Introduction
The Kia EV3 is a small electric SUV that feels confident and well-sorted from the moment you see it.
It very much resembles the big EV9, but with its own dash-and-detail. Many compact EVs fade into the background next to bigger rivals, but this one refuses to.
So, could this be the most complete small family EV yet?
Let’s find out…
Quick Overview
Adviser Rating: 4.6/5
The Kia EV3 is a small all-electric SUV, technically a B-segment model. It measures around 4.3 metres long. The car is handsomely equipped and has an impressive range at a very competitive price point. The trim with the longest battery can officially travel up to 375 miles on a charge. That’s actually farther than a Skoda Elroq.
The EV3, overall, is a brilliant all-electric small SUV in most areas. But in some, rivals do perform better.
Pros:
- Attractive starting price
- Impressive range
- Comfortable drive
- Distinctive looks
Cons:
- Not very agile
- Fiddly touchscreen menus
Trims & Pricing
In the UK, five trims are available, with prices ranging from £33,005 to £43,905.
We’ve got:
- Air (Standard Range)
- Air (Long Range)
- GT-Line
- GT-Line S
- GT-Line S (with Heat Pump)
Kia kept the lineup familiar as usual, value-first at the bottom, loaded at the top.
All of them are front-wheel drive, powered by a single motor.
There are two battery sizes available. The 58.3 kWh pack delivers around 270 miles. Whereas the bigger 81.4 kWh battery stretches that to roughly 375 miles, depending on the trim.
Air (Standard Range):
- From about £33,005
- The most affordable version
- Comes with 19-inch alloys, LED lighting, full safety suite, and Kia’s latest infotainment
Air (Long Range):
- From around £36,005
- Uses the larger battery to extend range close to 370 miles
GT-Line:
- From roughly £39,405 OTR
- Adds sportier design touches and better cabin materials
- Comes with a larger display, ambient lighting, and a more advanced driver assist package
GT-Line S:
- From about £43,005
- The top-spec version if you don’t count the heat pump add-on
- Comes with a premium audio system, panoramic display setup, ventilated seats and improved connectivity
GT-Line S with Heat Pump:
- From approximately £43,905
- Brings in a heat pump for better heating efficiency in cold conditions
If we had to pick one, we’d say entry-level Air (with standard range) makes most sense. However, if your regular commute is 180 miles or more, opt for the long range GT-Line.
Performance & Drive
Adviser rating: 4.5/5
The Kia EV3 is not made for drag races, and nor does it pretend to be one. Still, for a regular user its performance is more than sufficient.
In our test, the long-range version covered 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. That should satisfy most drivers, unless you’re coming straight from something unusually fast…
Overall Ride and Composure
It’s basically a comfort focused ride. Suspension is tuned on the softer side. We drove it around the city and most trims soak up bumps with confidence.
On the motorway, it cruises quietly and smoothly, which makes longer journeys rather pleasant.
There is one exception however. The Air Long Range model sits on a larger battery and uses tyres with taller sidewalls. That particular setup does not settle quite as well. It has a slightly floaty feel over uneven surfaces and lacks the composure of the other trims.
Handling and Control
Speaking of handling, the EV3 is competent. Steering is light and reassuring in everyday traffic.
However, push harder on a country road, and it starts to feel a bit reluctant.
There’s also a fair amount of nosedive under braking, which might catch you off guard the first time.
Driving Position and Comfort
From the driver’s seat, things are mostly positive. You sit higher than you would in a hatchback, which gives it that SUV feeling. There’s plenty of seat and steering adjustment, so finding a decent position does not take long.
That being said, entry-level Air trims do not include adjustable lumbar support. But still the lower-back support is fine.
Visibility and Assistance Features
Forward visibility is excellent. You get a good view of the road ahead and diagonally at junctions. However, the wide rear pillars restrict the rearward view more than we’d like. Fortunately, Kia includes rear and front parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard.
GT-Line S models, however, go a step further with a 360-degree camera setup, which makes parking much more convenient.
Braking & Noise Levels
EV3 comes with adjustable regenerative braking. In the strongest setting, it lets you drive with just one pedal, which is great in the city.
If you prefer to brake manually, the friction brakes feel smooth and predictable. With none of that mushy hesitation some EVs suffer from.
Talking of noise levels, there’s no noticeable motor whine under acceleration, or at motorway speeds. The EV3 is surprisingly quiet. In fact, it’s marginally calmer than a Skoda Elroq, which is a definite plus.
Interior & Tech
Adviser Rating: 4.3/5
Kia’s clearly taken a few design cues from the bigger EV9, and it worked. The EV3 shares the same screen layout, with a clean, modern look that feels smart the moment you step in.
Front and centre is a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, which flows neatly into a smaller 5.3-inch touchscreen for climate control, followed by a second 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The overall setup feels cohesive rather than cluttered.
Infotainment and Controls
The infotainment itself is decent, though not without its quirks. Graphics are sharp, and the system is quick to react to touches. However, the layout could be a bit more intuitive.
The screen is in landscape format. And depending on your seating position, reaching the top-left corner might have you stretching awkwardly.
Talking of voice control, it is handled by Kia’s new ChatGPT-powered assistant, which sounds fancy. You can ask it to find nearby hotels, queue up your favourite artist, or plan a route. Sometimes it’s smooth. Other times, you might find yourself wondering why you did not just tap the screen instead.
And then there’s something many modern EVs have forgotten – physical buttons. The EV3 keeps proper controls for cabin temperature and fan speed. No digging through sub-menus just to get some air blowing. It’s a small thing, but it matters.
