Kia EV3 Review 2025

If you’re shopping for a small electric SUV then it won’t have escaped your attention how bafflingly broad the choice is — it seems almost every car manufacturer has one to tempt you. Allow us to significantly speed up your selection process because this family friendly compact EV is crushingly complete in several key areas that it’s set to become the default choice among cars of this type. Find out why with our comprehensive full Kia EV3 review.

Few brands have enjoyed the image metamorphosis that Kia has. Okay, Skoda comes very close but bear in mind that the Czech brand entered the UK market in the 1950s — Kia’s done all of its hard work since the early 1990s.

Successive generations of improved models, such as the Kia Sportage, added desirability to the brand’s appeal, while the transition to full electrification opened up the brand to an even wider audience. That allure has recently been amplified with the sleek and sophisticated Kia EV6 and Tonka-tough styling of the Kia EV9 ranges but their high prices ensure they remain the preserve of more affluent customers. 

That’s changed with the Kia EV3’s arrival — a much smaller electric SUV at a much smaller price, starting at a smidge over £33,000. Serving as a replacement for the Kia Soul EV, not only is the EV3 one of the least expensive cars of this kind, its impressive driving range and boot space also trump its rivals.

Listing all of the EV3’s competitors would be a significant feat in itself given how many there are, so we’ll stick to the main core of them — their names alone further illustrating how far Kia has come.

Among the newest of them are the pleasantly spritely Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica and the fine handling Ford Puma Gen-E, both of which major on driver appeal. Also fresh on the compact electric SUV scene is the MINI Aceman, the first of the new-era models from the marque that trades almost entirely on modernity rather than retro charm.

Two more alternative choices to Kia EV3 both tread new ground for their respective brands and have been co-developed to reduce costs — at the time of its launch the Smart #1 was the largest model from that marque, sharing much of its hidden hardware with the Volvo EX30, the Swedish brand’s smallest offering in modern times.

So, how does the Kia EV3 compete? Firstly, just look at it — fresh, bold and quirky without being especially divisive on the outside; slick, modern and impressively spacious inside. At the back is one of the largest boots among compact electric SUVs at 460 litres with the rear seats in use, while under the bonnet is a further storage space despite the motor also nestling under there.

It’s a punchy performer as all EV3s feature a 204PS motor — which Kia refers to as 201bhp — powering the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission. All versions are capable of completing the 0-62mph benchmark acceleration test in a sub-8.0-second time.

Two battery sizes are available, although the smaller 58.3kWh version is only available with entry-level Air specification. It offers a WLTP Combined range of 267 miles — very impressive for a relatively modest battery — and thanks to its 102kW on-board DC charger can be zapped from 10-80% battery capacity in 29 minutes.

Also available in Air guise, plus the more upscale GT-Line and GT-Line S trim levels, is the 81.4kWh battery, which requires 31 minutes of plug in time for the same 10-80% recharge thanks to a quicker 128kW on-board DC charger. Stick to Air specification with its 17-inch wheels and the Combined cycle range is 372 miles, dropping to 347 miles on the pricier versions thanks to their 19-inch rims.

All Kia EV3s come equipped with LED head and tail lights, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats plus wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity.

Add in the reassurance of the standard seven-year/100,000-mile warranty and it’s difficult to argue against why you shouldn’t choose the Kia EV3 over its rivals. 

If you’re looking for a small electric SUV that’s also a hoot to drive just for the hell of it, the Kia EV3 isn’t the model you’re looking for. That role’s very much the domain of the Ford Puma Gen-E with the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica waiting in the wings as its understudy.

That’s far from saying that the EV3 is dynamically incapable because Kia’s engineers have struck a sensible balance between its handling and ride configurations.

Point it along your favourite undulating and winding B-road and the EV3 will respond faithfully to your steering inputs, just without telling you much about what the front wheels are experiencing grip-wise. You soon develop trust in what it’s doing even without that dialogue back to your hands, allowing you to maintain momentum.

