Kia Australia has confirmed a March or April 2025 launch date for its new electric SUV, the compact EV3 which will arrive boasting up to 600km (WLTP) of battery range and 350kW DC fast charging capability.

The compact EV3 will slot into Kia’s lineup below the existing EV9, EV6 and soon-to-launch EV5, going head-to-head with the likes of the BYD Atto 3, Smart #1 and #3, MG4, Volvo EX30 and others in one of the fastest growing EV segments.

Kia claims the EV3 raises the bar for what’s expected of a compact electric model with features including intelligent regenerative braking and the ability to power or charge external devices, such as camping equipment.

Among the EV3’s claimed innovations are new regenerative braking technology including upgraded i-Pedal 3.0 and Smart Regenerative 3.0 systems, which Kia says take the concept of one-pedal driving to the next level.

The company says its latest i-Pedal 3.0 technology offers the driver more flexibility and control by separating the level of regenerative braking from the full stopping control function.

This means that full one-pedal driving can now be used in all regenerative braking modes, whereas in many vehicles it will only work in the strongest regeneration mode.

The i-Pedal 3.0 can also be used in Reverse and remembers the previously selected level when the vehicle is turned off.

The most substantial of the three-tier regenerative braking levels is also now able to operate more smoothly in heavy start-stop traffic, where drivers may need to slow the car quickly.

The Level 2 braking mode provides slightly less braking force, which Kia says is ideal for driving on winding roads, allowing drivers to slow the SUV smoothly for corners without touching the brake pedal, while simultaneously extracting more driving range from each battery charge.

The lightest Level 1 and Level 0 modes provide more comfort-focused deceleration, allowing the EV3 to glide when lifting off the accelerator and as such is better suited for motorway journeys.

Switching the i-Pedal to Level 0 allows the EV3 to coast fully, while bringing a similar deceleration rate to Level 1 at lower speeds.

The EV3 will also be the first to feature Hyundai Motor Group’s Smart Regenerative System 3.0 technology.

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This intelligent system integrates autonomous driving technology with regenerative braking, using GPS technology to scan the road ahead and react to situations with lightning-fast reactions.

Kia’s previous Smart Regenerative System relied solely on GPS information, with this latest version incorporating a wider variety of navigation-based data offering additional advantages for the driver.

This includes when the EV3 approaches a tight turn or a curve in the road, a speed limit decrease, a speed bump or a roundabout, where the car will automatically slow down to an appropriate speed.

Smart Regenerative System 3.0 can now also bring the EV3 to a complete stop when negotiating traffic and urban situations, where the previous system could automatically slow the vehicle to 9km/h.

When it comes to battery range, the EV3 is equipped with the largest battery in its class, an 81.4 kWh fourth-generation unit that boasts about 22% higher energy density compared with the Niro EV, which shares the same 400V architecture.

The EV3’s aerodynamic performance has also been enhanced via extensive wind tunnel testing.

Kia points to the SUV’s optimised wheel shapes, new side sill undercovers, and clean underbody which contribute to cleaner underfloor airflow and reduced drag.

Other aero enhancements contributing to the low 0.26Cd drag coefficient include optimised headlamp and front bumper covers, wheel gap reducers, an optimised wheel arch design, a shallower roof spoiler angle, aerodynamic strakes on the rear bumper cover and improved front wheel deflectors.

The EV3’s body is also narrower across the rear wheel arches than the front wheel arches, creating a boat-tail shape that further contributes to its improved electric driving range.

A Driving Range Guide located in the instrument cluster helps drivers to achieve maximum efficiency and range, switching colours in real time to indicate if the EV3 is being driven efficiently or not.

The EV3’s battery is also equipped with a liquid cooling system, which is used during charging to optimise battery thermal management and enhance charging speeds.

Kia claims the EV3’s rapid charging time is up to 12 minutes faster than the Niro EV, enabling the Long-Range model to charge from 10–80% in 31 minutes on a 350kW fast charger.

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Front-seat passengers in the EV3 also have more space thanks to its cleverly packaged super-compact HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system, which provides an extra 6cm of room in the footwell when compared with a conventional HVAC system.

Kia also claims to be the first to bring Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging to the compact EV SUV segment.

This feature enables the car to power and charge external devices such as a laptop or small fridge while ‘off-grid’ from electric infrastructure.

Kia Australia has confirmed the EV3 will launch locally in March/April 2025, with further details on trim variants, features and pricing to be announced closer to launch.

In Korea where the new model went on sale this year the EV3 is available in two-wheel drive (2WD) model guises only, but Kia has confirmed plans to introduce an all-wheel drive (AWD) variant as well as a GT model.