Kia’s new EV3 impresses with price and range
Kia’s new baby electric SUV boasts impressive range and an attractive price.
Kia Australia has confirmed pricing and features for its all-new compact electric SUV, with the entry-level EV3 set to launch with a sub-$50,000 price and a more expensive Long Range variant capable of traveling more than 600km on a single charge.
The EV3 arrives in dealerships in April and will slot into Kia’s lineup below the existing EV9, EV6 and EV5, going head-to-head with the likes of the BYD Atto 3, Smart #1 and #3, MG4, Volvo EX30 and others.
Quick links
- What is the range and cost of the EV3?
- What is powering the EV3?
- What about the EV3's exterior design?
- What is it like inside the EV3?
- Does the EV3 have any special features?
What is the range and cost of the EV3?
The range opens with the EV3 Air Standard Range with 58.3 kWh battery priced at $47,600 RRP ($48,990 driveaway).
Stepping up to the EV3 Air Long Range with larger 81.4 kWh battery hikes the price to $53,315 ($56,490 driveaway) but improves range from the entry model’s 436km (WLTP) to an impressive 604km on the WLTP cycle.
Further up the range come the EV3 Earth Long Range and EV3 GT-Line, both featuring the same 81.4kWh battery as the Air Long Range, and priced at $58,600 ($62,690 driveaway) and $63,950 ($68,490 driveaway).
Both these variants have a claimed range of 563km (WLTP).
What is powering the EV3?
All four EV3 variants feature the same single motor front-wheel drive powertrain, with identical outputs of 150kW/283Nm, with the larger 81.4 kWh battery available on the three Long Range variants.New regenerative braking technology
Helping optimise the driving range of all EV3 variants is Kia’s new iPedal 3.0 adjustable regenerative braking system, which the company claims takes the concept of one-pedal driving to the next level by offering the driver more flexibility and control.
By separating the level of regenerative braking from the full stopping control function, the EV3’s full one-pedal driving can 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 EV3 will also be the first to feature Hyundai Motor Group’s Smart Regenerative System 3.0 technology, which integrates autonomous driving technology with regenerative braking, using GPS technology to scan the road ahead and react to situations more quickly.
What about the EV3’s exterior design?
Stylistically, the EV3’s aerodynamic shape has been enhanced via extensive wind tunnel testing with Kia pointing to the SUV’s optimised wheel shapes, new side sill undercovers, and clean underbody, all of which contribute to cleaner underfloor airflow and reduced drag.
Other aero enhancements 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.
The front-end design of Kia’s new compact EV incorporates the car maker’s Star Map lighting and Tiger Face family elements, with the GT-Line distinguished by stronger opposing diagonal elements and a larger, black lower grille for a sportier appearance.
The GT-Line also gets unique front and rear lighting elements and its own 19-inch alloy wheel designs, with the Earth riding on a different 19-inch design and the Air variants rolling on 17-inch alloys.
Other notable exterior design elements include flush front and hidden rear door handles, while inside the EV3 features a minimalistic design with soft touch points and large touchscreen displays.
What is it like inside the EV3?
The packaging benefits of the EV3’s dedicated EV platform is claimed to deliver optimised interior space within a compact exterior, benefitting legroom, shoulder room and headroom.Front seat passengers have extra space thanks to a compact HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system, which Kia claims provides an extra 6cm of room in the footwell when compared with a conventional HVAC system.
Cargo space is also claimed to be generous for the small SUV class, with 460L VDA area in the rear and an additional 25L VDA cavity in the nose of the EV3.
Comfort and convenience features include Kia Connect, Over the Air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and phone charging, V2L including connector kit, a column-type Shift-by-Wire gear selector. The higher specified Earth and GT-Line trims are also equipped with a Smart Power Tailgate.
Over and above this, the EV3 GT-Line gets a Head-Up Display (HUD), sunroof, and eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
All grades feature a 12.3-inch Digital Driver Cluster, 5.3-inch Climate Monitor, and 12.3-inch Touch Screen Infotainment interface, with Kia’s latest GUI (Graphical User Interface).
A Driving Range Guide located in the instrument cluster helps drivers achieve maximum efficiency and range, switching colours in real time to indicate if the EV3 is being driven efficiently or not.
Does the EV3 have any special features?
Kia claims the EV3 raises the bar for what’s expected of a compact electric model with features including 350kW DC fast charging capability, and the ability to power or charge external devices, such as camping equipment.
Kia claims the EV3’s liquid-cooled battery reduces rapid charging time by up to 12 minutes over the Niro EV, enabling the Long Range model to charge from 10–80% in 31 minutes on a 350kW fast charger.
The EV3’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature also enables the car to power and charge external devices such as a laptop or small fridge while ‘off-grid’ from electric infrastructure.
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