That confidence is reinforced by the Kia’s body control, ensuring that you and your passengers aren’t rocked to and fro under hard braking or acceleration, with leaning kept in check through sweeping bends. Its high-voltage battery pack, mounted beneath the EV3’s floor, helps here, ensuring its centre of gravity is close to the ground.

Comfort was more at the forefront of Kia’s engineers’ minds when developing the EV3, although not to the extent that it feels floaty in the way which can induce travel sickness. That connected feeling to the road transmits surface changes to passengers’ posteriors but without feeling harsh — the dampers perform a fine job rounding-off sharp-edged ruts and ridges, even on models fitted with 19-inch wheels.

It's only over particularly bad road surfaces at urban speeds does the Kia EV3 feel like it could warrant a little more honing to its suspension set-up. In those circumstances it somehow conspires to feel as though its happier bobbling over the surface rather than doing much in the way of absorbing the worst of it.

There’s only one electric drive choice available for the Kia EV3 which makes matters very simple. Its mounted under the bonnet and drives the front wheels-only — all-wheel drive isn’t available on this car. As per electric car norms, a single-speed transmission is fitted which is essentially used like a conventional automatic gearbox.

At its peak the EV3 produces 204PS of power with its rich 283Nm seam of torque available instantaneously all the way up to 5000rpm. The upshot of those numbers is that from no and low speed the Kia scampers away really briskly but at higher speeds — such as when overtaking another vehicle travelling only slightly slower — there’s no sudden extra burst of alacrity to help see you quickly make the pass.

Despite its compact footprint the Kia EV3 is a portly wee thing, with the high-voltage batteries being the main culprit in this regard. Versions with the 58.3kWh pack weigh 1845kg while those with the larger 81.4kWh alternative are 1930kg.

That heft dulls the EV3’s ultimate performance potential despite the punchiness of its motor. Sure, all versions crack the 0-62mph benchmark in under 8.0 seconds, yet to drive the Kia never feels especially rapid. What power there is can be easily modulated with the accelerator pedal, enabling gentle driving when required rather than the throttle replicating an on-off switch.

For the record, the lighter 58.3kWh model darts from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, with the heavier 81.4kWh versions taking 7.7 seconds in Air specification and 7.9 seconds in GT-Line and GT-Line S trims. All EV3s have an electronically governed top speed of 105mph.

Selectable driving modes are available via physical button on the steering wheel although the steps between them don’t feel as pronounced as they do in some other EVs. 

Braking can also feel an unusual experience in several electric cars but with the Kia that’s not true, with the pedal feel and modulation being akin to a typical combustion-engined car. You can choose to vary the level of brake energy recuperation using the paddles behind the steering wheel — our experience was that it felt more relaxed in its mildest setting.

Euro NCAP awarded the Kia EV3 its full five-star rating when its crash-worthiness and safety kit was assessed in 2025.

Regardless of specification level, all EV3s are fitted with Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Lane Keep and Lane Follow Assist, adaptive Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold as standard.

You can tow with a Kia EV3 although its maximum capacities will ensure you’re not hauling anything substantial, especially with the smaller-batteried version.

While 81.4kWh pack versions can two a braked trailer weight up to 1000kg, the 58.3kWh model is limited to just 300kg. 

Sitting in the front or rear, four tall adults will experience plenty of space inside the Kia EV3, with ample room for limbs and space above their heads so they don’t feel constricted that way. Adding a fifth passenger to the rear bench’s centre seat will inevitably make it feel more snug back there, but it’s unlikely to prove uncomfortably so.

Visibility for front and rear passengers is good with large side windows ensuring it doesn’t feel claustrophobic inside, despite the chunky rear roof pillars and narrow tailgate glass. A panoramic roof would further help in this regard but no EV3s are fitted with them — only the GT-Line S has an opening sunroof and that’s above the front passengers.

Behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seats is a 460-litre boot space with a retractable roller blind-style luggage cover to keep its contents out of sight from prying eyes. While that’s easily beaten by the 574 litres available in the Ford Puma Gen-E, the Kia’s still comfortably more commodious than most rivals.

