Kia EV3 Review & Prices

The Kia EV3 is the perfect example of Honey, I Shrunk The Brilliant Electric Car. Kia has proven its electric chops with the massive EV9 SUV and the sleek EV6, and basically the Korean company has put them in front of the Shrink-O-Mat and yelled ‘Ensmallen!’ The EV3 is the result.

It’ll be an alternative to the likes of the MG4, BYD Dolphin, Volkswagen ID3, Smart #1, Volvo EX30, and Cupra Born. Alternatives aplenty, then.

From the outside, the EV3 looks every inch the shrink-wrapped EV9. It gets the same blunt bonnet, the same slim headlights, the same chunky roof pillar at the back, and the same wrap-over brake lights. The same, just smaller.

The EV3 has similar dimensions to the VW Golf hatchback, but it’s a bit taller and chunkier, to the benefit of cabin space, as well as potentially being more appealing courtesy of its dinky SUV proportions.

The interior lifts lots of good stuff from other Kias such as the EV6 and the Sportage. There’s a big ‘digital plank’ across the dashboard which is home to two screens for instruments and infotainment, and a groovy-looking squared-off steering wheel. There are some shortcut buttons here and there in the cabin, but most of the major functions are on the screen. Normally that’s not great, but Kia’s software is pretty good so it won’t be as awkward to use as, say, the Volvo EX30, and there are proper buttons for the stereo volume and cabin temperature, which is good news.

The cabin is well-laid out, and looks smart even if some of the plastics are on the cheap side of things. Kia has played it smart though, giving the seats some very soft fabrics (made of recycled materials, mostly) and optional man-made leather (vinyl to you or me) for the higher-spec models.

There’s plenty of space and storage areas up front, and it’s roomy in the back, too. Certainly, the Kia EV3 matches the likes of the ID3 and Born for rear seat space, and it’s far more spacious and more practical than the too-small Volvo.

The boot is a good size for this class, with 460 litres available up to the luggage cover, which beats the 380 litres offered by the ID3 and even the 400 litres of the Renault Megane E-Tech. There is a storage space in the nose, which is small at just 25 litres, but it’s just about enough to squeeze in a coiled-up charging cable.

Where the Kia EV3 really scores is in terms of its range. The basic version comes with a 51.8kWh battery which is good for up to 267 miles of range — competitive but perhaps not outstanding. However, there is a (pricier) long-range model with an 81.4kWh battery, which has a claimed 367-mile range which really does beat pretty much all others in this class. Only the big battery versions of the MG4, ID3 and Born get close to that.

Power for both batteries comes from the same 201hp electric motor driving the front wheels, which gives the EV3 a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds, which is decent but not… ahem… electrifying.

Unfortunately, in the interests of saving costs, the EV3 doesn’t get the ultra-rapid charging kit of the bigger EV9 and EV6. It can charge at up to 128kW (102kW for the small-battery model), which leaves it some way behind the best alternatives, though this only becomes a problem on longer drives, naturally.

We’ll update this review with driving impressions once we’ve been behind the wheel. Until then, you can check out the latest Kia EV3 deals available through Carwow, or browse our favourite electric SUVs for some tempting alternatives. You can also get a great price on a used Kia from our network of trusted dealers, and when it’s time to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.

The Kia EV3 is very attractively priced, offering an SUV-ish body shape for slightly less than the price of a basic VW ID3 or Cupra Born. It’s more expensive than the cheapest MG4 or BYD Dolphin, and while the EV3 has a higher-quality cabin than the MG, it’s a tighter contest with the well-built Dolphin.

Against the Volvo EX30, the EV3 doesn’t — surprisingly — have much of a price advantage, but it has longer range than the basic EX30, and is roomier inside too. There’s also the Renault Megane E-Tech, which is more of a traditional hatchback, but which is well-priced, good to drive, and offers decent — if not long-range EV3-beating — range.