With Kia’s electrification strategy ramping up and getting up to full speed, the EV3 is now the brand’s first dedicated compact electric SUV. If you’re ever worried about range anxiety, Kia’s all-new EV3 might be for you, offering a segment leading up to 375 miles of range on a single charge! Plus, with Kia choosing Europe as the primary testing ground for the EV3, this might be the best new electric SUV for us Europeans, once it arrives. Given how our roads work, you might be able to enjoy, according to Kia, up to 479 miles of range, too. That’s mostly thanks to Kia’s super-efficient regenerative braking tech and the new EV3’s aerodynamic design.
One of the more interesting bits of engineering in the new Kia EV3 that I found was its i-Pedal one-pedal driving feature. Not only does this work in reverse, but it automatically remembers your previously selected braking level. Effortlessness aside, it’s worth mentioning the superbly low drag coefficient on the new EV3 of just 0.263. This ought to make it the most aerodynamic vehicle in its class. Some of the other aero-focused additions that you might notice include the active air flaps that dynamically adjust to reduce drag. Moreover, the boat-tail rear shape can further optimise airflow, and the underbody covers help to further smooth the airflow.
The New Gold Standard Among Compact Electric SUVs
If you’re thinking about cross-shopping the EV3, you’ll have the option to pick between one of two battery sizes. There’s a smaller 58.3kWh battery pack, as well as a larger 81.4kWh option, too. Either way you go, thanks to the Kia EV3’s fantastic 400V fast-charging capability, a 10% to 80% charge will only take you around 30 minutes! More impressively, if you’re running low on time, a 15-minute quick charge is enough to add almost 125 miles of range. And, thanks to the Kia Charge initiative, you can get access to over 800,000 charging stations across Europe. Statistically, the EV3 is one of the most efficient EVs in terms of mile-per-minute charging!
I’m not sure how many of you will actually use this, but the new Kia EV3 also features vehicle-to-load (V2L). This should allow you to power up external electronics, like camping equipment. Besides that, the EV3 even comes with bi-directional charging, including vehicle-to-grid (this’ll allow you to contribute back to the grid), vehicle-to-home (using your EV3 as a backup power source for your house), and vehicle-to-building (aiding with urban EV charging). Between that and this handsome new design language that Kia’s championing, the EV3 is already one of my favourite upcoming EVs showcased so far. To my eyes, it’s one of the prettier cars out there.
Kia’s Electrifying Revolution, Starting With The EV3
Kia wants the cabin of the EV3 to be a “living room on wheels”. While I can’t say it for certain without having stepped inside one myself, it does at least look like a pretty awesome place to spend time in. There’s not one, but three screens that you can fiddle around with; a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, and a 5.3-inch climate control display. From the seats to the mood lighting, as well as the abundance of clever storage solutions, the EV3 has one of the most cleverly designed cabins I’ve seen yet. It’s nice to see Kia making good use of space, maximising the EV3’s packaging, which also means even more legroom for us!
For example, the new Kia EV3 comes with the world’s first ultra-thin HVAC system, which can further help you reduce power consumption. Elsewhere, the built-in thermal management system also helps to capture heat to try and maximise your range in colder climates. Granted, I’m not sure how economical I’ll be in one, seeing that the EV3 sounds like a fabulous driver’s car! Kia seems to have spent a lot of time fine-tuning its handling and ride quality, as well as the steering precision and performance. Speaking of, you can spec your dream Kia EV3 either as a 2WD or AWD model, so consider keeping an eye out for one at your local Kia showroom.