When the rear seatbacks are tumbled forwards they don’t lie completely horizontally, but sliding longer, heavier objects along the floor shouldn’t prove tricky. Loaded to the ceiling the Kia will then swallow 1250 litres of cargo — the EV3’s boxy shape reducing the shortfall to the Puma Gen-E to just 33 litres. 

Pop the EV3’s bonnet and on top of the motor is a modest 25-litre storage well which is sufficient for accommodating the charging cables. Be aware if considering placing expensive items in there that the bonnet itself forms the sealed lid, so opening it on a wet day may cause the contents to get a soaking.

Passenger area storage solutions are plentiful with large door bins, a generously sized glovebox, mouldings on the backs of the front seats to hang jackets upon and — because the drive selector’s mounted on the steering column — a large open storage area between the front seats which includes a slot for a smartphone and two pop-out cupholders. 

Above that is an armrest on top of the centre console plinth which — on GT-Line and GT-Line S models — can be extended forwards to create a small table, ideal for in-car dining or potentially to rest a laptop on when working at a charge point.

Talking of charging, the Kia EV3’s socket is mounted on the driver’s side front wing, saving the cost and weight of extending the cables to our preferred position on one of the rear wings. Not a major issue, certainly, but it can be an inconvenience when using public facilities as you’re likely to be forced to drive in forwards when charging.

Kia EV3 buyers choosing the range-topping GT-Line S specification have an additional bonus feature when it comes to charging — not only are its front seats electrically adjustable and ventilated, they have a one-touch relaxation setting allowing them to be fully reclined, perfect for a power nap when powering up.

While the Kia EV3 isn’t a cheap car in the strictest sense of the term, it is at the less expensive end of the pricing scale, so you might expect its interior to feel downmarket. Not a bit of it.

Okay, your hands aren’t going to encounter several square metres of satisfyingly squidgy soft-touch plastics, but the firmer materials used in the EV3 feel substantial and interestingly textured. Even the panel of electric window switches on the doors have a slightly rubbery finish to them, uplifting the sense of overall quality.

Elsewhere you’ll spot metallic-look switches and décor panels, with a broad swathe of grey fabric adorning the dashboard. These are all touches Kia didn’t have to do — and most manufacturers don’t — but for a few extra quid per car they make it feel that bit more special than it might otherwise be.

All of the physical controls, buttons and switches — and rejoice because there are plenty of them — have satisfying actions even if they’re not damped to the nth degree. There’s a quality substance to everything your hands encounter, which in turn reinforces your confidence that the EV3’s a car built to last.

Given it’s a modern EV there’s no surprise to sit in the Kia EV3’s driver’s seat and be faced with an ultra-wide digital display. In total it stretches almost 30 inches end-to-end and includes a 12.3-inch driver’s display, a 5.0-inch climate control panel and a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen.

This includes LG’s Web OS including streaming technology, meaning users can play arcade games inside the new Kia EV3, which the kids (and big kids) will love.

Another first for the brand, the EV3 uses Kia’s AI Assistant technology. This uses generative artificial intelligence to comprehend complex voice commands through natural language understanding. Kia says it will be able to ‘converse naturally with users’ — in reality, it worked very well on test although it wasn’t an appreciable leap over rivals’ systems.

For those who are not so keen to chat with their car, the new Kia EV3 also includes a row of physical buttons, including rocker switches to adjust the climate control temperature. 

There’s an inherent slickness to the operation of the screen-based functions, with little lag and easily understandable menus. The integral navigation graphics could do with some more love but given most people will simply connect their smartphone using the standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and pick a mapping app on there, it’s understandable why Kia hasn’t done so. 

In isolation the Kia EV3’s pricing suggests it isn’t one of the cheapest compact electric SUVs available — that’s only part of the story, though.

Entry-point 267-mile range EV3 Air 58.3kWh at £33,005 with an upgrade to the same specification with the larger 81.4kWh battery adding a further £3000 — that’s the version with the longest range at 372 miles. The better-appointed GT-Line version is £39,405 while the flagship GT-Line S specification costs £43,005.

Of those rivals we mentioned earlier the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica starts at £33,905 with a best range of 255 miles. Ford’s Puma Gen-E seems more reasonable with an entry price of £29,995 but its range potential is even more modest at 233 miles.

