2025 Kia EV3 Review

The EV3 is tasked with kick-starting Kia's presence in the ever-growing world of small, battery-electric SUVs, hoping to take on its rivals on everything from features to driving range, warranty and safety equipment.

With no shortage of competitors, however, the EV3 needs to make a great impression within the segment to ensure Kia gets in on the action.

Just how well does the Kia EV3 range hold up and which is the pick of the bunch? Let's take a closer look to find out.

Kia EV3 Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the MY25 Kia EV3 range kick off from $47,600 for the entry-level EV3 Air Standard Range and stretch out to $63,950 for the range-topping EV3 GT-Line Log Range.

• EV3 Air Standard Range - $47,600

• EV3 Air Long Range - $52,315

• EV3 Earth Long Range - $58,600

• EV3 GT-Line Long Range - $63,950

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Kia EV3 Air Standard Range Specifications

What Features Does the Kia EV3 Have?

Kia’s entry-level EV3 Air comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys and picks up LED headlights, black roof rails, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, two-tone cloth upholstery, a wireless charging pad, a 5.0-inch climate display and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, vehicle-to-load charging and five drive modes for Kia's i-Pedal regenerative braking system.

Stepping up to the EV3 Earth range adds a set of 19-inch alloys wrapped in Hankook iON Evo tyres, a powered boot lift, heated and ventilated front seats, two-tone leatherette upholstery with power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.

Kia's flagship EV3 GT-Line picks up bespoke 19-inch alloys, full LED tail lights with projector LED headlights, black wheel arches and mirrors, two-tone leather upholstery, upgraded relaxation seats, a head-up display, metal pedals, ambient lighting and an extendable centre console.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

All versions of the Kia EV3 range pick up the same 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system sitting atop the dashboard.

In fact, all members of the EV3 family receive a trio of displays paired seamlessly together that give the cabin a nice and modern aesthetic and access to Kia's latest ccNC infotainment tech.

The 12.3-inch display offers great brightness levels and a high resolution display backed by more than enough processing power to keep you trawling through menus without any noticeable lag.

There's DAB+ digital radio and satellite navigation thrown into all versions alongside a six-speaker sound system, while buyers upgrading to the EV3 GT-Line pick up an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.

EV3 buyers also receive over-the-air software updates via the Kia Connect service, with a seven-year subscription bundled in.

Does the Kia EV3 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers will be pleased to know that the EV3's infotainment system offers wireless smartphone mirroring for both iOS and Android ecosystems.

That means you can leave your phone in your pocket or place it on the charging pad while accessing your favourite podcasts or preferred navigation apps via wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

You can also connect your phone via one of the two USB-C ports in the front of the cabin to access Android Auto or Apple CarPlay on the move.

Is the Kia EV3 Comfortable to Drive?

Kia's EV3 range presents as an extremely well-behaved and user-friendly little SUV package.

The EV3's stout wheelbase, smooth powertrain and agile handling make for a great driving experience that holds its own amongst some of the best in the segment.

Every member of the EV3 range comes powered by the same rear-mounted electric motor that produces 150kW of power and 283Nm of torque, with two different battery sizes on offer.

This means that it’s far from a rocket ship in a straight line, though the instant injection of torque does give it some urgency off the line when you've engaged the sportiest driving mode.

More importantly, though, the power delivery is silky smooth when taking off from the line and its lightweight steering rack makes it easy to park and throw through a roundabout.

There’s also a regenerative braking system that offers Kia's third-generation i-Pedal with a clever automatic mode that can bring you to a complete stop, judging from what the car in front of you is doing.

All up, then, it's a comfortable and user-friendly town crawler, but has more than a few tricks up its sleeve when the going gets rough.

That's because, unlike the vast majority of its rivals that are built primarily for the urban jungle, Kia has taken the time to both test the EV3 on Australian roads and revise its suspension package that makes it more versatile than many of its competitors.

This means it's confident on a country road and maintains a nice amount of composure as you tackle all the bumps and undulations of a country road.

How Far Can the Kia EV3 Drive on a Single Charge?

Kia offers the EV3 with a single, standard range version at the base of the lineup and a trio of higher-capacity siblings.

There's a 58.3kWh lithium-ion battery NMC battery pack powering the EV3 Standard Range which consumes a claimed 14.9kWh per 100km, offering up to 436km of range on the WLTP test cycle.

Upgrading to EV3 Long Range versions adds a larger 81.4kWh battery pack offering up to 604km of range in the EV3 Air Long Range, which drops down to 563km in the EV3 Earth and GT-Line.

• EV3 Standard Range - 436km

• EV3 Air Long Range - 604km

• EV3 Earth Long Range - 563km

• EV3 GT-Line Long Range - 563km

How Fast Can the Kia EV3 Charge?

The Kia EV3 comes packing some decent charging speeds, but ultimately lacks the fastest charging tech in the segment.

With access to the right DC fast charger, you can charge the larger 81.4kWh battery pack at speeds up to 127kW, while the smaller 58.3kWh pack can be DC fast-charged up to rates of 100kW.

