Kia EV3 Review

Stand next to the Kia EV3 and it's noticeable how small it is; a lot of cars normally make me feel tiny, and this one didn't, so it's impressive that they've managed to fit it with such big batteries. You can choose between a 58.3- or 81.4kWh lithium-ion NMC battery, which are good for WLTP range figures of 267- or 372 miles respectively. 

It's fairly affordable, too; the smaller battery EV3 will cost from £32,995 when it arrives in the UK later in 2024. Given the range, the big car tech that it offers and those funky EV9-inspired looks, I think that's a lot of car for the money.  

The EV3 sits on a modified version of the E-GMP platform that also underpins the EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, which offers front-wheel drive with a single motor in the EV3 for now, athough a fast, dual-motor, four-wheel drive version is due to arrive later. I think it looks really cool! Rather like an EV9 that got shrunk in the wash... No bad thing given that we love the big, brash seven-seater (which won the World Car of the Year award, of which I'm a juror). 

You can get also get the EV3 in a variety of colourful shades, which have been designed especially for it, too, including the Aventurine Green that I'm a little bit in love with so I’ve included a pic of it, here. Sadly, the car that I drove in Korea was white, which looks good, if a bit boring.

Kia EV3 Battery, Charging and Efficiency

The Kia EV3 gets two batteries - a 58.3kWh battery with a WLTP range of 267 miles, or 254 miles in the higher spec models. An 81.4kWh Kia EV3 will be available, too, with an official WLTP range of up to 372 miles. 

As for real-world range and efficiency? Well, in the sweltering heat of Korea, I was getting close to the claimed range in the big battery EV3 that we tested, but I can’t speak for how it'll cope in the cold British weather – especially as a heat pump is a £900 option, and only available on the top-spec EV3 GT-Line S model. Having said that, Kia really has gone to great lengths to make the EV3 as efficient as possible, with active aero flaps that open and close at the relevant speeds to improve aerodynamics, among lots of other clever details.

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Rapid charging speeds are up to 120kW on the smaller battery EV3, or that rises a fraction up to 128kW for the bigger battery car. That means a 10-80% charge in around 30 minutes for the 58kWh EV3, but you’ll be waiting more like 40 minutes for the same charge in the 81.4kWh car. Both will manage a 100-mile top-up in around 15 minutes, which is probably a more relevant metric for most EV drivers. Still, it's worth pointing out that rivals like the VW ID.3, Volvo EX30 and Cupra Born charge more quickly.

A normal 7kW home charger will fully charge the Kia EV3 in between nine- and thirteen hours.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging is standard on the EV3, so you can run any normal electrical device from the EV3’s domestic three-pin socket. Great for keeping those drinks cool in the fridge when you’re camping, and it's something I use a lot when I'm out and about filming car reviews for Electrifying.com. Definitely one of those neat functions that you didn’t know you needed, but won’t want to live without when you’ve had the convenience of running any electric from the car’s high voltage battery. 

Practicality and Boot Space

There’s 460-litres of space in the EV3’s hatchback boot, which is usefully more than you get in the Volkswagen ID.3 and Volvo EX30, although the Renault Megane E-Tech gets close. Those rear seats in the EV3 fold flat in a 60/40 split, and you also get a small frunk that will take a charging cable without you having to learn Ninja-level cable-tidying skills. Drop the seats and you get 1,250 litres of space, on a par with the VW ID.3 and Cupra Born, but the Renault Megane E-Tech does have slightly more storage with the seats down.

Space in the back seats is good, too, so you’ll get a couple of average-sized adults back there no problem, plus there’s a centre rear armrest (actually quite rare on this class of car). No transmission tunnel means that the middle passenger has plenty of leg room, but one down side is that the rear doors don't open that wide so you may need to reach it at an angle to get small children in and out of cars seats - on that note, there are ISOFIX points on each of the outer seats.

Interior, Design/Styling and Technology

The EV3 draws on the EV9 for a lot of its interior design and tech, too. The first thing you notice are the huge screens; two 12.3-inch screens and a smaller, 5-inch display all together in one slim housing on top of the dash. They're straight out of the Kia EV9 - so you get big car tech at a more affordable price - and just like the EV9 there are also buttons, which we know a lot of you want to see in your car and I admit to being a fan of too. Touch-sensitive switches beneath the screen make it easy to hop between the home menu and the key functions in the screen, and there are also physical switches for the air-con and audio volume, which are so much better than in-screen controls for making adjustments when you’re driving. I still hate having to dive into the touchscreen menus to change the climate- and volume, despite years of it with plenty of modern car, so I reckon Kia’s got the right idea with the physical buttons in the EV3! 

Of course, you get sat-nav with charger search function, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, not to mention ChatGPT voice control in the ‘Kia AI assistant’, which learns how you speak and the common requests you make. 

Given that the buttons and touchscreen infotainment are all pretty easy to use, I’m not sure how much you really need the voice control. But it is pretty responsive and clever, by in-car voice control standards, so it could still be useful.