Quality and Equipment
Screen size aside, what really impressed us is the interior quality. Sure, there are some harder plastics here and there, but they do not feel cheap.
Go for a GT-Line or GT-Line S, and you’ll find fabric trim added to the dash and doors. It gives the cabin a far more upmarket feel.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard on all versions, which is good to see. But if you want a wireless phone charger, you’ll need to go for GT-Line or above.
Speaking of the audio, and the base system, it’s fine for an average user. But if you’re an enthusiast, moving up to the GT-Line S gets you an eight-speaker Harman Kardon system.
Overall the interior quality is impressive with reasonable tech. As you go up to the GT-Line, extra touches like the fabric dash do feel like a class above.
Space, Practicality & Comfort
Adviser rating: 4.8/5
Despite being classed as a small SUV, it is still quite roomy. There’s plenty of headroom and legroom, even for taller occupants, and the cabin feels surprisingly wide for its size.
The sense of space up front gives it a relaxed, airy character.
Storage and Everyday Use
Storage has been thought through decently. There are trays, cupholders and divided sections across the centre console. The open tray between the seats is enormous, however, it lacks a lid. That means anything you leave there is on full display. And it can look a bit cluttered if you toss too much in. The front door bins are not particularly large either, but you can fit in a 500ml bottle without any issues.
Move up to the GT-Line or GT-Line S, and you get a sliding tray under the central armrest. That can double as a small laptop table. Remote workers may appreciate it.
The trade-off, however, is that it removes the storage compartment beneath the armrest. Cheaper Air versions, on the other hand, keep that storage space instead.
Rear Seats and Passenger Comfort
Move to the rear seats, and the good impression continues. There’s enough knee and headroom for adults to travel comfortably.
The flat floor helps, so even with three passengers, foot space does not feel cramped. You also get USB-C ports on the backs of the front seats.
The rear bench does not slide or recline, but it folds in a 60/40 split, and the sections lie flat. It’s fine but anyone wanting more stretching room might prefer a Skoda Elroq.
Boot Space and Some Practical Touches
Kia EV3 has a generous boot space of 460 litres. We managed to fit six carry-on suitcases under the load cover.
Every trim has a height-adjustable boot floor, which helps level the load area when the seats are folded. In the front, there’s also a 25-litre storage compartment under the bonnet. Which we found quite practical for keeping the charging cable out of the way.
Only the GT-Line S trim includes a powered tailgate, so you’ll need that trim if you want one. That said, there’s no ski hatch, which is a slight disappointment.
All in all, the EV3 feels cleverly packaged. It’s roomy where it matters, practical in most situations, and comfortable enough to handle long trips.
Range, Charging & Tax
Adviser Rating: 4.8/5
The EV3 has two battery options to offer. The standard range uses a 55 kWh battery, whereas the long range version steps up to a 78 kWh pack. The only difference between the two is range.
Official and Real-World Range
On paper, the Standard Range model can travel up to 270 miles. Whereas the Long Range can reach around 375 miles, depending on the trim you pick.
But those are official WLTP figures, of course. In real-world use, you should expect around 250 to 320 miles from the Long Range model. Depending on weather, temperature, and the type of roads you drive on.
We’d say it’s still a healthy figure for something in this size and price bracket.
Charging Speeds
Charging speeds differ slightly between the two batteries. The Standard Range supports up to 100 kW DC fast charging. That, under the ideal conditions, can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in roughly half an hour.
The Long Range version accepts up to 135 kW. But since there’s more capacity to refill, it takes just a couple of minutes longer to hit that same 80 percent mark. For home use, both versions support 11 kW AC charging, which suits a standard wallbox setup perfectly.
Tax Advantages as a Company Car
Like all electric cars, it benefits from very low Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rates. Far below what you would pay on petrol, diesel, or even plug-in hybrid models.
That makes it an appealing option for fleets and anyone looking to cut running costs without losing practicality.
Reliability & Safety
Adviser Rating: 4.5/5
Kia’s reputation for dependability is well earned. Over the past decade, the brand has built a strong track record, and the EV3 continues that pattern.
The EV3 scored the full five-star rating when tested by Euro NCAP, which speaks for itself.
Every trim includes a comprehensive suite of safety equipment. You get multiple airbags, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot collision avoidance, driver attention monitoring, and automatic emergency braking (AEB).
The AEB system can detect pedestrians, cyclists, and even crossing traffic at junctions, which adds an extra layer of confidence in busy urban areas particularly.
Move up to the GT-Line S trim and the protection goes further. You get blind-spot monitoring cameras, parking collision avoidance, and a few extra sensors that make tight manoeuvres less stressful.
All EV3s also come with a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser, which adds another layer of security.
Having said that, it’s disappointing that Kia does not include a heat pump as standard. You only get it with the GT-Line S, and even then it’s an extra-cost option.
As for peace of mind, Kia continues to lead with its seven-year (100,000-mile) warranty, which covers most components. The battery is protected separately for eight years or the same mileage, whichever comes first.
That level of coverage remains one of Kia’s biggest strengths and makes ownership feel reassuringly low-risk.
Our Verdict
The Kia EV3 lands in a very sweet position in the electric SUV market.
You get proper space inside, a calm driving experience and a healthy dose of technology.
The build quality is also great. And the layout inside is sensible. It’s quiet on the move, comfortable over long distances, and simple enough for anyone switching to an EV for the first time.
On top of all that, the range figures are genuinely impressive for the price.
It has everything you might be looking for in an all-electric family SUV, except the agility Ford Explorer offers. Otherwise, it’s a well-rounded package.
If we had to choose one, we would select Air trim with standard range. However, if you travel long distances often, depending on your need, go for the Long Range GT-Line.