Kia has unveiled its new EV3 electric SUV, which will act as the entry-level car in the brand’s EV lineup after the EV6 and EV9.
Inspired heavily by the flagship EV9, the EV3 continues with the brand’s “Opposites Unite” design language, features an electric drivetrain based on the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and utilizes the brand's fourth-generation battery technology.
Despite being designated as a compact EV, the EV3 is just 30 mm narrower than the EV6. With two trims, standard and GT-line, the EV3’s styling is bold, which is in line with the brand’s current model lineup.
The compact EV’s front end features a vertical headlamp setup with angular LED daytime running lights, seamlessly connected via a black trim piece. The bumper sits flush with the bodywork and features a faux silver trim, while the lower half contains slim openings for airflow.
The side profile is muscular thanks to the flared arches with black plastic trim, and the slightly sloped roof gives a floating effect due to the black C-pillar. Other highlights on the side include the concept car-like wheels with four rectangular openings and the rear-door handle mounted on the C-pillar.
The rear features an angular LED tail light setup neatly integrated into the glass. The almost flat tailgate is complemented by the rear bumper, which contains faux silver trim with vertical reflectors on either side.
The EV3 will be available in nine body colours, and the GT-line features more rugged and sporty contrast trim pieces on the bumpers, along with black wheels. The EV3’s interior is minimalistic, with a two-spoke steering wheel (three-spoke in the GT-line) that houses an off-centre badge and a dashboard that houses a mix of physical and touch-sensitive controls for the climate control and media.
A nearly 30-inch screen contains the 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a five-inch climate control screen, and the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment. The buttons on the steering wheel provide access to functions like drive modes, cruise control, media, and navigation.
The centre console contains physical buttons for the safety systems, an electric parking brake, a sliding table, and a storage area that also features a wireless charging pad. The EV3 has a claimed 25-litre front trunk (frunk), 460 litres of rear load capacity, and an adjustable two-tier luggage board that provides 140 mm of load height flexibility.
The EV3’s base and long-range trims will utilize the same electric motor as the EV6, which is rated at 204 horsepower and 208 lb-ft of torque. This output allows for a dash to 100 km/h from a standstill in a claimed 7.5 seconds. It’s also the first model in Kia’s EV lineup to get the new “i-Pedal 3.0” regenerative braking tech, which will allow the driver to adjust the level of regenerative braking, enabling one-pedal driving. The base trim will be offered with a 58.3-kWh battery, while the long-range version will be fitted with an 81.4-kWh battery, the latter of which can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in approximately 31 minutes.
Kia claims that the long-range EV3 can provide an estimated range of up to 600 km, 106 km more than the recently facelifted EV6. This range figure has been acquired via the testing methods conducted in South Korea, which are different from the ones carried out by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Since both the EV3 and EV6 are based on the same platform, the range figure for the former can be expected to be 500 km (long-range version), if not more, when it arrives in Canada.
Kia will first introduce the EV3 in Korea in July 2024, followed by its European launch in the second half of the year. Expect more details on a North American debut in the coming months.