Kia EV3 revealed with class-leading tech

23 May 2024

Kia has unveiled the EV3, promising EV9 level technology in a compact (and more affordable) form

Kia has revealed full details of its next all electric model, the EV3. As the name suggests, it will sit under both the EV6 and EV9 in the Korean carmaker's range.

As the photos show, the EV3 is a compact SUV, with the accustomed higher driving position and shares the same design DNA as it's larger EV9 sibling. The carmaker is also promising that the new model will benefit from lots of the same tech found on the EV9.

The EV3 is built on the brand's E-GMP platform, so shares some of the same underpinnings as the Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona - but for this model there's a new fourth generation battery unit. Two battery sizes will be available to customers, a standard model with 58.3kWh and a Long Range version with 81.4 kWh.

Regardless of battery size, there a single 150kW motor powering the front wheels and proves brisk acceleration, with a sprint time (0-62mph) of 7.5 seconds. Real-world range figures have yet to be confirmed but we're expecting ballpark figures of 220 miles for the standard range model and around 300 miles for the Long Range version. Kia has said that WLTP figures for the Long Range version will be around 400 miles.

Where the EV3 does differ from the EV6 and EV9 is that it cannot accept ultra-rapid levels of DC charging - so it is unable to accept 150kW or up to 350kW of power. Instead, the standard version can accept up to 102kW or 128kW if you're driving the Long Range version. This means that on-the-go and under optimum conditions you're looking at around a 30 minute duration to top of the vehicle up from 10% to 80%.

The Kia EV3 has been designed and engineered to meet the needs of customers who want a car that matches their sustainability values but do not want to compromise their practical everyday needs. It provides one of the best living and luggage sizes in its class, while our flexible E-GMP architecture delivers a best-in-class AER driving range.

Spencer Cho, Vice President and Head of Global Business Planning @ Kia

Inside the car, there's ample room for five adult occupants and there's all the latest tech and equipment you'd expect on a modern EV car.

A 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen is in there plus behind the steering wheel is another 12.3-inch screen with all the driver essentials.

Driver assistance systems include Lane Keep Assist, forward collision avoidance, Highway driving assist and smart parking assist. The EV3 is also the first model to make use of i-Pedal 3.0 which allows the driver to set the level of regen braking.

Another feature making its way over from other models is the V2L capability, which means that small appliances can be powered by the vehicle.