Kia EV3 review – small electric SUV hits the right notes

Verdict – is the Kia EV3 a good car?

The boxy Kia EV3 instantly makes a good impression with cool looks and much of the same interior tech from the far pricier EV9. Its range of up to 375 miles is impressive too, and its cabin is roomy for the car’s size. There aren’t many negatives, but performance is only lukewarm and charging speeds aren’t as lightning-quick as those of Kia’s poshest EVs.

Kia EV3 models, specs and alternatives

Kia is moving away from producing electric versions of its petrol and hybrid cars, instead creating a range of EVs from the ground up, such as the EV6 and EV9. The latest piece of the puzzle is the Kia EV3, and it’s a mighty important one, because the small SUV class it slots into accounts for a big slice of European new car sales. 

Top 10 best small electric cars 2024

The Kia EV3 is likely to prove a popular model – with five seats and a decently sized boot, the EV3 should be a hit with British families and give rivals like the Volvo EX30, Skoda Elroq and Renault Megane E-Tech stiff competition.

Buyers get the option of two battery sizes and three trim levels from launch, with prices starting from £33k for the Air trim with a 58kWh battery. This can be upgraded to an 81kWh battery for £3,000, while the GT-Line and GT-Line S trims get the bigger battery as standard, costing around £39k and £43k respectively. It’s also anticipated that a dual-motor version with more performance will arrive at a later date.

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No matter which version you go for at the moment, all models get a 201bhp electric motor serving up a brisk 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds – not bad for an SUV. Don’t expect the EV3 to feel sporty, however – the focus here is on comfort. We noticed this when we tested it in South Korea, and now we’ve driven it in the UK, we can confirm that’s still the case, but the EV3 copes with UK roads well and while it’s set up for comfort it’s still decent to drive without being harsh.

More important is the driving range, which is up to 270 miles for the small battery and 375 miles for the 81kWh. What impressed us even more was how close we got to that official range in our test car. Charging speeds are pretty good, but you don’t get the same ultra-fast charging found in pricier Kia models, so speeds peak at 128kW here. That’s still good for a 10 to 80% recharge in around 30 minutes.

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UK buyers will likely be happy to see two battery sizes offered in the Kia EV3 – after all, its relatively small size means plenty of urban drivers will likely be happy with the smaller 52kWh capacity and the £3,000 saving it brings. Its official range figure of 270 miles is hardly paltry anyway, and it’s pretty quick to charge back up, but if you want an even more usable range the larger battery offers up to 375 miles on a charge. It's also worth noting that Kia has a good reputation for making EVs that can realistically hit their claimed range figures.

If you do want to travel further afield often, the 81kWh battery is large by class standards, dwarfing the likes of the 54kWh battery in the Peugeot E-2008. The Volvo EX30 comes with 51kWh or 69kWh battery sizes, so it’s also a bit behind the Kia in this respect.

While the EV3 is based on the same E-GMP building blocks of the Kia EV6 and EV9, its budget status means it gets a more cost-focussed suite of charging hardware. Versions with the bigger battery can ‘only’ charge at 128kW peak speeds as a result, dropping to 102kW for the 52kWh version. You won’t be topping up in 15 minutes as a result, but a 10 to 80% charge still takes just half-an-hour at a fast enough public chargepoint. The EX30 posts charging speeds of up to 153kW, so it wins the race out of the charging stalls.
 

How efficient is the Kia EV3 in the real world?

When we tested the Kia EV3 in the UK in rather unfavourable grisly, cold weather for an EV, we were impressed with how many miles we managed to achieve on a charge. We came close to hitting the 300-mile mark, which was impressive given the circumstances.

During our test drive in South Korea, we averaged around 4.6 miles/kWh during a mixture of city and motorway driving. That’s pretty impressive, especially given the EV3’s boxy shape, but it is worth noting that the motorway speed limit in the Kia’s home nation is just 62mph, so it would be a bit less efficient at higher speeds. 

What will the Kia EV3 cost to insure?

Kia insurance groups are still being confirmed, but if we look at the Kia Niro EV with precisely the same power (201bhp) and a 65kWh battery, it sits in groups 28 to 29 out of 50, while the equivalent Cupra Born is in group 25.

