Kia EV3 Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

Written by Matthew MacConnell
Quick overview
Pros
- Stylish exterior and interior design
- Large battery
- Spacious
Cons
- Not that engaging to drive
- Irritating ADAS
- Heat pump only available on top-spec guise
Overall verdict on the Kia EV3
"The Kia EV3 is another impressive entry in the Korean brand's growing electric portfolio, providing a decent amount of range, a premium feel and great styling without breaking the bank."

Kia is on something of a roll with its EV range. The latest to join the fold is the Kia EV3, offering a similarly chunky look to the much bigger EV9, but in a more affordable and easy-to-manage vehicle.
If an EV3 ticks your boxes, it’s worth spending the extra £6,500 for the GT-Line’ This trim offers a nicer interior finish, cleaner styling, and more tech and you get the larger 81.4kWh battery. The Air is just a bit too basic, and its interior feels more industrial, with the use of harder plastics and a lack of creature comfort.
Its 201PS motor is enough for tackling everyday traffic, but there are talks of a twin-motor guise which should arrive in the not-so-distant future.
Thankfully, Kia hasn’t crammed every single setting into the touchscreen. Yes, the majority of settings still reside there, but there are physical buttons to adjust the climate settings and radio volume. The passenger room is generous, meaning the EV3 is suitable for smaller families. Likewise, there’s also enough room in the boot for a pram.
For those who value cornering fun, the EV3 will disappoint. It fails to engage when tackling bends with gusto and doesn’t offer as much feedback as many of its rivals such as the Peugeot e-2008 do. Still, it offers plenty of grip.
Each EV3 comes with heaps of safety tech although it can be a bit over-zealous at times. Kia has given drivers the option to turn off the most annoying setting via a button on the steering wheel.
In all, the EV3 is a welcome addition to the EV SUV pool and while its rivals offer slightly more in some cases, this is just the beginning for this funky EV, and we can expect a lot more from Kia in the coming months.
Is the Kia EV3 right for you?
What's the best Kia EV3 model/battery to choose?
What other cars are similar to the Kia EV3?
Comfort and design: Kia EV3 interior
"Like its EV9 big sibling, the EV3’s cabin emits clean minimalist vibes. Unlike some EVs that are packed with black plastics and dull tones, its lighter hues and use of fabric on the dashboard create a warmer and brighter feel. Some of the plastics feel cheap in places, but this is a cheap-ish car after all."

The first notable thing in the EV3’s interior is its space. There are heaps of it because there’s no transmission tunnel.
Once you’ve positioned yourself in the EV3’s rather comfortable seats - stay clear of the entry-level car and you’ll get those incredibly comfortable headrests the EV9 has - you’ll notice an array of physical buttons for the climate control and radio, there are also shortcut buttons below the 12.3-inch touchscreen to save any faffing.
The driving position is lofty and there’s plenty of seat adjustment for the driver. Six-foot passengers won’t feel squeezed in the back as there’s plenty of headroom, more so than in a Volvo EX30, and the flat floor makes cramming in passengers that little bit easier.
‘Air’ cars get fabric seats that are comfortable but firm and clearly suited for shorter journeys.
Quality and finish
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Kia EV3
Space and practicality: Kia EV3 boot space
Handling and ride quality: What is the Kia EV3 like to drive?
"It’s poky enough but the EV3 lacks life in the corners, something its rivals do a bit better. It is front-wheel drive after all, and its suspension is mostly set up for comfort. It feels more at home on the motorway and through town."

If you jump into the EV3, especially a GT-Line with all its sporty trimmings, expecting it to tackle corners with gusto, you’ll be a bit disappointed. That’s not to say it wanders along the road like a blind badger, it still has plenty of grip and its steering feels responsive enough, it’s just not that much fun. The MG4, Megane E-Tech and Peugeot E-2008 will make you smile a little bit more.
There are four drive mode settings - eco, normal, sport and my drive. If you opt for anything but the Air, the ambient lighting changes with the selected mode, something that happens with other cars, sure, but it feels quite special in the EV3.
Sport increases throttle response and sharpens everything up while mashing the throttle from a standstill will see the EV3 crack the 0-62 mph dash in 7.5 seconds. A figure that’s similar to the Volkswagen ID.3’s.
There are also two paddles behind the steering that control brake regen levels. Holding one of the paddles engages a one-pedal mode, allowing you to sift through town without applying the brakes.
Once you’re up at cruising speeds, the EV3 feels smooth and the driver assistance systems work well. There are a lot of annoying bings and bongs, but most new cars have these nowadays because of safety regulations. We found the ADAS to be slightly intrusive when tackling twisty backroads.
Through town, it handles potholes, and drain covers well thanks to its softer suspension setup and pulling out of busy junctions is a breeze, despite it being front-wheel drive.
What motors and batteries are available in the Kia EV3?
Kia EV3 range: How far can you travel on a charge?
Refinement and noise levels
Safety equipment: How safe is the Kia EV3?
Kia EV3 charging times: How much does it cost to charge?
"Despite us driving it in the middle of winter, the EV3 consistently returned a healthy efficiency figure. It also gets fast-charging ability, similar to other Kia/Hyundai products."

Which battery you choose will dictate how fast the EV3 charges. The Standard Range will charge up to 100kW, matching the Hyundai Kona Electric. This means you’ll be waiting 30 minutes for a 10-80% charge.
Opt for the larger battery and it will charge at 135kW, but this doesn’t mean you’ll be waiting less as it has a larger battery to fill. The 10-80% charge takes slightly longer at 33 minutes. AC charging is 7.4 kW and via a 16A supply, it will take five hours and 20 minutes to charge the smaller battery from 10-80%. The larger battery takes a longer seven hours and 15 minutes.
Kia EV3 reliability and warranty
Kia EV3 insurance groups and costs
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Kia EV3?
Kia EV3 price
"The EV3 is still too new to be arriving on the used car market. If buying new, it'll cost you at least £32,995."

The Kia EV3 is reasonably priced as far as electric cars go, starting at £32,995. It's possible to spend nearly £11,000 more than that on one of these, though, as the range-topping model is £43,895.
There aren’t many used EV3s available at the time of writing, but we spotted a delivery-mile-only ‘Air’ 81.4kWh for £35,870 online. A ‘GT-Line’ was also available for £38,620. There may be other deals available.
Looking at the EV3’s rivals, a 9,500-mile EX30 can be had for as little as £25,850 while older ID.3s and Cupra Borns cost well under £20,000.
Kia has a handy company car tax calculator on its website and according to this, a base car has a £132 tax p/a rate at 20% while the larger battery Air costs £144. The GT-Line lands in at £158 while the GT-Line S is £172.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
What is the Kia EV3?
How much does the Kia EV3 cost?
How far can the Kia EV3 go?
Kia EV3 cars for sale on heycar
Kia EV3148kW GT-Line S 81.4kWh 5dr Auto
20242,969 milesElectric£550 mo£38,749
DeliveryKia EV3148kW GT-Line S 81.4kWh 5dr Auto
20252,000 milesElectric£605 mo£39,999
DeliveryKia EV3148kW GT-Line S 81.4kWh 5dr Auto
20251,684 milesElectric£586 mo£40,814
DeliveryKia EV3148kW GT-Line S 81.4kWh 5dr Auto
20244,000 milesElectric£581 mo£38,499
BN236PDKia EV3148kW GT-Line S 81.4kWh 5dr Auto
20254,000 milesElectric£587 mo£38,999
BN236PD
Kia EV3 Alternatives
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