Kia EV3 2025 Review - International

Like the rest of the automotive industry, Kia Australia is scrambling to get as many low-emissions vehicles to market as possible, ahead of tougher new-vehicle emissions standards that will be mandated from January 1, 2025.

Cue the 2025 Kia EV3, which will join the Korean car-maker’s line-up in the first quarter of 2025 as its smallest electric vehicle. If you choose the Long Range model-grade, it’ll also offer the longest driving range of any electric Kia model yet.

Although Kia execs won’t confirm pricing until closer to launch, carsales understands the EV3 range will likely kick off with a circa-$50,000 starting price, which will see it undercut the Hyundai Kona Electric (from $54,000 plus ORCs).

The EV3 will also undercut the Kona on size – measuring up at 4300mm long, 1850mm wide, and 1560mm tall – coming in a little shorter albeit a whisker wider.

As for the EV3 line-up, it’ll be a similar story to that of the EV6 and EV9, meaning single-motor front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive variants, two battery options, and a range of trim levels (Air, Earth, GT-line and eventually a red hot GT model).

Local details won’t be revealed until closer to launch but the overseas-spec versions of the 2025 Kia EV3 we drove in Seoul give a good indication of what to expect. Hint: it’s good news.

We tested the base-spec and sportier-looking GT-Line variants, the latter of which brings gloss black exterior trim pieces, as well as triangular-shaped lower bumper elements and a moustache-like trim piece above the front number plate. Very hip.

The GT-Line rides on unique 19-inch alloy wheels, while the base model comes standard with 17-inch alloys (19s are optional), both with a black/silver finish.

Kia says the flagship EV3 GT will bring a new mystery wheel design and up the size to 20-inches – impressive for such a small vehicle.

Other features – depending on the grade – include LED headlights, cloth or leather-appointed ‘eco’ seat upholstery, digital key compatibility, flush exterior door handles, wireless smartphone charging, heated front and ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and ambient interior lighting.

Upper spec versions of the EV3 are likely to bring a premium eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, front ‘relaxation’ seats, heated outboard rear seats, a 360-degree camera and a sunroof among other things.

New paint colours include Shale Grey, Terra Cotta, and Frost Blue, while Ivory Silver (available in matte or gloss finish), Clear White, and Aurora Black pearl are extended to the EV3 range. Hero colours are Snow White pearl for the GT-Line and Aventurine Green for the base model.

Meanwhile, a range of interior colour options include splashes of neutrals, with a ‘Subtle Grey’ two-tone theme for the Air trim, while grey/orange or grey/black is available on Earth grades, and the GT-Line comes standard with a black/grey theme and mesh-covered head restraints.

Having just gone on sale in its home market in South Korea, it’s too early for the 2025 Kia EV3 to have been crash-tested overseas, let alone Down Under. As such, there’s no official safety rating or ANCAP score just yet.

But a host of safety equipment and driver aids should see it tick plenty of boxes, thanks to the fitment of autonomous emergency braking (AEB), smart adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blind-sport monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, highway driving assist and a head-up display.

There’s loads of tech on board the 2025 Kia EV3, which will bring over-the-air (OTA) updates and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, the latter allowing owners to use the EV3 to power household items like laptops, coffee machines or a toaster if your name is Feann.

The EV3 will also debut Kia’s latest i-Pedal 3.0 and navigation-based Smart Regenerative 3.0 systems, which the makes for a more relaxed version of the typical “one pedal” driving experience, spruiking “greater enjoyment and efficiency” says Kia. We’ll see about that in the drive section…

Inside, an impressive cabin shares much with the Kia EV9, including a pair of 12.3-inch digital displays (one is the driver’s instrument cluster and the other is the central infotainment screen), not to mention a dedicated 5.3-inch climate control interface wedged in the middle.

The EV3 will also feature Kia’s latest ccNC multimedia operating system, to bring gaming and streaming services for passengers who might get bored at the charging station, although it’s unclear if EV3s bound for Oz will get the same tech. Stay tuned for more details as it nears its local launch in 2025.

Underpinned by Hyundai-Kia’s latest e-GMP platform architecture, the 2025 Kia EV3 will launch Down Under with two options, comprising the base ‘Standard’ and ‘Long Range’ variants that offer between 430-600km of driving range.

Both come fitted with a 150kW/283Nm electric motor that powers the front wheels, which is fairly modest in EV terms.

Dual-motor all-wheel drive and high-performance GT model-grades will eventually join the range to bring sub-seven-second 0-100km/h performance, which will be the pick for buyers looking for something with extra hustle.

Kia says front-wheel drive versions are set to cover the same distance in 7.5 seconds (or 7.7 sec for Long Range) and top out at 170km/h, at least overseas.

It’s also worth mentioning that although local versions of the incoming EV5 mid-size SUV will be built in China and fitted with more affordable LFP batteries, Aussie versions of the smaller EV3 will come from Korea and utilise the same Lithium-ion (NMC chemistry) battery packs as Kia’s current EV6 and EV9 SUVs.

As mentioned, one of the major selling points of the 2025 Kia EV3 is the driving range offered on Long Range variants.

