The new, highly-anticipated EV3 is going to be an incredibly important car for Kia, more so than their already diverse line-up of fantastic electrified models, given the fact that the EV3 is now the brand’s newest, entry-level, affordable EV. With an attainable starting price in the low-£30,000s, if the world truly is going head first into electrification, then the EV3 has to be Kia’s volume seller. So, there’s no room for error. However, with a lot of pressure riding on its shoulders, and with an abundance of other brilliant budget EVs competing in that same, saturated price bracket, why should you consider the Kia EV3 over everything else on the market today?
What Is The Kia EV3 Air Standard Range About?
If you’ve read up on some of my other reviews of Kia’s recent ensemble over the past couple of years, you’ll probably know by now that I’m quite a big fan of their current design language. It was almost like yesterday when we all mocked Kia for their bland, generic, copy-and-paste styling, but those days are no more. The all-new EV3 is a testament to just how distinctive and handsome Kia’s design ethos has evolved into. In particular, the EV3’s boxy, muscular, retro-futuristic aesthetic looks awesome in my eyes. Most notably, I like how Kia has been able to mix its two-tone paint finish, with this lovely Sunset Orange contrasting against the black trim.
Similarly, you’ll find tonnes of the EV3’s signature, prominent square-ness throughout, the more you look. The Kia EV3’s 17-inch aero-turbine wheels, for example, have those square patterns in them. Plus, in some angles, the overall bulldog shape of the EV3 does, deceptively, make it look a tad smaller than it is. I do adore the EV3’s lighting signature too, which we’ve seen evolved from some other recent Kia models. As a whole, it remains to be seen whether the new EV3’s styling will age well, or if it’ll continue to be polarising for years to come. Still, for the time being, it’s definitely among the more uniquely styled EVs I’ve seen, and in a good way.
How Does It Drive?
Across the board, including the top-of-the-line trim levels (or this entry-level Air model here), the Kia EV3 will feature the same powertrain setup. As such, you’re getting a front-mounted electric motor, which puts out a respectable 201bhp and 283Nm of torque. Those aren’t mind-blowing figures, but for a compact electric SUV-crossover, that’s plenty of power to get you going sufficiently enough at speed. That’ll also be good for a quick jaunt from 0 to 62mph in 7.5 seconds (decently fast among its class) before it eventually tops out at 105mph. Behind the wheel, though, this new EV3 does feel fairly planted and rock-solid for a compact electric SUV.
When you’re hoovering around town and commuting about the city or your local village, the Kia EV3 is a really fantastic daily driver. The steering feels light and effortless, and given how small the new EV3 is, you’d have no trouble parking it or manoeuvring it around tight and narrow streets. The EV3 does feel rather soft too, which helps a lot with soaking up potholes, speed bumps, and rougher country roads. As a day-to-day, A-to-B kind of car, the EV3 has a lot to like. Additionally, as is a given with any electric vehicle, the lack of an engine and conventional transmission ensures that you’re able to drive to the sound and feeling of supreme silence.
Of course, if you’re looking for something a bit more specific, you could fiddle around with the drive modes. On top of that, the Kia EV3, as standard, even in this cheaper Air trim, comes loaded to the brim with all the high-tech driver aids and safety systems that you’d want. By default, it comes with front and rear parking sensors, a forward collision-avoidance system, a highway driving assist system, a lane-keep assist system, a blind-spot collision-avoidance system, rear-cross traffic alerts, and so much more. I’d suggest checking out Kia’s website to peer through the complete list, but compared to some of its rivals, it is a comprehensive bit of kit.
What Is It Like Inside?
Step inside the new EV3, and you’ll notice an updated and refreshed cabin layout and interior design from Kia. As with the exterior of the EV3, I’m already a big fan of how it looks in here. I do find their use of materials, colours, and patterns to have been pretty well-thought-out. As a result, it creates a cabin that doesn’t just look great but feels quite nice, and it’s superbly practical. Speaking of, from a utilitarian standpoint, the EV3 – in this Air model here, specifically – came with cloth seating and upholstery. Granted, I’m happy to report that it’s the good sort of fabric, and it feels as premium as it can be for this price, while also being very hard-wearing.
The durability of the cabin aside, for a small-ish electric crossover SUV, the new Kia EV3 makes great use of space, too. There’s a good bit of usable space in the boot, and there’s a spacious underfloor cubby, which should be more than enough for all your weekly grocery shopping. On the subject of design, I’d also want to draw your attention to the peculiar headrests on the front seats. They’re oddly shaped, sort of what you’d find in an 80s sci-fi movie, but it nevertheless feels good as far as comfort goes. Even that odd, not-really-a-circle two-spoke steering wheel looks weird as well, but it thankfully doesn’t feel out of place or uncomfortable in the hand.
