepower motor for what looks on paper like a sensible balance of performance and efficiency. 102kW charging for the smaller battery and 128kW for the bigger one should reduce time topping up on suitably powerful public chargers as well.

As ever the bottom-line price doesn’t reflect the fact most people finance or lease their cars and look more at the monthly payments, but it remains a useful benchmark for quick comparisons. A starting price of £32,995 for the Air version with the smaller battery looks pretty competitive as well, undercutting the likes of the Jeep Avenger and Volvo EX30 by a healthy margin and only a little more than Chinese-built rivals like the Smart #1. Prices do increase considerably as you go up the range and with the bigger battery but with decent standard kit and enough endurance to be getting on with that entry model should be plenty for most needs.

Kia has been racing ahead with its new models and the EV3 and EV9 will book-end a wider family of similarly styled models to include the EV4, EV5 and existing EV6. With all those in play the Kia range is going to look very impressive indeed…