This means you can, in theory, charge the EV3 Standard Range from 10 - 80 per cent in a claimed 29 minutes, or an equivalent charge in the EV3 Long Range in 31 minutes.

With an AC charger, you can charge the EV3 at speeds up to 6.9kW, increasing to 10.5kWh with the help of a three-phase AC charger.

• EV3 Standard Range 10 - 80 per cent: 29 minutes

• EV3 Extended Range 10 - 80 per cent: 31 minutes

• EV3 Three-Phase AC 10 - 100 per cent: 5:20

• EV3 11kW Wall Box 10 - 100 per cent: 7:15

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While it doesn't have a huge footprint, Kia has done well to make the EV3 a practical little SUV package.

The EV3's cabin shares much of the same DNA as its larger siblings like the EV5 and EV9, which places an emphasis on clean, simplistic designs and some clever storage options that utilise every inch of real estate.

Headroom in the front of the cabin is great, even for the tallest of drivers, thanks to the tall roofline which also lends a tonne of forward visibility.

The layout of the displays keeps things simple and easy on the eyes while retaining some physical inputs for the climate controls and some media shortcuts.

Storage is another strong point of the EV3's cabin, with a pair of cupholders flanked by a large, rubber-lined storage tray and wireless charging pad and a clever, extendable workspace that is perfect for a laptop fitted to the range-topping GT-Line.

You do, however, miss out on any storage inside the centre console armrest when opting for the GT-Line's workstation.

Move to the rear of the cabin and the EV3 proves itself a practical little SUV package.

Headroom is solid for the segment, though taller rear occupants might feel their tallest hair follicles rubbing up against the headliner.

That said, there’s decent legroom for tall rear occupants, meaning you won't hear any complaints from kids seated back here.

As per usual with many electric vehicles, the floor is raised due to the underlying battery pack which means your knees are slightly more elevated than a comparative ICE vehicle, though the seating position is respectful to bodies both big and small.

Amenities in the rear of the EV3 include a pair of USB-C ports, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging port, a folding armrest with cupholders, a small cubby at the back of the centre console and bottle holders inside the doors.

Parents have access to a pair of ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard seats and three top tether mounts on the seatbacks.

All up, the EV3 features no shortage of clever touches and offers a substantial amount of real estate inside its relatively stout packaging that makes it a very practical small SUV.

How Big is the Kia EV3's Boot?

For a small SUV, the EV3 impresses with a pretty large boot in the back and some added real estate underneath the bonnet.

In total, there's 460L worth of boot space in the back of the EV3, which puts it on par with the Geely EX5 and the Hyundai Kona Electric while giving it an edge over the BYD Atto 3 and a massive advantage of the Volvo EX30.

Folding down the EV3’s 60:40 split rear seats unlocks a total of 1,251L worth of real estate when it's time to lug around sports gear or leave town for a weekend away.

There's also an extra 25L worth of storage underneath the bonnet.

• EV3 Boot Space Minimum: 460L

• EV3 Boot Space Maximum: 1,251L

• EV3 Under Bonnet Storage: 25L

Is it Safe?

The Kia EV3 range comes packed with a solid list of active safety tech.

As standard, all versions pick up AEB with vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian detection as well as junction assist, alongside Kia's Highway Driving Assist II system, lane-keep assistance and attention monitoring.

There's also blind-spot assistance, rear-cross traffic alerts, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, high-beam assist and seven airbags inside the cabin.

Does the Kia EV3 Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

Kia's EV3 hits the road wearing a fresh five-star ANCAP safety rating after scoring the following results in its 2025 testing.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 83%

• Child Occupant Protection: 86%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 78%

• Safety Assist: 81%

What Warranty Does the Kia EV3 Come With?

EV3 buyers pick up a seven-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty alongside a separate seven-year/150,000-kilometre battery warranty.

Buyers also pick up roadside assistance that stretches out to eight years when you keep your EV3 serviced within the network.

The company also offers three, five and seven-year capped-price servicing packages; pricing can be found below.

• Three-Year Servicing Package: $674

• Five-Year Servicing Package: $1,285

• Seven-Year Servicing Package: $1,897

Service intervals stand at 12 months or 15,000km, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia EV3 Worth it?

While it has no shortage of rivals in the small SUV segment, the Kia EV3 stands strongly on its own feet as a very attractive offering.

With a particularly strong nature on the road thanks to its locally-tuned suspension package, the EV3 offers versatility that some key rivals simply can't match while providing excellent energy efficiency figures.

Inside, the EV3's cabin is well-appointed and maximises every inch of space while providing a respectful amount of real estate for even adults in the second row, with a large boot to round-out its impressive practicality chops.

That said, the entry-level version with its smaller battery and therefore limited driving range is, we think, one to skip, while range-topping GT-Line's value proposition is far weaker than that of the Air Extended Range, which remains our pick of the bunch.

Don't forget that our team of car-buying experts is waiting on hand to help find you the best possible deal on your next car, reach out today.

Five Kia EV3 Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty

2. Seven-year/150,000km battery + high-voltage warranty

3. 436 - 604km driving ranges

4. 460 - 1,251L boot space + 25L under bonnet storage

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating (tested 2025)