Kia EV3 makes global debut; India launch in 2025

Kia has unveiled the all-new Kia EV3, the company's dedicated compact EV SUV. The five-seater SUV will be available in two trim levels: Standard and GT-Line, with nine exterior colour options. The car will quite obviously go on sale in South Korea first and will then make it to other global markets and will only come to India in 2025.

Kia EV3: Design

The new EV from Kia is based on the E-GMP platform much like its older siblings, the EV5 and EV9 and continues to do with the brand 'Opposites United' design philosophy. Dimensionally, it measures 4,300mm in length, 1,850mm in width, and 1,560mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,680mm.

The production-ready EV3 appears to be in line with the Kia EV portfolio and looks pretty much like a smaller version of the EV9. The EV3 has the trademark Kia EV appearance, including a blanked-off grille, L-shaped LED DRLs that flow smoothly into the tiger-nose-inspired front, cubical-shaped LED headlights, and broad air inlets in the lower bumper.

On the flanks, you'll see the heavy body cladding all around, squared-off wheel arches, and a sloping roofline to match its SUV nature. Kia has fitted it with aerodynamically designed alloy wheels that are directly derived from the idea. The rear end, in particular, resembles the EV9, with its muscular dual-tone bumper and smooth surface for the tailgate. The EV3 also has a GT-Line model with sportier bumpers.

Kia EV3: Powertrain

The platform provides two battery choices for the EV3: 58.3kWh for the regular model and 81.4kWh for the Long Range (LR) variant. Kia estimates that the LR model has a range of up to 600 kilometres (WLTP cycle).

Both variations use a 204PS/283Nm electric motor, with a 0-100kmph time of 7.5 seconds and a peak speed of 170kmph. Kia chose a 400V electrical architecture for the EV3 rather than an 800V system that is on the EV9. As a result, the car can charge from 10 percent to 80 per cent in 31 minutes.

Kia EV3: Interior and Features

The dashboard's basic arrangement is remarkably similar to the EV9, with dual, 12.3-inch floating infotainment displays followed by a band of haptic controls and elegant AC vents on the dashboard. Other features include a 12-inch heads-up display, a sunroof, dual-zone climate controls, a wireless charger, ambient lighting, a Harman Kardon music system and Kia's newest AI assistant.

The Kia EV3 has 460 litres of cargo space and a 25-litre frunk. There's also level 2 ADAS onboard that includes features such as forward collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Upon its launch in India next year, the EV3 would rival the likes of the MG ZS EV and BYD Atto3 which are dimensionally very similar to the new Kia. We could see Kia India price the EV3 somewhere between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh.

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