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Kia has great form when it comes to engineering and developing EVs, so it’s no surprise that the EV3 is just as easy to get along with as the Kia EV6. We first tested it on its home turf in South Korea where we found it comfortable to drive, though you shouldn’t expect it to be particularly sporty or engaging. We echo those same thoughts after having tested it in the UK, where we think it’s possibly even better suited to our roads.

With 201bhp we’d say the EV3 has a decent turn of performance, because let’s not forget this car also weighs almost two tonnes. Still, a 0-62mph dash in 7.5 seconds is pretty good, even if it’s quite far off the 5.7 seconds of the Volvo EX30, never mind the quickest Twin Motor version of that car posting a 3.6-second dash.

Is the Kia EV3 good to drive in town?

The EV3 certainly feels nippy in the city, and it gets Kia’s iPedal regenerative braking that you can adjust using the paddles behind the steering wheel. Not only is there a coast setting, but also three levels of braking effect and an automatic mode that slows the car down as you approach a junction or set of traffic lights. The suspension is fairly soft, but it can get caught out by bumps and potholes.

Is the Kia EV3 good to drive on long journeys?

It’s a tick in the box here, because the smooth and quiet motor, refined cabin and soft suspension make the EV3 a pretty relaxed motorway companion. Our only minor gripe is that at higher speeds the EV3 can exhibit more road noise than you might expect, but it’s not so intrusive as to make it significantly unpleasant to cruise along in.

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Is the Kia EV3 good to drive on B-roads?

It’s not quite a model for keen drivers – it’s by no means bad to drive, but the focus here is on comfort, so you’re not likely to find it engaging or entertaining on a B-road. It’s a heavy car, which is somewhat apparent through the corners – it copes well and stays grippy and stable, but you can feel the suspension working hard to keep things in check. Put the EV3 into Sport mode and the difference is very subtle in comparison to Comfort – the steering feels slightly heavier and the throttle response is more sensitive.

Carbuyer notes

“There are four drive modes, but Sport is a bit misleading because it makes little difference to the amount of performance on offer. Instead it’ll change the mapping of the throttle pedal to make it more responsive and add a bit of weight to the steering. There’s also Eco, Normal and a configurable mode that you can set up yourself.” Jordan Katsianis, Senior staff writer

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The Kia EV3 takes inspiration from the excellent EV9 with a stylish and modern design theme. We’re also pleased Kia is bucking the trend seen in the Volvo EX30 and Volkswagen ID.3 of eliminating all physical controls in favour of a digital screen, because in the EV3 you also get control knobs and buttons for the stereo volume and climate control. These should be a lot easier to use on the move or when wearing gloves in winter.

Materials aren’t all quite as soft or visually appealing as you’ll find in rivals like the Renault Megane, but everything feels robust and carefully considered, and there’s plentiful use of sustainable materials, including a leather-like seating material. It’s clever too, with features like a small table housed in the centre console that you can put your laptop or tablet on while waiting at a chargepoint. The dashboard sits quite low, too, so visibility out of the front of the EV3 is brilliant.

Is the Kia EV3 infotainment and navigation system easy to use?

There are actually three displays, so you can feel pretty smug that the more expensive EV9’s 30-inch bank of screens is shared here. Two 12.3-inch displays sit either side of a five-inch screen for the climate control, which can be a bit tricky to see behind the steering wheel, but is otherwise easy to use. Every version gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s also a charging pad for your smartphone in the central cubby.

Is the Kia EV3 well equipped?

Even the standard Air trim gets kit like the infotainment setup, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, reversing camera and rear parking sensors from the off. If you upgrade to GT-Line trim – which also brings the bigger battery by default – there’s wireless smartphone charging, ambient lighting and tinted rear windows. 

The range-topping GT-Line S brings premium equipment like a Harmon Kardon stereo upgrade, a head-up display, 360-degree parking view, a sunroof and heated rear seats.

What options should you choose on the Kia EV3?

Kia doesn’t really subscribe to a long list of optional extras; instead, you're better off just picking the trim level with the level of kit you want. One of the only options is Kia’s premium paint which adds just over £600 to the bill.

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Despite not being all that different in size to the Kia Niro EV, the EV3 offers almost as much interior space as the bigger Kia Sportage. Space for front occupants is plentiful, and a relatively low dashboard and large windscreen boosts the feeling of spaciousness.

