Kia EV3 Revealed for 2024

Kia has unveiled the new Kia EV3, a dedicated compact EV SUV that redefines the segment with its striking design, innovative technology, and pioneering features.

Inspired by the brand’s acclaimed EV9 SUV, the EV3 merges Kia’s advanced technology with its commitment to customer satisfaction, creating a distinct and immersive experience for drivers.

By surpassing customer expectations, the EV3 aims to expand its appeal and elevate the status of compact EV SUVs.

Innovative Exterior

Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, which blends the contrasting elements of nature and modernity to create a balanced harmony, played a pivotal role in shaping the Kia EV3’s innovative, dynamic, and striking design. This philosophy enhances the EV3’s emotional appeal and atmosphere, effortlessly merging bold aesthetics with practical functionality.

The EV3 boasts a commanding presence with vertical headlamps at the edges of its sleek front fascia, creating a wide and confident stance. This design blends ample spatial volume with distinctive graphics and a muscular look that flows harmoniously across the entire body.

A robust reinterpretation of Kia’s iconic Tiger Face design incorporates the latest Star Map signature lighting concept. The vertically arranged Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) enhance the Tiger Face design, projecting a bold and confident character.

From the side, the EV3 exudes exceptional strength, agility, and dynamism. Its long, sleek roofline slopes smoothly into a hatchback-style tailgate, highlighting the technical sophistication of the body design. The dynamic silhouette and spacious cabin create a roomy interior, while the unique interlocking volumes and graphics underscore its innovative nature.

The rear view completes the EV3’s futuristic design language and purposeful stance. A thick black trim line emphasises the connection between the sturdy C-pillar design and the dynamic roofline, enhancing the vehicle’s sense of solidity. The simplified, geometric rear lamp design seamlessly blends with the rear glass, framing a futuristic tailgate with a wide, sleek appearance inspired by the Tiger Face Star Map front lighting signature.

Kia offers the EV3 in nine body colours, including two exclusive options: Aventurine Green and Terracotta.

The EV3 ‘GT-line’ model adds a more rugged and adventurous touch. Contrasting lower body trim at the front enhances the dynamic design, while the integrated lower bumper creates a sportier look. Bold vertical and horizontal graphics contribute to a more aggressive image, complementing the car’s black-clad areas. This treatment extends to the rear, where a distinctive triangle wing configuration on the lower bumper adds to the overall aggressive effect.

Putting Your Wellbeing First from Within

The interior design of the EV3 offers a spacious cabin that comfortably seats five passengers. Kia has crafted a highly functional and inviting cabin with a living space-like atmosphere, intended to enhance the enjoyment of occupants during every journey and even while the vehicle is charging.

An elegant centre console features a sliding table and storage compartment. The lower section is ideal for storing drinks, snacks, and small backpacks, while the table provides a stable surface for personal electronic devices like laptops and tablets when the vehicle is stationary.

With multi-adjustable ambient lighting and ultra-comfortable seats equipped with a fold-back relaxation mode, passengers can maximise their comfort, especially when parked. The EV3 boasts a 25-litre frunk and a 460-litre rear cargo capacity, offering the largest luggage space in its class. The adjustable two-tier luggage board provides over 140mm of load height flexibility, making it practical for activities such as family camping trips.

A nearly 30-inch combined widescreen display, comprising a 12.3-inch cluster, a five-inch air-conditioning panel, and another 12.3-inch AVN display, allows seamless touch control of climate settings and provides clear graphics and intuitive information to the driver. Extending to the centre of the dashboard, the screen also offers access to entertainment and navigation features for the front-seat passenger.

Many of the EV3’s functions, such as drive mode, cruise control, entertainment, and navigation, can be effortlessly accessed and controlled with a simple touch of the steering wheel buttons. Below the central screen, a seamless row of buttons enables the intuitive operation of various functions like mapping, media, and vehicle system configuration.

Finalise Your Own Finish

Customers can choose from a wide array of interior colours, materials, and trim finishes inspired by the elements of Air, Earth, and Water. Options include Subtle Grey, Warm Grey, and Blue, with Onyx Black exclusively available on the ‘GT-line’ trim.

Like all new Kia models, the EV3 incorporates several sustainable elements to promote sustainability on a larger scale. Recycled fabric is used on the dashboard and door trims to create a cosy and environmentally conscious ambiance. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most easily recycled plastics globally, is utilised in various areas of the interior, including the seats, headliner, door armrests, garnish, floor mats, and luggage board.

Electric Drivetrain

The EV3 has dimensions of 4,300mm in length, 1,850mm in width, 1,560mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,680mm. It is equipped with an innovative front-wheel drive electric powertrain based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), incorporating Kia’s fourth-generation battery technology. The EV3 Standard model comes with a 58.3kWh battery, while the EV3 Long Range variant is equipped with an 81.4kWh battery.

Both models feature a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, providing a remarkable 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds. The maximum speed of the EV3 is 170km/h.

As with the larger EV9 SUV, Kia’s engineers have left no stone unturned in the pursuit of optimum efficiency with the EV3. It features enhanced body aerodynamics, incorporating a full 3D undercover to deliver an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.263Cd. State-of-the-art Battery Management Unit (BMU) and Cell Monitoring Unit (CMU) technology ensures the 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh High-Voltage Battery Systems use energy as efficiently as possible.

The EV3 Long Range provides an estimated range of up to 600km (WLTP). This impressive flexibility gives those taking their first foray into electric mobility complete confidence to tackle long journeys. When the EV3’s battery eventually needs replenishing, occupants can relax in the comfort of the living space-like interior as Kia’s advanced Vehicle Charging Management System enables the battery to charge from 10-80 per cent in approximately 31 minutes.

Top Technology

Kia has outfitted the EV3 with an array of cutting-edge safety, driving, convenience, and charging features typically found in larger EV SUVs. This elevates the ownership experience, surpassing offerings in the compact SUV segment and providing a transformative driving experience compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.

The vehicle’s Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) technology includes Electric Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control (eDTVC), ensuring smooth and stable power transfer to the road. Features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist offer additional support and peace of mind on every journey.

Kia’s Remote Smart Parking Assist allows owners to confidently manoeuvre the EV3 into tight spaces without being seated in the vehicle. Adding value to the compact EV SUV sector, the 12-inch Head-up Display (HUD) projects information onto the windshield to minimise driver distraction.

The EV3 introduces Kia’s new i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking technology, enabling drivers to adjust regenerative braking levels for one-pedal driving, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing fatigue on long trips. This technology extends the vehicle’s range on a single charge, making journeys more engaging and comfortable.

Kia pioneers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging in the compact EV SUV segment with the EV3, allowing occupants to power external devices such as laptops, small fridges, coffee machines, or hairdryers. Additionally, Kia’s Digital Key 2.0 eliminates the need for physical keys by enabling unlocking and starting of the EV3 using a smartphone or smartwatch, and conveniently sharing the digital key with friends and family.

‘A Moving Power’ for Kia and the EV3

Kia is gearing up for a series of global campaign initiatives under the theme ‘A Moving Power.’ This slogan embodies the company’s dedication to innovation through innovative design and technology, as well as its commitment to broadening its product lineup. The debut of the EV3 represents Kia’s endeavour to offer more sustainable, efficient, and convenient mobility solutions, making electric vehicles more accessible to everyone.

The EV3 will make its debut in Korea in July 2024, followed by its launch in Europe in the latter half of the year. Kia has plans to expand the availability of the EV3 to other regions, with additional launches anticipated after its introduction in the European market.