Item: 2025 Kia EV3
Rating: 8
Author: Chris Thompson

Kia’s onslaught of electrification, hand in hand with its parent brand Hyundai, marches on with what will be the fourth of the numbered EV family.

Scheduled for local launch early in the second quarter of next year, the EV3 small SUV is set to follow the EV6, EV9 and soon-to-launch EV5 as the most affordable in the set so far.

The EV3 has the homeground advantage on its global launch in Seoul, South Korea, as our test drive takes place in the built-up, smooth-road urban environment it was made for. But we’re hoping a day behind the wheel will reveal whether this EV has the chops to make it in the harsher environment Australia presents.

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10

8 / 10

The EV3 is going for a premium feel in a small SUV package, and the features list proves it.

While the base model we drove on launch gets cloth seats and no sunroof, the seats are still electrically adjustable and there’s a massive 30-inch panel with 12.3-inch driver display, 5.0-inch climate control touchscreen and a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen as standard across the range.

That means even if you only opt for the lowest spec the EV3 is primed to impress, especially if you’re coming from a car several years older.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line and base model

Depending on how Kia Australia decides to go when it comes to features, expect the more expensive variants to have a sunroof, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and maybe even some options for contrast trim colours.

A few other locked-in features are the cabin’s ambient lighting, an adjustable central table that slides out from the armrest and V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) capacity for powering appliances from the car’s battery.

2025 Kia EV3

The price of the EV3’s going to be pretty important, but we don’t know exactly what figure Kia has in mind this far out from its Australian launch.

Expect pricing for the EV3 to have it battling the higher-end variants of rivals like the BYD Atto 3 or MG ZS EV - which land around $50,000

It’s pretty much guaranteed it’ll be priced lower than the mid-size EV5 SUV, though eventually a GT-Line version of the EV3 is likely to show up and cause overlap between pricing for the two line-ups.

2025 Kia EV3

EV Specs for Kia EV3 2025

Drivetrain	FWD Single Motor
Battery capacity	58.3kWh / 81.4kWh
Battery type	NCM (nickel cobalt manganese)
Range	est. 600km (WLTP)
Plug type	Type 2
DC charge rate	128kW
AC charge rate	n/a
Motor output	150kW/ 283Nm
Efficiency	n/a

Complete Guide to Kia EV3

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

9 / 10

Kia's new design language comes in strong here, the EV3 is bringing in EV9 vibes to a smaller shape and it pulls it off convincingly.

The sharp lines on the LEDs both at the head and tail-lights are so distinctive and so clearly related to the bigger SUV.

The geometric squared-off wheel centres are also different from anything else getting around and the side silhouette is quite cute.

It’s boxy without being aggressive, but it manages to look properly modern without sacrificing practicality by sloping the roof and eating into the interior space.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

The tidy but interesting design language carries through into the interior, where some elements will look familiar to owners or drivers of current Kia models and maybe even some Hyundai EVs.

Without overdoing the attempt at sleek, futuristic vibes, the EV3’s interior blends a combination of materials to create a visually dynamic look - something that along with the large display unit and well-considered touchpoints helps distract from some of the hard, scratchy plastic around the cabin.

While the global trim options for the EV3 include some fairly bright colours, expect Kia Australia to take a more minimalist approach to make things easier on the supply side.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 8/10

8 / 10

Kia says in pre-production opinion testing participants thought the car looked bigger than it is.

It's larger than a Volvo EX30 and smaller than a BYD Atto 3 - dimensions are 4300mm long, 1850mm wide and 1560mm tall - but it's inside where the space is really important.

For a start, the 460L boot is much bigger than the EX30's (318L), and it also has a 25L frunk.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

Also, because it's a dedicated EV platform, it's got a low, flat floor and its wheels sit at the corners of the car, not eating into the interior space.

It's a pretty clean, crisp space, and a combination of good light and some clever packaging make it feel closer to a mid-size SUV on the inside.

The seats are electrically adjustable with leather and the cloth options feeling pretty nice to touch. The headrests are comfy, too.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

Adjusting the seats to find comfortable positions is easy, and two adults can sit comfortably one behind the other in the EV3 without lacking knee-room.

In terms of the tech functionality, Kia leans a little further into using the touchscreens than feels necessary. Having a climate panel always accessible is good and the shortcut buttons below the main multimedia screen are useful, but menus are more distracting than they need to be at times.

Storage in the cabin is above the standard for a small SUV: you get the aforementioned quasi-desk that pulls out from under the central armrest, cupholders and bottle storage isn't in the way and even the phone charging pad is roomy.

Behind my own seating position, I've got a nice amount of knee and headroom at 178cm tall, the backrest has a wide adjustable range and there's a standard fold-down armrest with cupholders, too. The rear seat is also where access to the interior V2L socket is.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 8/10

8 / 10

At launch, the EV3 will come in a single-motor, front-wheel drive layout with a power output of 150kW and 283Nm of torque.

A standard-range 58.3kWh and a long-range 81.4kWh version will make up two battery choices, but later an all-wheel drive GT-Line variant is set to show up with more power.

Power outputs for future variants remain unconfirmed by Kia, so we’ll wait until a local confirmation comes along in regards to Australian line-up and outputs.

