2025 Kia EV3 is an Affordable Baby EV9
Kia's latest electric car targets the $35,000 (USD) space with funky looks and tons of tech.
Say hello to the latest member of Kia's electric family. The Korean brand on Thursday morning revealed our first official look at the 2025 EV3, a pint-sized EV crossover that it hopes to slot in as one of the most affordable options when it arrives in dealerships.
The EV3 showcases the latest evolution of Kia's "Opposites United" design language. Think EV9, but shrunken down into a more city-friendly, 169.3-inch (4,300-millimeter) footprint. The brand's familiar Star Map lighting signature is present up front, with the thinnest of intakes connecting the headlights. Hidden door handles blend into a two-tone C-pillar, which in turn blends into the high-mounted taillights for a distinctly squat stance. While ample body cladding is hardly new for Kia, the stuff on the EV3 is made of recycled plastics for the first time.
Minimalist cabin
Like the exterior, the cabin design of the EV3 draws heavily from EV9, but with an even more pared-back look more appropriate for a city car. A two-tone dashboard features a recycled material texture and metallic spar along the bottom, with only a few bits of switchgear in the center. A capacious (and slidable) center console provides lots of storage space while opening up the space. The flat surface up top slides out as well, allowing owners to work from their laptop or tablet as needed. Kia offers the cabin in multiple color combinations; the GT-Line is only available with a black cabin.
Kia boasts nearly 30 inches of screen real estate inside, including a pair of expected 12.3-inch screens and then a dedicated 5.0-inch setup for climate controls. A 12.0-inch head-up display is available, too. The tech lineup is extensive: a partnership with LG brings in-car gaming to the EV3, Harman Kardon provides the audio system, and the Kia AI Assistant that debuted in the K4 will ship in the EV as well. The latter will begin in Korea before spreading to other markets.
Are you a big NBA fan? The EV3 offers team-inspired display themes to customize the dashboard and infotainment screen. These themes will be available in the Kia Connect Store, suggesting the headlight DLC of the EV9 wasn't just a one-off...
The EV3 comes loaded with a long list of driver assists, including the typical ones as well as Remote Smart Parking Assist.
Under the skin
While the EV3 sits on the modular E-GMP platform, it marks the first time we've seen a front-drive iteration. Currently there is just a single-motor model, producing 201 horsepower and 209 pound-feet of torque. Kia confirmed that a two-motor model would debut down the road.
The standard model will pack a 58.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack, while the Long Range features a larger, 81.4-kwH item. Kia is quoting a 373-mile (600-kilometer) range on the more lenient WLTP cycle; we expect around 320 miles (515 km) in North America. Naturally, the EV3's quick-charging capability is just that, with the benchmark 10–80 percent charge happening in about 31 minutes. The EV3 continues to offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability as well. The EV3 will debut a new iteration of Kia's i-Pedal, now up to version 3.0, allowing for one-pedal driving.
The EV3 will debut in its home country this summer, and roll out in Europe before the end of the year. As for North America, Kia is targeting next year while aiming for a $35,000 starting price. Should it pull that off, the EV3 will be one of the most affordable electric options in the market.
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2025 Kia EV3 Base and GT-Line
Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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You might want to clarify which battery size is associated with the 320 mi range estimate. Thx
sounds like a $40k (if that is Cheap) Niro Ev but with a new name. the same 58kwh battery pack, same 230 mile range. that is in Niro
201hp is niro
the high range battery and high charge rate is to come later in the year and likely take 10.5 hours (yes almost half a day) on a 240 volt to full charge.
the high speed 400v DC will take from 20% to 80% somewhere between 18 and 75 min but according to KIA it is not for frequent use. and likely going to be $45k so not really anything more affordable than today.
now if its smaller than Niro Just ask Mary Barra how that worked for her and the Spark turned Bolt, turned Bole EUV.