Behind it is where you’ll find the gear selector, similar to the ones you’d see in a Volkswagen. Elsewhere, unlike the pricier GT-Line and GT-Line S models, this entry-level Air trim here, at least the way this one’s been spec’d, comes with an all-grey interior. It’s a bit bland, but while it lacks any colour or vibrancy, it is a rather functional design, so it gets no complaints from me there. One other crucial element in any new car is all the tech and electronics, and Kia has always been one of the best in the business, particularly among their other, mainstream rivals. Yet, the EV3 does bring a few notable changes and improvements from prior Kias.
For example, while most carmakers opt to give you two large screens – one for your infotainment and another for your gauges – Kia, with the EV3, instead opts for three. There’s a modest 12.3-inch display in the middle for your infotainment system, which even includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Next to it, over on the side, there’s another large 12.3-inch screen, but for your instrumentation. Between them, however, is a 5.3-inch display that’s dedicated only to your climate control system. It might feel weird to fiddle about with that small, phone-sized screen at first, but it does ensure that your HVAC controls are always there when you need them.
Therefore, if you bring up your satnav or radio on the infotainment display, all your climate controls won’t go anywhere. I dare say that these are among the best, most well-executed sets of screens that I’ve seen thus far. And, it helps that Kia has updated the EV3 with their latest software, with its slick, modern user interface. On that note, I appreciate Kia including more than a handful of physical, analogue controls in this new EV3, with many of your critical car functions within easy reach. While the Air model here is the cheaper trim package, it still comes with a heated wheel and heated front seats as standard, which is a nice bonus.
The Experience
One thing to bear in mind, though, if you’re thinking of buying an EV3, is the fact that Kia offers you two different lithium-ion battery sizes. There’s the Standard Range (58.3kWh) battery that I have here, as the title would suggest, which is only available on the Air model. Additionally, there’s the larger, optional Long Range (81.4kWh) battery pack. That aforementioned 58.3kWh (Standard Range) battery should be good for around 270 miles of range, according to Kia. In the real world, though, just like any EV, it’ll be tough to get anywhere near that. Still, in my testing, you shouldn’t have any issues at least stretching it out to at least 200 miles.
Once that battery is low, you can plug your shiny new Kia EV3 into a fast charger. If you’re using a 150kW DC charger, you should be able to top up that Standard Range (58.3kWh) battery pack from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes. Otherwise, it’ll take you just under an hour for that same rate of charge, with the Standard Range battery, using a 50kW charger, instead. Nothing out of the ordinary here among other EVs in its class, but just for context… If you plug the EV3 (with the Standard Range battery) into a home charger, a charge from 10% to 100% should take around 5.5 hours. For a trickle charge at home then, not too bad, either.
Kia EV3 Air Standard Range Cost
Although the new Kia EV3 range starts from £32,995, depending on the specific model that you want, it can go as high as £43,895, not including options. For reference, there are three trim levels of the EV3 that you can pick from… The entry-level Air that I’ve shown off here, the mid-range GT Line, and the top-spec GT-Line S. And, just as we discussed earlier, there are those two battery sizes to choose between. Aside from that, if you’re getting the GT-Line S model, you could even add an optional heat pump to go with it, as well. Then toss in Kia’s extensive and lengthy 7-year warranty, and you’ll begin to see where the EV3’s value proposition comes in.
Verdict
For the money, the all-new Kia EV3 – with this Air trim level here in particular – is an absolute bargain. It offers a superb blend of more-than-adequate range, effortless driving experience, versatile design, and a fairly practical cabin. To my eyes, it looks rather neat too, and Kia throws in so many goodies for the price, such as the feature-packed suite of driver aids, in addition to the up-to-date interior tech and electronics. I can’t really think of many other EVs in this price bracket that give you that much quality and refinement, so if you’re on the market for a new electric crossover SUV the hugely exciting Kia EV3 is easily my new go-to recommendation.
Specification
Kia EV3 Air Standard Range Specs
- Price: £32,995
- Engine: Single-motor, 58.3kWh battery
- Power: 201bhp
- Torque: 283Nm
- 0-62mph: 7.5 seconds
- Top speed: 105mph
- Weight: 1,800kg
- Economy combined: 270 miles (WLTP)
- CO2: 0g/km