How about the MINI Aceman? £28,905 gets you into an E version but you’ll be limited to a best-case of 192 miles before it needs plugging in. SE models have a longer range of up to 252 miles if you’re willing to shell-out £3000 more.

A Smart #1 could be yours for £29,960 albeit with a 193-mile maximum between recharges, while the rangiest Premum model’s 273 miles weighs in at £39,660. It’s a similar story with its Volvo EX30 twin — £33,060 gets you in the least expensive but for the best 295-mile range you need to fork out £37,260.

To make EV running costs as low as possible you need have a wallbox installed at home and the Kia EV3 is no exception to this rule. Such equipment gives you access to cheaper, electric car-friendly tariffs of around 7p per kWh.

Public rapid charging is expensive — we advise these are only used when necessary and for as short a time as possible. If it’s not possible to have a wallbox installed at home, public chargepoints are highly unlikely to be a cost-effective solution and may even prove more expensive than running a petrol- or diesel-engined car.

From April 2025 EVs were no longer exempt from VED car tax, facing the same £195 annual bill as all other cars from year two onwards, regardless of how much CO2 they produce. They’re also liable for the Expensive Car Supplement — the so-called luxury car tax — when they cost £40,000 or more, inclusive of the price of optional extras. Only Air versions of the EV3 are comfortably below that figure.

Low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) taxation for electric cars means they are highly sought-after by company car drivers who are able to take advantage of their 3% taxation rate for 2025/26.

Kia EV3: Range and charging

Under the obligatory WLTP testing methodology, the Kia EV3 Air with the 58.3kWh battery has a Combined cycle driving range of 267 miles. In the same specification with the larger 81.4kWh battery pack, the official figure grows to an impressive 372 miles.

Due to the fitment of 19-inch alloy wheels, GT-Line and GT-Line S models are limited to a WLTP Combined cycle maximum of 347 miles despite using the same 81.4kWh battery.

Kia’s recharging times using an AC Type 2 connection, such as those used by domestic wallboxes are based on an electricity flow of 11kW, whereas most UK residences are limited to 7.4kW. As a result, the 5 hours 20 minutes quoted for the 58.3kWh battery and 7 hours 15 minutes for the 81.4kWh version for a 10-100% recharge are likely to be three to four hours short of what to expect for a home plug-in.

When charging at their fastest flow rates using a DC CCS public facility a 10-80% replenishment for the 58.3kWh battery takes 29 minutes, while the same increase for the 81.4kWh alternative requires 31 minutes.

There are three levels of specification available for the Kia EV3 range — Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S.

Standard equipment for the Kia EV3 Air includes:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED head, rear and daytime-running lights
• Body-coloured door mirror housings
• Electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors
• Flush exterior door handles
• Keyless entry and starting
• Matte black side sills, wheelarches and window surrounds
• Automatic windscreen wipers
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Grey cloth seat upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Heated, faux leather steering wheel
• Electric front windows
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone connectivity
• Five USB-C charging points
• Six-speaker audio system
• Adaptive Smart Cruise Control
• Electronic parking brake with auto-hold

Upgrading to the Kia EV3 GT-Line additionally nets you:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• GT-Line-specific exterior styling
• Gloss black door mirror housings, side sills, wheelarches and window surrounds
• Small Cube design LED headlights
• Automatically opening and retracting exterior door handles
• Digital key
• Dark-tinted rear privacy glass
• Two-tone faux leather upholstery
• Electrically operated driver’s seat lumbar support
• Alloy pedals
• Sliding centre console
• Customisable interior LED ambient lighting
• Wireless smartphone charging pad

Extra equipment fitted to the range-topping Kia EV3 GT-Line S includes:

• Electrically operated tilting and sliding glass sunroof
• Electrically operated tailgate
• Ventilated and electrically adjustable front Premium Relaxation seats with memory function for driver’s seat
• Heated outer rear seats
• Electric front and rear windows
• Interior 3-pin plug socket
• Vehicle-to-load (V2L) adapter for the car’s charging socket