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Battery size: 55 - 78 kWh
Battery warranty: 7 years/100,000 miles
Range: 267 - 375 miles
Charging speed: 128kW
You can choose between a 55- or 78 kWh battery, which are good for WLTP range figures of 267- or 372 miles respectively.
The EV3 sits on a modified version of the E-GMP platform that also underpins the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, which offers front-wheel drive with a single motor in the EV3 for now, although 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).
There’s a really good amount of space in the back seats, so the kids will be happy, and there are 460-litres of space in the boot; usefully more than you get in the Volkswagen ID.3 and Volvo EX30, although the Renault Megane E-Tech gets close. A small frunk that will take a charging cable without you having to learn Ninja-level cable-tidying skills.
The EV3 draws on the EV9 for a lot of the interior design and tech that you get up front, too. The first thing you notice are the 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’re getting big car tech at a more affordable price. Just like the EV9 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.
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.
In fact, it’s so good that we’ve awarded it the Electrifying Car of the Year 2025. We don’t give our awards out without good reason, but – whether you want it for the long range and good value, or whether you want it for the tech and practicality – the EV3 is just a brilliant all-rounder.
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