02/01/2025 The Kia EV3 is a brand new model in the firm’s lineup and certain to be a big hit for the South Korean brand. Why? The five-seat car features bang up to date SUV/crossover styling, with an exterior that continues the good work carried out by the designers on the big EV9 people carrier but with a more compact footprint. There’s a spacious interior and plenty of tech and connectivity wrapped up in a competitive price.
When viewed from the front the EV3 is distinctive. side-on there is the obligatory nod to SUV/Crossover styling, while the rear design looks well-resolved and functional. The design team has delivered a striking car that certainly makes a statement while at the same time its shape facilitates a practical interior.
Inside the cabin, the EV3 continues on theme seen in the EV9. There is a very wide screen digital display our GT-line car had a head-up-display that makes safe driving very easy as your eyes sound hard to leave the road. A comprehensive number of buttons and switch gear offered the driver control over almost anything. The heating controls have analog switches. You can also control the sound volume via a physical knob on the centre console. There is an abundance of storage places throughout the cabin, and wireless phone charging and connectivity to suit the most technically demanding.
There is comfortable seating for five and a good-sized boot that can take a big-shop with ease. The boot features a split floor and can hold 460 litres of cargo. There is a 25-litre frunk under the bonnet that can house a charging cable. As with the trend these days you are bombarded with the availability of luxury features such as heated seats in the rear, heated steering wheel, and all the safety features you could imagine not just the ones demanded by the latest European directives.
All EV3s have a single drive motor that powers the rear-wheels. A number of drive modes are available and these are selectable via a steering wheel button. The gear selector and power button are located on a stubby stalk mounted on the righthand side of steering column. The car is not overly quick for an EV but has plenty of power for effortless day to day driving. The lack of outrageous power hints at more efficient motor management. The car goes and drives in a similar fashion to many other EV’s on market. It does a very competent job. There’s an automatic electronic handbrake with hold-assist and all sorts of driving aids that make life easy.
Is the EV3 an exciting driver’s car that makes you want to take the long way home? No, the EV3 is just a car that inspires contentment and confidence.
The single motor, rear-wheel drive EV3 is priced from €36,790 for the entry-point Earth 2 grade. Standard specification includes 17” alloy wheels, dual 12.3” display screens, LED headlights, heated front seats & steering wheel, wireless phone charging and AppleCarPlay and Android Auto. Three grades in total feature: Earth 2, Earth 3 (19” alloy wheels, vegan leather seats, power front seats and blind- spot collision avoidance), and GT-Line – our test car. GT Line features V2L (vehicle to load) capability i.e. external electrical power, power adjustable sunroof and a power tailgate.
Two battery sizes are available the entry model Earth 2 gets the smaller 58.3kWh rechargeable battery as standard. Kia assures us it is good for a maximum driving range, from full, of 436km. A long range 81.4kWh battery pack is an option on Earth 2 and standard for all other grades. It delivers a maximum range of 605km. 2024 did see a number of new EVs from a variety of manufacturers deliver greater driving range – and this will only get better year on year as battery technology and its management improves.
Kia Ireland has been going from strength to strength in the sales charts and is currently sitting mid-table in the top 10 selling brands. Kia says rivals for the EV6 include the Cupra Born and VW ID3 from The Volkswagen group, and the Volvo EX 30, Smart #1 and Renault Megane E-Tech. The Volkswagen group product looks quite dated next to the EV3 while others rivals are reasonably contemporary. Pricing for the EV3 Earth 2 starts from €36,790 while the long range Earth 2 starts at €40,350. If you want all the toys up for the GT line variant our test car weighed in at €47,190. The Kia EV3 is a very impressive package. We love its exterior looks and its spacious cabin. To be hyper critical, there is a lot of hard surfaces/materials featured but many materials are recyclables and should be applauded. Michael Sheridan