Hop in the back – which is nice and easy thanks to the wide door openings – and the car’s decent width and flat floor means carrying three abreast in the back seat is more than possible. However, it’s not quite big enough for three child seats in a row, and Kia provides ISOFIX child seat anchor points with top tethers in the outer two rear seats.

Does the Kia EV3 have a big boot?

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The boot measures 460 litres, which is a good size for the small electric SUV class. There’s also a movable boot floor, so you can choose to position it higher and get rid of the loading lip (with a cubby hidden underneath), or place the floor lower down to maximise boot volume or carry taller objects. The rear seats only split 60:40, but the backrest can be adjusted to improve comfort for backseat passengers. The EV3 also has a small ‘frunk’ under the bonnet, but measuring just 25 litres it’s only really useful for storing items like the charging cable. 

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Kia has a good track record when it comes to safety ratings, so while the EV3 hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP yet, its impressive active and passive safety features should stand it in good stead.

It’s a similar story when it comes to reliability, because Kia has been building EVs for quite some time now, and its models, along with those from sister-brand Hyundai, don’t tend to suffer too many battery or electric motor-related issues. Three Kia models appeared in our latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, namely the Kia Sportage (11th), Kia Picanto (12th) and Kia Stonic (30th).

The Kia brand as a whole also took a spot on the podium, coming third behind only Tesla and Subaru on the top step. Owners scored it highly across the board, but for value and infotainment especially. Out of those who responded, 24.3% of Kia owners reported a fault within the first year.

How safe is the Kia EV3?

The EV3’s boxy nose hides a myriad of sensors, so it’s always scanning the road ahead for pedestrians, cyclists and junctions to help avoid collisions. It can also drive semi-autonomously on the motorway, so long as you keep your hands resting on the steering wheel. 

Other safety kit includes a safe exit warning for passengers in the back that looks out for passing cars and bicycles, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, driver attention warnings and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist.

What are the service intervals?

Service intervals haven’t been announced yet, but if they stick with the same regime as the Kia Niro EV, you can expect to service your EV3 every two years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first.

What is the warranty on the Kia EV3?

Kia is well known for its seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, which is still one of the best in the business. The battery pack is actually covered for an extra year too, which covers any repairs or replacements required to return it to a capacity of at least 70% of its new state.

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Should you buy a Kia EV3?

The Kia EV3 is another compelling electric SUV from the South Korean firm, and it looks likely to go down a storm with buyers. It’s not the fastest or best EV to drive, and there’s no crazy dual-motor version with blistering performance. But does this matter in a segment aimed at young couples, families and empty nesters? We suspect not.

People who are enamoured with the EV3 are likely to be pulled in by its cool looks, spacious cabin and Kia’s good track record for EVs that are efficient and have batteries that hardly degrade over time.

It’s also very well equipped, with all the kit most people are going to want, and an easy-to-understand pricing strategy that doesn’t require you to tick options boxes that see the price you’ll actually end up paying spiral. 

We hope the EV3 feels a bit more precise and sharper when we drive a European-spec car on UK roads, however, because based on our first drive there are more fun rivals like the EX30 and MINI Countryman E that are better to drive.

What is the best Kia EV3 for low running costs?

While every EV3 is cheap to run thanks to their zero tailpipe emissions, the entry-level Air trim with its smaller and cheaper 58kWh battery is hard to ignore. Unless you need to drive long distances on a regular basis, we’d be tempted to pocket the £3,000 saving.

What is the Carbuyer pick of the Kia EV3 range?

Tricky one this, and really it comes down to your travel habits. If you only drive locally, the entry-level Air trim probably makes most sense. If you spend long periods of time in the car and frequently hack up and down the motorway, the bigger battery is worth the upgrade, and GT-Line gets some tempting additions like a smartphone charging pad, ambient lighting and privacy glass.

Kia EV3 alternatives

The small SUV class has almost replaced the traditional family hatchback, so there’s loads of choice. Specs, range figures and cabin space vary quite a bit, though, so we’d recommend reading our reviews before shortlisting cars to test drive.

• MG4
• Smart #1
• Hyundai Kona Electric
• Peugeot E-2008
• Renault Megane
• Cupra Born
• Jeep Avenger

How we tested the Kia EV3

We’ve now tested the Kia EV3 on UK roads in grisly, cold weather in December 2024, and had previously tested the Kia EV3 in South Korea over a mixture of city roads and highways in September of the same year.