Kia EV3 world premiere confirmed ahead of summer launch
The Kia EV3 will be a new small crossover positioned below the Kia Niro EV and could eventually serve as the replacement for the Kia e-Soul (Kia Soul EV). A concept version already gave away much about its exterior in 2023, and now, a set of teasers has reaffirmed it will look quite close to that design concept.
Created based on Kia’s Opposites United design philosophy, the Kia EV3 will feature a strong character customers typically expect of an SUV, along with touches of elegance and sophistication. A boxy body will give it a masculine and athletic appearance and vertically stacked headlights and tail lights will reinforce its tough styling. In contrast, a visibly raked back glass, a slim C-pillar appliqué, and flush door handles will lend it a modern appearance.
Features like Digital Key 2 smart key and power tailgate would give customers convenient access to the interior. Inside, the Kia EV3 should feature a clean and low-key design with a sleek dashboard, minimal physical controls, and 2-3 freestanding cockpit displays integrated into a single panel to look like
one seamless display. Heated, ventilated, and electrically adjustable front seats, touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and OTA update support, and an AR HUD are among the expected main interior features.
Like the Kia EV5, which is yet to go on sale in Europe, the Kia EV3 will sit on a new, front-wheel drive version of the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The base configuration is likely to employ a 160 kW (218 PS)/310 Nm motor at the front.
Another difference from the Kia EV6 and Kia EV9 will be that the Kia EV3 will have simpler batteries operating at around 400 volts, which would also mean slower charging. However, with the energy storage capacity of these batteries expected to be much lower, that is unlikely to be much of an issue. A 10-80% charging session should take 30 minutes. On a full charge, the EV3 may allow travelling up to anywhere between 475 and 500 kilometres, as per WLTP.
Kia is likely to manufacture the EV3 in at least two factories. The first factory to kick off the new EV’s production will be AutoLand Gwangmyeong Plant 2. A few months later, the Slovakian factory in Žilina will join, paving the way for the European launch. A potential Chinese launch may translate to production in one more additional site.
It is interesting to note that Kia also mentioned an EV2 for the first time at the Investor Day at the beginning of April. The small electric car is one of six new electric models that Kia is planning by 2026. However, there are no further details; the EV2 is only included in a list. The others are the aforementioned EV5 and EV3 electric cars, the EV4 electric saloon, which has also only been presented as a study so far, and two region-specific electric models, including a Carens EV for the Indian market. The EV2, EV4 and EV5 models are to be offered “in important markets, including the USA, Europe and South Korea”.
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