Oh how times have changed for Kia. When the manufacturer first branched out into cars back in 1991, its first model was viewed as rather a bargain-basement effort. It was called the Pride, but fast forward and that name perfectly sums up the Korean carmaker these days.
Over the last 33 years, Kia has established itself as a very competitive player with models ranging from fun-packed city cars such as the Picanto right the way up to the mighty seven-seaters, called Sorento and EV9.
As the transition towards electrified driving gained momentum, Kia proved it could compete alongside the big-hitters and premium manufacturers with the EV6 and larger EV9 scooping a multitude of global awards. And the latest arrival to the line-up, the EV3, is likely to follow a similar pattern.
Looking a little further ahead, there have been strong hints dropped by Kia’s Global executive team that its smallest and most affordable EV will be launching in 2026, aptly named the EV2.
And more recently, Kia has branched out into vans and has developed a special Battery Electric Platform (BEV) specifically for LCVs. It can be modified to suit different wheelbase lengths making it flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of body styles and vehicle sizes. At the moment these vans are only in concept form, but they will form the basis of the Kia LCV line-up that will launch next year.
But for now, there are plenty of cars for potential customers to explore, so here’s a brief summary of what’s out there.
Picanto
The Picanto, priced from £15,595, is available in trims called 2, GT-Line, 3, Shadow and GT-Line S. It is the smallest model in the Kia line-up and underwent a major facelift this year. It is celebrating its 20th year and has clocked up more than a quarter of a million UK sales to date.
Stonic
Priced from £21,265, the Stonic is on sale in trim grades called 2, GT-Line, 3, Shadow and GT-Line S. It is a very affordable small SUV that’s packed with tech and very easy on the eye.
Xceed
The Ceed family comprises a five-door Hatchback, Sportswagon, ProCeed and XCeed with prices starting from £23,105. There is a style to suit all requirements with the ProCeed bringing sporty design to the mix while the XCeed offers an elevated ride height.
The Niro line-up offers a range of powertrains and can be specified in HEV, PHEV and EV guise. The trim set-up is slightly simplified with grades called 2, 3 or 4, with 2025 prices starting from £30,085. Niro is a fabulous family car that already has a string of awards under its belt.
Niro
With the choice of hybrid, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the Sportage is one of the most recognisable models on our roads today. Priced from £29,390, the Sportage is now in its fifth generation and is an excellent, versatile family SUV that boasts head-turning good looks while still being great to drive, practical and packed with technology.
Sorento
The all-new Sorento delivers seven-seat versatility and costs from £41,995. It is offered with a diesel engine or with hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology and comes in three comprehensively-equipped trims called 2, 3 and 4. The fourth-generation Sorento was recently refreshed with more dynamic styling and a wealth of new features.
EV6
Kia’s first fully electrified car, the EV6, has just been given a mid-life upgrade which enables it to go further and charge faster. With up to 361 miles of range, customers can choose between trim levels called Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S with prices starting from £45,575.
EV3
The all-new Kia EV3 is just launching into the UK with prices starting from £32,995 for the entry-level Air version and rising to £44,520 for the range-topping GT-Line S trim.
EV9
With a choice of six or seven-seat configurations, the EV9 is offered in trim levels called Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S with prices ranging from £73,275 to £78.775. All versions feature a 100kWh battery, but customers can choose between RWD or AWD as well as a choice of power outputs. It has a driving range up to a WLTP-tested 349 miles.
Kia has set itself strong targets moving forwards, including:
Targeting international sales of 1.6 million EVs in 2030
Targeting the sale of 1.37 million EVs in key markets including Korea, North America, Europe, and China in 2030
Annual sales goal of 250,000 PBVs in 2030 with Kia’s new PV5 and PV7 models – 150,000 and 100,000 units, respectively
15 EVs globally by 2027, (starting from the EV6 in 2021)
2045 net zero targets
We caught up with Paul Philpott, President and CEO, Kia UK Limited, to hear about the latest sales figures, future plans and developments. He said: “As I’m sure it’s clear by now, it’s an incredibly exciting time to be part of Kia. In the UK, we passed 92,000 new car registrations for 2024 at the end of September, and are on track for yet another record-breaking year, surpassing the 100,000 milestone for a third year in a row.
“This level of consistent growth is made possible through a combination of factors: having strong relationships with our dealer partners, with whom we work so closely; being one of those key points. However, equally important is having consistently strong and desirable products at the centre of our brand, and the upcoming EV3 really is a continuation of that form.
“The EV3 combines the innovative technology and feature-rich approach seen in its larger siblings (the EV6 and EV9) with an affordable entry price and 375-mile range, all bundled up into a smartly designed, stylish, and ultimately sensible family car. We expect it to be a firm favourite with our UK customers. There has been consistently growing demand for smaller, long range, practical EVs for some time now, and I am very much looking forward to first EV3s being delivered to customers in the coming months to prove how we have been able to deliver on these desires.
“On the whole, the remainder of the year looks promising. Deliveries of the recently refreshed EV6 have already begun and the EV3 has already gained over 750 orders during our national dealer roadshow which runs until November.”