That’s because it’s fitted with a rather dense 81.4kWh Lithium-ion (NMC) battery that Kia reckons can deliver a whopping 605km of driving range (WLTP), while the EV3 Standard Range version comes with a smaller 58.3kWh battery pack, good for a claimed range of 436km (WLTP).

It remains to be seen whether Kia’s Long Range driving claim of 605km is realistically achievable, given we were constantly swapping in out of different vehicles, making it hard to gauge. Our first drive leg suggested a 600km range might be a stretch, although we weren't hypermiling the vehicle so in perfect conditions it's certainly not out of the question.

Meanwhile, Kia Australia is yet to confirm recharging times, among other details, for the EV3, which is based on a 400-volt system rather than the typical 800-volt e-GMP architecture.

That essentially means longer charging times compared to the EV6 and EV9 (which utilise the 800V system). However, if UK specifications are carried over here, the EV3 will bring maximum DC fast-charging rates of 102kW and 128kW for the Standard and Long Range models respectively.

The same UK specs detail a charge time of 31 minutes to take the EV3 Long Range’s battery from 10 to 80 per cent (under 'optimal conditions'), which provides a useful ballpark figure until local specifications are locked in.

On first impression, it's a good car to drive.

Our South Korean experience of the 2025 Kia EV3 covered hundreds of kilometres stretching from Seoul to Songdo, Goyang and through Incheon. But most of the driving was limited to smooth highways and city tarmac, which isn’t reflective of the roads most drivers encounter in Australia.

It’s also worth mentioning the cars on test were left-hand drive, overseas-spec vehicles and en the EV3 arrives in Oz next year, local versions of the compact SUV will have gone through Kia’s local ride and handling program to ensure they’re fit for our roads. And usually this results in far more relevent dynamics.

Even so, the EV3 GT-Line proved a fantastic city-car companion on the bustling mega-city streets of Seoul.

Around town, its pint-sized dimensions and instant acceleration make slotting into traffic a breeze but it’s when we hit much slower-moving traffic and switched on the EV3’s smart cruise control where everything calmed down. With delightfully smooth movements accelerating and slowing down, it maintains its gap to vehicles ahead with surprising fluidity.

Under full control of the driver, the EV3 feels nimble and light and will be powerful enough for most city slickers. But it's no it should be noted that you’ll have a better chance of winning the traffic light Grand Prix if the other car doesn’t know you’re racing (read: it's not super-fast off the line).

More time exploring the new i-Pedal tech could change our mind, but initial impressions are that it feels much the same as the ‘one-pedal’ experience offered in other EVs and is not what we'd call innovative or revolutionary.

With a freeway off-ramp just about the most dynamically challenging aspect of our drive loop, we’ll have to wait until the 2025 Kia EV3 hits Aussie roads to get a proper gauge of how it feels through corners and also in rougher tarmac.

That said, the suspension is adept at absorbing bumps in the road and a decent-sized pothole was no issue for the EV3 and didn't unduly rock the car about.

Larger hits are heard more than felt inside the cabin, which for the most part, is hushed and free from excess noise.

The cabin of the 2025 Kia EV3 is every bit as impressive as its swish exterior suggests and again, it’s clearly inspired by the EV9.

Think soft surfaces, a mix of textures, splashes of light and pops of colour. The EV3’s cabin is also filled with recycled materials and there’s a QR code printed on the dash you can scan to learn more about them.

It also feels a lot more spacious that exterior dimensions suggest and thoughtful touches like the extendable central armrest make the cabin a more useful space.

You might use it as a portable workbench for your laptop, a mini table to eat lunch on the move, or maybe it’s a spot to play cards or checkers with your passenger.

The small climate control panel is admittedly a little difficult to read on the move because the steering wheel cuts off a good portion of your view but it’s nice to have that info displayed separately to the central infotainment screen, while still having access to some physical controls.

Beyond the glovebox, there’s isn’t a huge amount of covered storage options but there are plenty of nooks and crannies around for storing items, including a large storage bin (and pair of cup holders) between the driver and passenger.

The second row is surprisingly spacious for a compact SUV as well and a stint with four average-sized adults was a comfy experience for all.

A 460-litre boot will gobble up luggage for a weekend away or a week’s worth of groceries (depending on how much you and/or your clan eat), however, the 25-litre frunk (front trunk) will be lucky to swallow anything more than the charging cable.

The 2025 Kia EV3 has lush, mini-EV9 vibes that will no doubt attract buyers. It looks great inside and out, and the array of new tech and smarts, not to mention a generous driving range, will be major selling points.

When it arrives in early 2025 joining the award-winning EV6 and larger EV9, as well as the incoming EV5 mid-size SUV, the EV3 could become the brand's top-selling EV.

But it’s the all-important price that will determine just how many buyers choose the EV3 over an increasingly compelling competitor set, particularly with so many electric options coming to market.

2025 Kia EV3 at a glance:
Price: Circa-$50,000 estimated
Available: Q1 2025
Powertrain: Single asynchronous electric motor
Output: 150kW/283Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 81.4kWh lithium-ion NMC
Range: 605km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: TBA
Safety rating: Not tested

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