Kia said it plans to first introduce the EV3 in South Korea in July 2024, followed by launches in Europe and other parts of the world. Prices are expected to be between $35,000 to $50,000, with the South Korean carmaker looking to sell 200,000 units in its first year.
The Kia EV9 battery-electric crossover made huge waves as the South Korean automaker’s flagship electric vehicle (EV).
The large sport-utility vehicle made boxy cars cool again, especially with the company’s distinctive “Tiger nose” grill and futuristic styling cues. But for those who need less bulk, the EV9’s little brother made its global debut recently.
Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song formally introduced the Kia EV3 at an online press conference. This all-new model aims to take on the highly competitive compact crossover market, all while sporting the performance and advanced technology we have all come to expect from EVs.
Kia executive vice president Karim Habib, who is also the brand’s design chief, said the EV3 was designed using the curiously named “Opposites United” philosophy that combines a wide range of natural and modern styling cues to produce a truly distinctive and cohesive whole.
Put another way, the EV3 takes heavily after its larger sibling, starting with the familiar “Tiger Face” flanked by vertically arranged LED headlights and intricate LED daytime running lights.
Much like the EV9, the all-new EV3 gets a commodious cabin that incorporates the latest in-car entertainment technology.
The dashboard is dominated by the sleek widescreen display – including a 12.3-inch cluster, a 5-inch air-conditioning panel, and another 12.3-inch AVN display – that incorporates seamless touch operation of the EV3’s various functions. The screen also extends to the center of the dashboard, giving the front-seat passenger access to entertainment and navigation features.
Adding to the upscale interior experience are the various streamable content through Kia’s Premium Streaming service, delivered via LG’s Automotive Content Platform powered by webOS. Kia also offers arcade games, allowing occupants to enjoy in-car gaming.
The immersive experience is further enhanced by the sound quality of the EV3’s Harman Kardon audio system, which Kia claims delivers an experience akin to a home cinema.
The EV3 rides on the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform and is available in two variants.
One is the Standard model with a 58.3-kWh battery pack, while the Long Range model gets an 81.4-kWh battery. The latter allows for a maximum WLTP range of 600 kilometers on a single full charge, with Kia’s advanced Vehicle Charging Management System enabling the battery to charge from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 31 minutes.
Both models get an electric motor that sends 201 horsepower and 283 Newton-meters of torque through the front wheels. Kia claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.5 seconds and a maximum speed of 170 km/h.
The EV3 is the first EV model to feature Kia’s A.I. Assistant technology, which had recently made its debut on the Kia K4 compact sedan.
In addition, the EV3 is the first model to benefit from Kia’s new i-Pedal 3.0. This allows the driver to adjust the level of regenerative braking according to their preference, enabling less taxing one-pedal driving.
And you can also use your EV3 as a giant power bank because it is the first compact EV SUV with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging. It can power external devices like laptops, small refrigerators, coffee machines and hairdryers.