Kia EV3 (2024 - )

Kia seems to have found a winning formular with its recent EV line-up and instead of following the crowd with curvaceous designs that look great, but are not particularly practical, Kia has developed something rather special.
It started with the EV6 with its TARDIS-like interior and upright design cues that not only helped it stand out from the crowd, but also meant back seat passengers weren’t cramped into tiny spaces. Then came the mighty seven seat EV9 with its bold, square-ish looks. Again this was ultra-comfy even for occupants relegated to the back row yet still handled superbly well.
Now we get the smallest in the Kia EV line-up – the EV3. It’s a compact B-SUV that continues with that upright design language, but like its siblings, it drives beautifully and is deceptively agile while still covering all the practicality bases remarkably well.
With prices starting from £32,995, the EV3 is likely to send a few shockwaves through the industry and customers can pick a model that suits their requirements with trims called Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S, priced at £42,995 – the latter is also available with a heat pump that adds a further £900 to the cost.
The EV3 Air can be paired with a choice of 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh batteries, while all other models have the larger unit fitted as standard.
Whenever I speak to people about EVs, there is still a nervousness about range anxiety and the infrastructure. Well, the EV3 certainly addresses any of those fears with the EV3 Air (with the smaller battery) achieving a WLTP-tested 270 miles between charges. All other models can deliver from 361 to 375 miles on a single charge.
We opted for the high-end EV3 GT-Line S for our test drive with the additional heat pump thrown in for good measure.
 

One thing is absolutely guaranteed, the five-door Kia EV3 will gain an abundance of attention from bystanders with its fresh, upright styling and distinctive vertical headlights and signature daytime running lights. There is privacy glass, a sunroof and flush door handles, plus our range-topping GT-Line S version gained lots of gloss black trim around the wheel arches, roof rails, windows and side sills, along with snazzy 19-inch alloy wheels with GT-Line styling.
Move inside and you are met with a thoroughly modern, clutter-free, feature-rich cabin that has a real wow factor about it. The textile dash, sliding front centre armrest, soft-touch surfaces and curved twin-screen infotainment set-up are very easy on the eye.
The seats are powered and can be heated or ventilated with a massage function for added pampering. There are memory settings and the steering wheel, along with outer rear seats can also be warmed against the winter chill.
The pair of 12.3-inch screens merge seamlessly behind a curved pane of glass and in the middle is a smaller 5.3-inch panel for climate settings. These can also be adjusted via toggles or the main screen.
All models are richly equipped with the latest technology, but our high-end GT-Line S model featured every bell and whistle imaginable. There was a pitch-perfect eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a customisable head-up display, sat nav, Bluetooth and a rather clever Kia In-Car Payment set-up in association with Parkopedia that allows drivers to locate available parking and pay for it through the navigation system.
All controls and readouts are perfectly positioned for driver usability with just the right number of physical switches. And shortly after launch, the EV3 will become the first Kia to feature the company’s AI Assistant with ChatGPT – this will be introduced via an over-the-air update.
 

Like all EV3 models, our GT-Line S version was front-wheel drive and featured a single-speed automatic transmission. The 81.4kWh battery delivers 201bhp and 283Nm of torque which results in a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 105mph, while delivering a WLTP-tested 361 miles, increasing to 467 miles in the city where regenerative braking will really come into its own.

The upright driving position results in excellent all-round driver visibility and the road holding and acceleration is flawless through twisting country lanes. It’s a car that sits comfortably at 70mph with drive modes called Eco, Normal, Sport, MyDrive and Individual to alter the driving characteristics of the car.

There is always ample power on tap to overtake slower-moving vehicles and, in busier city traffic, there are four levels of regenerative braking to choose from. These are adjusted via the steering wheel paddles and, in the strongest setting, single pedal driving is possible.

The steering is beautifully weighted with ample driver feedback and the suspension does a great job of smoothing out bumpy road surfaces even when the car is riding on the larger 19-inch wheels. The cabin is well insulated so occupants are protected from outside noise, although we did find there was more tyre rumble and wind sound on the entry-level EV3 Air when we took that version for a spin.

Clever use of space has resulted in an exceptionally comfortable five-seater that covers all the practicality bases well. The EV3 stretches 4,310mm in length, 1,850mm across (excluding door mirrors) and is 1,570mm tall The EV3 Air is slightly shorter at 4,300mm and lower at 1,560mm.
The wheelbase is 2,680mm across the line-up of models and the boot has a capacity that ranges from 460 litres to 1,250 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. In addition, there is a further 25 litres of storage room beneath the bonnet.
Cabin space is generous thanks to the upright design of the EV3 so a couple of six footers will easily fit up front and a further two adults can sit comfortably in the back with impressive leg, head and elbow space. Add a third and it gets a little cosy, but there is room for three youngsters.
Then, throughout the cabin, numerous practical compartments can be found to store bits and pieces. These include a glovebox, practical door bins, front and rear cup holders, a wireless charging pad, a large storage area beneath the centre console and seat back pockets.
Our GT-Line S test car featured five USB-C ports along with a wireless mobile phone charging pad so all occupants can keep devices fully charged and connected on the move.
The Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) facility, which is only available on the GT Line S model, means the EV3 can be used to power up external devices such as lighting or inflating a bed on a camping trip. It can also provide an external source of energy if your home has a power cut. 
And speaking of charging, the 81.4kWh battery can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes via a 350kW fast charger, or 1 hour, 19 minutes using a 50kW port. If charging from home or work, it will take just over seven hours to reach 100 per cent.
The smaller 58.3kWh battery available on the entry-level EV3 Air takes just 29 minutes to get a 10 to 80 per cent boost via a 350kW charge, 55 minutes if using a 50kW unit and just over five hours if plugged into a wallbox.
And with family getaways in mind, our front-wheel drive EV3 GT-Line S model could tow a trailer or caravan weighing up to one tonne.
 

The Kia EV3 line-up starts at a very competitive £32,995 for the Air version with the smaller 58.3kWh battery or £35,995 for the EV3 Air with the 81.4kWh unit. The GT-Line costs £39,495, while the GT-Line S is priced at £42,995 or £43,895 with a heat pump.
All versions boast zero carbon emissions so owners benefit from a range of financial benefits, including free road tax and being exempt from Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees. In addition, there is no penalty for purchasing a model costing in excess of £40k which owners of traditionally-powered cars are obliged to pay. But, and it’s a big but, these financial incentives will be drastically cut back or withdrawn completely in 2025.
For business drivers, the EV3 has an attractive Benefit in Kind tax rating of just two per cent, and it’s always worth noting that Kia offers one of the best warranty packages of any manufacturer. It runs for seven years or 100,000 miles, increasing to eight years for the battery and is fully transferable if the car is sold on.
Despite being fully compatible with rapid charging, day-to-day running costs can be kept lower by boosting battery levels via a wallbox either at home or work.
The EV3 GT-Line S, as tested, sits in insurance group 36.
 

Over recent years Kia has become a really big hitter in the EV market, developing exceptionally good cars that are competitively priced and very well equipped. The EV3 is another vitally important model for the Korean carmaker as it is the ultimate proof that a superb, practical EV can be developed for a reasonable price.
Yes, as you move up the trim scale the price does creep up and our range-topper was in excess of £40k, but we reckon the mid-grade GT-Sport model will tick all the right boxes for most would-be customers.
If I were going to be picky and go searching for something to moan about, it would be the lack of height adjustment on the EV3 Air’s passenger seat – it seems a little too high to me, so anyone over six foot could well find it a bit cramped.
But in all honesty, I had to think hard about a negative side to this outstanding car from Kia.