Kia unveils EV3 – its smallest electric SUV to address hip pocket and range anxiety

Kia has unveiled its smallest electric SUV to date, the EV3, as it continues the rapid expansion of its electric offering following the recent unveiling of the bigger EV5 and the EV9 seven-seater people mover.

The new EV3 appears to take much of its styling and technological inspiration from the box-like EV5 and EV9, and while prices have yet to be announced the smaller size is expected to deliver a lower cost option to consumers.

At the EV3 online world premiere event, the company’s executive team hinted at the price of the new model likely to be between $US35,000 – 50,000. That is still well above China-made EVs, but well below previous Kia offerings.

“By providing groundbreaking design, an industry-leading electric drivetrain, and practical, innovative lifestyle solutions, the EV3 aims to extend Kia’s exceptional EV SUV experience to a wider audience,” Kia’s president and CEO Ho Sung Song says.

“With a WLTP driving range of up to 600km and fast charging capability, the EV3 addresses common concerns about electric vehicles. It will reassure those who may have been hesitant to make the switch to electric mobility and will lead the mass adoption of EVs.”

The EV3 will be available in two variants including the EV3 Standard and the EV3 Long Range.

The Standard variant is equipped with a 58.3 kWh battery pack, while the Long Range variant bumps that up to 81.4 kWh, which is expected to deliver range of up to 600kms on the WLTP cycle. Charging this variant from 10-80 per cent will take 31 minutes.

Both models are powered by a 150 kW motor that offers a peak torque of 283 Nm. The power is delivered to the front wheels although the car is still built on Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture.

This helps the EV3 accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. 

On the styling front, the EV3 takes the “Tiger Face” design which was first introduced on the larger EV9 in 2023. This includes daytime running lights (DRL). 

When it comes to the model’s size, it sits 300 mm shorter than the larger EV5. The EV3 comes in at 4,300 mm in length.

Globally, the EV3 will be offered in 9 colours with two being offered exclusively on this model. These include Aventurine Green and Terracotta.

Inside, the cabin takes inspiration from other Kia electric vehicles by offering a good balance of space and practicality. Part of this is the use of storage spaces in the centre console which the brand says can be used to store drinks, snacks, laptops and small bags.

The rear boot has 460 litres of storage which according to Kia is the largest boot space in its class.

For the driver, the centre console offers two 12.3-inch screens. One acts as an infotainment screen in the middle while the other is behind the steering wheel that shows driving information.

There are also a number of controls available conveniently on the steering wheel itself. These include selecting driving modes, setting cruise control and controlling navigation.

Kia has also incorporated sustainability into its design by using sustainable materials such as recycled plastics in the interior. The use of these materials has been seen on the seats, headliners, door armrests, floormats and other parts of the car.

When it comes to safety, Kia has included a large number of its safety suite into this small SUV, including Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) features such as:

• eDTVC Electric Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control: to ensure the EV3 transfers its power to the road smoothly and stably 
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Highway Driving Assist
• Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist

The EV3 will introduce the company’s i-Pedal 3.0 technology which controls the amount of regenerative braking the driver needs to use based on the driver’s preference. 

Along with that, the new model like others before it offers Vehicle to Load (V2L) capabilities, allowing the drivers to power devices when on the go.

The Kia EV3 will be launched in South Korea in July with plans for a European launch before the end of the year. Following these, the EV3 will be launched in other countries, including Australia. 

Local pricing and specifications are likely to be announced closer to the local launch.