Kia EV3 2025 review

It would have been unthinkable not long ago, but Kia almost toppled Ford in the 2024 new car sales chart. When the numbers were crunched, the Kia Sportage had notched up 47,183 registrations – just 1,157 behind the first-placed Ford Puma. However, the success of the Sportage is now under threat from an enemy within.

Enter the Kia EV3. It too is a family-sized SUV aimed at the heartland of the UK car market. But unlike the Sportage, which comes with petrol, hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains, the EV3 is fully electric.

Granted, barely a week goes by without the launch of yet another electric SUV, but this one immediately stands out. Snub-nosed, slab-sided and boldly brutalist, it looks like a concept car with number plates. In design terms, it’s also a downsized version of the seven-seat Kia EV9 – voted World Car of the Year in 2024.

All versions of the EV3 use a single 204hp motor to drive their front wheels: sufficient for 0-62mph in less than eight seconds and a 105mph top speed. Buyers get a choice of 58kWh or 81kWh battery sizes, offering a range of up to 270 or 375 miles respectively.

Divided into three trim levels, Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S, the EV3 lineup is big on standard equipment and limited on extra-cost options. At the time of writing, UK prices start from a very competitive £32,995 – or less than £600 a month on a three-year PCP finance deal with zero deposit.

Rivals for the EV3 include the Volvo EX30 and new Skoda Elroq, plus more conventional hatchbacks like the Renault Megane E-Tech and Volkswagen ID.3

We’re slightly lost for words when trying to articulate how the EV3 drives. For journalists, that isn’t ideal, but Kia should take it as a compliment. Put simply, this car doesn’t occupy any more of your brain’s bandwidth than it needs to. It calmly and competently gets on with the job.

Climb inside – the Air has conventional door handles, GT-Line models get posher pop-out items – and you’ll find an elevated driving position behind an oddly squared-off steering wheel. Being an EV, there is no clutch or gearbox to worry about; simply twist the toggle into ‘D’ and be on your way.

Oh, another thing before you go: press and hold the volume button for three seconds to deactivate the speed limit warning. Failure to do so means enduring incessant bongs whenever you stray fractionally over the limit  – or when the forward-facing camera misreads the road signs. This technology is mandated on all new cars, but many will appreciate a swift shortcut to turn it off.

On the move, the Kia has a smooth, relaxed manner that encourages smooth, relaxed progress. Its steering is light but accurate, acceleration is seamless and the throttle feels nicely calibrated, with an adjustable regen braking function that allows for one-pedal driving around town.

The suspension also strikes a sensible balance between comfort and control. It shrugs off speed humps and potholes around town, yet keeps a steady hand on the EV3’s not-inconsiderable 1,800kg heft (1,885kg for 81kWh versions) when the tarmac gets twistier. It’s worth noting that our Air-spec car had 17-inch alloy wheels, whereas GT-Line versions wear 19s, but journalist colleagues report only a modest detriment to ride quality.

Is the EV3 fast or fun to hustle along a country road? No. But do people really want family EVs with face-melting performance and ‘sporty’ handling? Most of them, we humbly suggest, do not.

The EV3’s simple, blocky styling is carried over to its interior. It’s neat and thoughtfully designed, with light tones that enhance the feeling of space – plus tasteful ambient lighting on higher-spec models. However, while Kia deserves credit for using recycled plastics (28.5kg per car, it says here), some of the materials feel a long way from being ‘premium’. You sense a few corners were cut here.

The widescreen digital display is divided into three sections: the instrument cluster, a small climate infographic and the central infotainment touchscreen. The graphics are crisp and the menus are straightforward to navigate. Again, everything just seems to work as it should (contrast with Volkswagen’’s much-maligned media system).

If you prefer simply to use your phone – and no matter how hard car manufacturers try, most of us do – wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity come as standard. There are also two USB-C sockets on the dashboard, plus another pair on the backs of the front seats.

Lastly, in addition to Kia’s famed seven-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty, you get seven years of free over-the-air software updates via the Kia Connect service. The company’s plan is to introduce streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus, which should keep the kids entertained – and pass the time while plugged in at public charging points. Or you could recline the (optional) ‘relaxation seats’ and have a nap.

Despite being a smaller car than a Kia Sportage, the EV3 has an identical wheelbase and a similarly sized interior. It’s a genuinely commodious five-seater, with a flat floor to make access easier and ensure that even the middle passenger has enough legroom.

Boot space is also generous, at 460 litres with the 60:40 split/fold rear seats in place. For comparison, the Skoda Elroq, Volkswagen ID.3 and Volvo EX30 can carry 470, 385 and 318 litres respectively.

Frankly, given the state of the UK’s public charging network in 2025, we don’t recommend buying an electric car unless you can charge at home. It’s simply too inconvenient and expensive. If you do stop off on a long journey, though, the EV3’s standard 58kWh battery can accept up to 100kW and takes 29 minutes for a 10-80 percent charge. Comparable figures for the Long Range 81kWh battery are 127kW and 31 minutes.

What’s more, you don’t even need to blow £5 on a service station coffee. A Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function means you can plug in 220v appliances, such as a kettle, and power them from the car. If you have a smart electricity tariff at home, you can even draw power from your EV3 during peak times, then replenish its batteries at night when electrons are cheaper. Clever stuff.

The new Kia EV3 opened for ordering in the UK in late 2024, with prices for the electric compact SUV starting from £32,995.

There are three grades, called Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S, and a choice of two batteries, called standard range and long range.

The entry-level Kia EV3 Air comes with the 58.3kWh standard range battery for £32,995. It has a range of 270 miles.

All other new Kia EV3 have the 81.4kWh long range battery. This has a range of up to 375 miles.

A new Kia EV3 Air long range is £35,995.

The company is forecasting more than 10,000 new Kia EV3 sales in 2025, of which the majority will be either GT-Line or GT-Line S.

A new Kia EV3 GT-Line is £39,495, and a new Kia EV3 GT-Line S is £42,995.

The new Kia EV3 GT-Line S is also available with a heat pump, for £43,895.

Even the new Kia EV3 Air has a good level of standard equipment, including 17-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats and steering wheel, front and rear parking cameras and a rear parking camera.

A 12.3-inch driver display screen is combined with a 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation and 5.3-inch climate control screen.

The new Kia EV3 GT-Line adds 19-inch alloys and GT-Line styling, artificial leather seats, wireless phone charger, uprated LED headlights and a digital key.

The new Kia EV3 GT-Line S includes front and rear heated seats, ventilated front seats, power tailgate, head-up display, front sunroof and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system.

The new Kia EV3 is a more affordable alternative to the existing Kia Niro EV. It competes with cars such as the Volvo EX30, Volkswagen ID.3, upcoming Skoda Elroq and the Ford Puma Gen-E.

The new Kia EV3 is also available via PCP, with the new Kia EV3 Air standard range starting from £381 a month over three years. The new Kia EV3 GT-Line long range is expected to be the most popular version overall it costs £432 a month.

All offers are at 3.9% APR, based on a 20 per cent customer deposit and 8,000 miles per annum.