With the EV3, Kia continues to develop its battery electric vehicles range
- Korean carmaker Kia (part of the Hyundai-Kia group) is gradually building up its range of battery electric vehicles based on the e-GMP platform shared by Hyundai, Kia and Genesis. After the Ray, an A-segment EV small MPV, still in production, the B-segment Soul electric SUV, the C-segment Niro electric SUV, the D-segment EV6 sedan and the E-segment EV9 SUV, Kia is launching the EV3 to replace the electric Soul. The new Kia EV3 takes up the styling of the larger Kia EV9 SUV, but on a smaller scale, measuring just 4.30 m in length - 10 cm longer than the Soul. Contrary to its appearance, which suggests otherwise, the EV3 boasts a particularly low Cx of 0.263.
- The new Kia EV3 is powered by a 204 hp (150 kW) electric motor powered by a 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh battery pack, giving a range of 500 km or 600 km respectively according to the WLTP cycle. The EV3, which is 12 cm shorter than the electric Niro, manages to outperform the Niro in terms of range, thanks to its new-generation batteries. The Niro's range does not exceed 460 km. Even the EV6 doesn't reach 600 km.
- If we look at the competition, the Renault Megane E-Tech, 10 cm shorter than the EV3, has a range of 470 km according to the WLTP cycle, and the Renault Scenic E-Tech, 17 cm longer, can reach 625 km according to the WLTP cycle.
- It remains to be seen how much the EV3 will cost, which will help assess its sales potential in South Korea and Europe, as the model is not due to be marketed in either China or the USA.