First details revealed for Kia EV3, but will electric small SUV’s pricing be sharp enough to succeed?
Kia has confirmed pricing and preliminary details for its smallest electric car yet, the EV3, which will arrive in dealers in late March.
The four-variant range opens with the EV3 Air Standard Range priced at $48,990 drive-away in all states and territories bar WA, where it is $49,990 on-the-road.
The Standard Range EV3 Air has a 436km driving range from its 58.3kWh battery and you’ll pay a lot more for the Air Long Range ($56,490); its 81.4kWh battery gives an impressive 604km WLTP driving range.
All Kia EV3s use a single front motor producing 150kW and 283Nm.
Kia’s pricing puts the smaller EV3 quite close to the entry-level EV5 ($56,770, before on-road costs) but the bigger vehicle is built in China, rather than South Korea, and uses different battery technology to the EV3. The EV5 is expected to be the volume seller.
The Kia EV3 measures 4300mm long, 1850mm wide, and 1570mm tall with a 2680mm wheelbase, making it a little smaller than rivals like the BYD Atto 3 Standard Range ($39,990) and Hyundai Kona Electric Standard Range ($54,000, both before on-road costs).
Underneath the Kia EV3 is a 400-volt version of the wider Hyundai Motor Company’s E-GMP platform, which underpins revised iPedal3.0 one-pedal drive system. The car will now store your regen strength preference when turned off rather than defaulting to the middle setting.
According to Kia, fast charging occurs at up to 150kW in the EV3, taking 29 minutes (Standard Range) or 31 minutes (Long Range) to rejuice from 10-80 per cent.
Outside, the Kia EV3 adopts the corporate Star Map lighting and Tiger Face design elements but with a unique, low-set stance and attractive, bulging wheelarches. The GT-Line variant gets unique, sporty styling but no extra grunt.
Kia is yet to lock in full specification details, but we know the Air trims will get 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, over-the-air software updates and grey cloth upholstery.
All EV3s feature Kia’s triple screen set-up with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and same size digital driver’s display with a 5.3-inch climate control panel nestled between. The EV3’s boot is rated at a spacious 460 litres.
Physical buttons for regularly used functions and smatterings of soft touch materials are promised inside. The EV3 also boasts vehicle-to-load capability.
EV3 Earth variants will get 19-inch alloy wheels, artificial leather upholstery in your choice of Subtle Grey or Tangerine, while the GT-Line is distinguished by Medium Grey upholstery, a head-up display, sunroof and eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
The EV3’s arrival in Australia this month is expected to be followed by the EV4 small sedan. An even more affordable Europe-built EV2 remains off the cards for now, though, as import costs may make it too dear in our market.
Prices listed are drive-away
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