2025 Kia EV3 base model and GT-line

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 9/10

9 / 10

While Kia says the maximum driving range under WLTP testing should be about 600km, its standard range 58.3kWh battery doesn’t yet have a confirmed claim.

A proper power consumption figure also hasn’t been confirmed, but during the launch the EV3’s anticipated range even after quite some driving suggested a 600km run on one charge is reasonable.

Kia Australia hasn’t confirmed charging speeds, but specs from the UK suggest the smaller battery can charge up to 102kW on DC charging, while the long-range battery maxes out at 128kW.

The EV3 uses a 400V architecture instead of the 800-volt used by larger Kia EV models, thus its slower charge rate. Both should charge in around 31 minutes from 10-80 per cent, Kia says.

2025 Kia EV3

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10

8 / 10

This is where the Kia’s home advantage really comes in. The little EV3 feels like it was designed especially for Seoul, and while that means it should fit in just fine in city and metro areas in Australia, a day driving the car in its domestic habitat doesn’t give us the full picture.

But going on what was learned behind the wheel in South Korea, the small SUV is a pretty impressive thing.

Its 150kW, front-drive motor feels like the sweet spot for city driving - it’s never lacking power but can be easily applied smoothly.

Kia’s new 'i-Pedal 3.0' should feel relatively familiar to experienced EV drivers, too, with the paddles on the wheel able to adjust regenerative braking or enable one-pedal driving.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line and base model

2025 Kia EV3 base model and GT-line

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line and base model

This seemingly helped plenty with maintaining a decent available driving range. Kia’s claim of 600km on a single charge in the long-range variant seems realistic.

In terms of steering and manoeuvrability, the EV3 managed some tight underground parking, narrow laneways and busy car parks on test. While steering feels light and manageable, it's also well weighted for smooth inputs at highway speeds.

Its ride and suspension in both urban and highway environments is comfortable and compliant, though Seoul’s smooth roads and the lack of fast cornering on the test route mean a proper dynamic assessment will have to come later when the car lands in Australia.

2025 Kia EV3

By that point, Kia Australia’s Ride and Handling Chief Engineer Graeme Gambold will have been able to adjust the car to suit local conditions, so some small issues with tyre noise at highway speeds may no longer be the case by then.

The EV3’s active safety and automatic cruise control tuning kept the little SUV well on-track and managed other cars, braking and lane-keeping smoothly - especially for a city with the hectic traffic we saw on test.

Never did the EV3’s systems do anything unexpected when in use, which gets a big tick at a time when some brands are still struggling to properly calibrate even the right braking distance and intensity for semi-autonomous driving.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 7/10

7 / 10

No independent safety testing has been carried out for the EV3 yet, but a five-star rating from the likes of ANCAP is crucial for an SUV from a high-volume brand like Kia.

The EV3 does come with plenty of safety kit, including an advanced driving assistance suite with an electric dynamic torque vectoring system, forward and reverse collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist and a pretty well-sorted smart cruise control that, in Korea at least, can automatically let you know your average speed over a stretch of road to avoid getting pinged by point-to-point cameras.

2025 Kia EV3 GT-line

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 7/10

7 / 10

Australian servicing costs won’t be confirmed for some time, but Kia has a very competitive seven-year warranty on all its cars.

It’s usually unlimited-kilometre, but Kia only covers its EVs for up to 150,000km over that period.

Verdict

It's hard to say how this will ride on Australia's roads just yet, but the packaging and drivetrain - as well as the range from what we can tell - are all good signs for the EV3.

A relatively small city car with what seems to genuinely be about 600km of range and a spacious modern interior?

It’s not perfect, and there are some local specifics that could prove important, but as long as the price is right, I'm feeling pretty good about this thing.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Pricing Guides

$47,600

Price is based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the lowest priced Kia EV3 2025 variant.

LOWEST PRICE

$47,600

HIGHEST PRICE

$63,950

See all Kia EV3 pricing & specs

Range and Specs

Vehicle	Specs	Price*
AIR 2WD LR	Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC	$53,315
AIR 2WD SR	Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC	$47,600
Earth 2WD LR Subtle Grey	Electric, 1 SPEED AUTOMATIC	$58,600

See all 2025 Kia EV3 in the Range

*Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

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Kia EV3 2025 review - International first drive

EV Specs for Kia EV3 2025

Likes

Dislikes

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10

8 / 10

EV Specs for Kia EV3 2025

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

9 / 10

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 8/10

8 / 10

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 8/10

8 / 10

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 9/10

9 / 10

Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10

8 / 10

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 7/10

7 / 10

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 7/10

7 / 10

Verdict

Pricing Guides

Range and Specs

Rival reviews

Stories and articles

Comments

Kia EV3 2025 review - International first drive

EV Specs for Kia EV3 2025

Likes

Dislikes

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10 8 / 10

EV Specs for Kia EV3 2025

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10 9 / 10

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 8/10 8 / 10

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 8/10 8 / 10

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 9/10 9 / 10

Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10 8 / 10

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 7/10 7 / 10

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 7/10 7 / 10

Verdict

Pricing Guides

Range and Specs

Rival reviews

Stories and articles

Comments

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10

8 / 10

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

9 / 10

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 8/10

8 / 10

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 8/10

8 / 10

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 9/10

9 / 10

Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10

8 / 10

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 7/10

7 / 10

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 7/10

7 / 10