Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Kia EV3 Air 81.4kWh FWD
Price: EV3 from £32,995, Air 81.4kWh from £35,995
Motor: 150kW electric motor
Transmission: single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Battery: 81.4kWh lithium-ion battery
Power: 204hp
Torque: 283Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 375 miles
0-62mph: 7.7 seconds
Top speed: 105mph
Boot space: 460 litres (plus 25-litre front storage)
Styling
Much of the EV3's styling is taken from the EV9, albeit with a few little evolutions. The narrow, angular lights, square stance and monolithic body are all EV9-inspired, but the shape isn't quite the same. The EV3 is a bit more shapely, particularly at the rear, and it somehow looks less aggressive than the EV9 as a result. In fact, with the chunky plastic body cladding and the angular lines, it looks much more rugged than this front-wheel-drive Air model really is.
Interior
Just as the EV3’s exterior is inspired by the EV9, so is the interior. There’s a clean look to the dash, which doesn’t have too many buttons, but is dominated by the massive central touchscreen and the huge digital instrument display.
The technology is pretty conventional for Kia, with a nice, easy-to-use menu system and clear graphics, although the safety tech isn’t quite as simple to switch off as some might like. Still, the displays are sharp and react swiftly, so it has to go down as one of the better infotainment systems out there. Especially as it comes with the smaller dedicated climate control screen that lives next door to it, offering immediate access to temperature adjustment and other heating and ventilation controls.
Of equal importance, though, is the quality of the interior. The Kia is remarkably well built, with switchgear proving solid and robust, and some smart materials in the cabin. It doesn’t quite feel like a properly premium product, but it’s every bit as solid as – or perhaps better than – most of its mainstream rivals.
Practicality
The EV3’s interior doesn’t just feel light and airy; it is remarkably spacious. The space in the front is ample, and rear-seat practicality is even better, with plenty of leg- and headroom even for tall adults. And there’s a 25-litre storage space at the front for cables and charging paraphernalia, while the rear end has a 460-litre boot. Admittedly, that isn’t huge – there’s more space in the back of a Qashqai, for example, but it’s still on a par with the likes of the VW T-Roc and the Renault Megane E-Tech.
Performance
As standard, the EV3 combines its 204hp electric motor with a 58.3kWh battery that's good for 270 miles between charges on the official economy test. That's pretty good going, but in the real world, you're more likely to get around 200 miles between charges, so those covering longer distances will probably prefer the 81.4kWh version we tested. Officially, that car will cover 375 miles between charges, and even in the depths of winter, we found 250 miles or more easily achievable on motorway runs.
Such efficiency makes the EV3 a very usable thing, especially as motorway journeys don't always show electric motors in their most economical light. Around town, you'd likely go further with the help of regenerative braking.
The EV3 offers various levels of regenerative braking, so you can tailor the motor behaviour to your tastes and the road conditions, as well as maximising range. But if you leave it in its least intrusive setting, the EV3 is pretty nippy. That power output is more than adequate, and no family SUV needs to get from 0-62mph in any less than 7.5 seconds, especially when the power delivery is this immediate. It's pretty quiet, too, with predictably small amounts of motor noise and less wind and road noise than you might expect from a boxy SUV.
Ride & Handling
Just as the EV3’s range and performance are both more than adequate, so too is the way the car drives. Kia doesn’t really place that much emphasis on sportiness or handling – at least not with the EV3 – so while the car feels stable and pleasant enough, it isn’t exactly enthralling. The steering doesn’t engage you and there’s no great sense that it will reward you for throwing it about.
Instead, comfort is a much more important consideration, so the EV3 feels nice and planted, with no sense that it’s about to lean too much in corners. Yet because it’s heavy, the suspension is slightly on the stiff side, and that means it won’t glide over bumps quite as happily as you might expect. Nevertheless, you never get jolted about too much, and the suspension will regain its composure very quickly after hitting a pothole.
Value
EV3 prices start at just under £33,000 for the basic EV3 Air with the 58.3kWh battery, and rise to just under £36,000 for the 81.4kWh version we tested. That makes it roughly the same price as the Volvo EX30, which has a more premium badge on the front, but the two cars are closely matched in terms of cabin finish and equipment. As standard, all EV3s come with 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, not to mention the big navigation screen, the driver display screen and the smaller climate control screen. And you get parking sensors, a reversing camera and lots of safety tech all thrown in. You really don't need the more upmarket GT-Line models at all.
Verdict
With futuristic styling, a classy interior and a decent amount of electric range, the EV3 is one of the best family-sized electric SUVs we've come across. The driving experience isn't all that exciting or impressive, but the Kia's lack of weaknesses mean it's really hard to criticise. If this eventually replaces the Sportage, the future is still bright.