Over-the-air software updates keep the touchscreen and voice assistant software on point as the years pass, and there’s also a store of optional apps on the Kia Connect Store that users can choose to download and use at extra cost. Kia told me that they will never charge extra for upgrades on things like electrically heated seats or steering wheel and that any downloads will be options to personalise your EV3.

That’s not the only smart feature in the EV3; the centre armrest and storage area in the front is really clever. The top section slides out so that you can turn it into a laptop table for getting your emails done while the car is charging; my large MacBook fitted on it comfortably and the table feels solid and robust, as does the rest of the interior. Underneath the centre console is a large storage area for your snacks - I think it also makes a great handbag cubby - and one of my favourite features from the EV9, the super-comfy mesh headrests, also make an appearance on the EV3. They look great but are also extremely comfortable and add to the 'lounge' style vibe I got from the interior, it's a nice place to spend time.

Motors, Performance and Handling

Right, let’s talk about what the new Kia EV3 is like to drive. Mind you, there’s not really all that much to say – and that’s a good thing, as the EV3 drives exactly how you want it to drive. It’s just easy! Stress free. For anyone who worries that driving an electric car is complicated, a drive in this will convince you that it’s not.

Whichever battery you go for, the EV3 comes with front-wheel drive and a 201bhp motor, which is good for 7.4-seconds in the smaller battery model, or 7.7 seconds in the bigger battery car that we tested. There will be an all-wheel drive, dual motor EV3 and a sporty Kia EV3 GT joining the lineup after a while, but it’s the more efficient models that will likely be the bigger sellers.

I suppose that 0-62mph time may sound a bit lazy by the standard of some electric cars. After all, I drove a Volvo EX30 recently and that did 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds. I can remember driving a Dodge Viper for the first time in the 90s that had a 4 second time and it blew my mind - it felt so fast. Why do you need a family car as fast as that? You don’t. That’s the truth, and I’m here to tell it… 

For me, the level of power in the EV3 is perfect; it feels nippy, it’s quick off the mark and it has enough power higher up the range for overtaking. 

It’s really comfortable and stable, too - very composed going into corners and on bumpy roads, while the steering has a good weight to it and responds to inputs quickly. It’s also very easy to get a good driving position as there's lots of range in both the seat and the steering wheel, and all-round visibility is excellent. 

Right then, I want to have a chat about the regenerative braking, which has three different levels controlled from these paddles on the steering wheel. It’s one of the best regen’ systems on any electric car, I reckon. You can choose how heavy you want it, ranging from very light through to a one-pedal mode around town, and then you can choose to have the adaptive setting active or not within those levels. I know that sounds really confusing, but in practice it’s actually very simple to get on with, and gives you great flexibility and super-easy control over the car’ regenerative braking. You get this system on every new electric Kia, and it’s one of my favourite aspects of how they all drive. 

The semi-autonomous driving mode is also controlled from the steering wheel, and it’s really useful. It links to the nav information, as well as using sensors and cameras to work out where the road goes, speed limits, lane markings, the speed of the car in front and more. It automatically adjusts the speed if needed, as well as independently control the steering to keep the car in its lane. I took the Kia EV3 on a four-lane motorway in Korea for a couple of hours, in heavy rain and on roads I didn’t know, and the semi-autonomous mode definitely took away a lot of the stress. 

Running Costs and Pricing

There are three trims to choose from: Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S, and all are available with both battery options. All models also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors along with a reversing camera, and automatic headlights, not to mention the big touchscreen infotainment system.

GT Line cars also get a wireless phone charger, two-tone upholstery and the ability to unlock and drive the car via an app on your phone. Top-spec GT Line S cars add a Harman Kardon sound system, electrically adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, 360-degree surround-view cameras and a powered tailgate. The top-spec EV3 GT-Line S gets that Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology that I’ve already  talked about, and you have to go for this model to add a heat pump (for £900 extra!), too. 

Prices start at £32,995 for the EV3 Air 58.3kWh, or the jump up to the 81.4kWh adds only £3,000 to the price. That means that you can get a comfortable, well equipped, 370-mile electric family car for £35,995. Definitely good news, as that makes the EV3 Air 81.4kWh one of the cheapest electric cars to offer such a long driving range. It even undercuts the MG4 Extended Range, which ‘only’ manages a 323 mile WLTP range, and not many manufacturers can really claim to be better value than MG. Well done, Kia! 

Having said that, the range does stretch right up to £43,895 for the top-spec model, so you can find yourself spending a lot of cash if you’re not careful. PCP finance deals and leasing costs also look a bit punchy next to some rivals – notably the Renault Megane E-Tech and MG4 – so it does depend a bit on how you’re buying the car. Even so, you do get that seven-year, 100,000 mile warranty on the new Kia EV3, which is always a big incentive.

Verdict

The Kia EV3 is a truly brilliant package. It’s got style, comfort, space, tech to spare and is also great value for money, not to mention a pleasure to drive. I even think that people will like that it’s not as big as some of its rivals; we don’t all want huge cars, after all. I just love it! From the way it looks to the fact that it offers such great driving range at a very decent price, it’s the electric car that a lot of people have been waiting for. 

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