Kia is setting a new benchmark in the compact electric SUV segment with the unveiling of the Kia Ev3. This groundbreaking vehicle brings the innovative technology and customer-centric values of Kia’s award-winning flagship EV9 SUV to a more accessible market. The Kia EV3 boasts a bold design, a spacious and practical interior, a best-in-class driving range, and advanced technology features, aiming to broaden the appeal of EVs and accelerate Kia’s transition to a sustainable mobility provider.
The Kia EV3 is designed to exceed customer expectations in the compact EV SUV sector, offering a unique and immersive experience. It directly addresses common concerns surrounding electric vehicle adoption by providing a long driving range and fast-charging capabilities. Kia aims to reassure potential EV buyers and lead the mass adoption of electric mobility with the EV3.
“By providing groundbreaking design, an industry-leading electric drivetrain, and practical, innovative lifestyle solutions, the EV3 aims to extend Kia’s exceptional EV SUV experience to a wider audience. With a WLTP driving range of up to 600km and fast-charging capability, the EV3 addresses common concerns about electric vehicles. It will reassure those who may have been hesitant to make the switch to electric mobility and will lead the mass adoption of EVs,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO at Kia.
Bold and Progressive Exterior Design of the Kia EV3
The exterior design of the Kia EV3 is a bold and progressive statement, embodying Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy. This philosophy blends the seemingly contradictory forces of nature and modernity to create a harmonious and dynamic aesthetic. The Kia EV3’s design seamlessly combines emotional appeal with practical functionality, resulting in a compact SUV that is both visually striking and user-friendly.
Image alt text: Front view of the Kia EV3 showcasing its bold vertical headlights and Star Map signature lighting, emphasizing its confident stance and modern design.
Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, commented, “The EV3 embodies our design philosophy perfectly – a combination of playful design combined with thoughtful functionality. Though compact, the inspiring exterior envelops an open interior space that emphasizes restorative relaxation for every journey. Its future-facing aesthetic is further emboldened by the choice of daring colors; inside, the spacious cabin and the incorporation of new organic materials express a youthful sense of energy and playfulness.”
The Kia EV3 projects a highly assertive presence with its vertical headlamps positioned at the outer edges of the clean-surface front fascia. This design element contributes to a wide and confident stance. The new interpretation of Kia’s Tiger Face incorporates the Star Map signature lighting concept, featuring vertically arranged Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) that further enhance the EV3’s distinctive character.
In profile, the Kia EV3 conveys strength, agility, and dynamism. The sleek roofline flows into a hatchback-style tailgate, highlighting the vehicle’s sophisticated design. The dynamic silhouette and voluminous cabin proportions suggest a spacious interior, while unique design elements accentuate its innovative nature.
Image alt text: Side profile of the Kia EV3 highlighting its sloping roofline, dynamic silhouette, and spacious cabin design, emphasizing its agility and modern SUV proportions.
The rear of the Kia EV3 completes its high-tech and purposeful design language. A thick black trim line connects the sturdy C-pillar design to the dynamic roofline, reinforcing the vehicle’s robust appearance. The simplified, geometric rear lamp design integrates with the rear glass, framing a futuristic tailgate with a wide and sleek aesthetic inspired by the Tiger Face Star Map front lighting signature.
Kia offers the EV3 in a palette of nine body colors, including two exclusive shades: Aventurine Green and Terracotta, allowing for personalization and bold expression.
The Kia EV3 GT-line variant further emphasizes a rugged and adventurous aesthetic. Contrasting lower body trim and an integrated lower bumper enhance the dynamic design at the front, creating a sportier and more refined appearance. Unique vertical and horizontal graphics create a bolder image, contrasting with the black-clad areas. This design theme extends to the rear, featuring a distinctive triangle wing configuration on the lower bumper for an aggressive effect.
Nature-Inspired and Wellbeing-Focused Interior of the Kia EV3
The interior design of the Kia EV3 prioritizes spaciousness and comfort, comfortably accommodating five occupants. Kia has crafted a highly functional and inviting cabin that feels like a living space, enhancing the enjoyment of every journey, including charging stops.
A key interior feature is the elegant center console, incorporating a sliding table and storage area. The lower section provides space for drinks, snacks, and small backpacks, while the sliding table offers a surface for laptops or tablets when parked, adding practical convenience.
Image alt text: Interior view of the Kia EV3 showcasing the spacious cabin, panoramic widescreen display, ambient lighting, and comfortable seating, emphasizing the living space-like ambience and user-centric design.
Combined with multi-adjustable ambient lighting and ultra-comfortable seats featuring a relaxation mode, the sliding table enhances relaxation when parked. The Kia EV3 also boasts class-leading luggage space with a 25-liter frunk and a 460-liter rear load capacity. The adjustable two-tier luggage board provides over 140mm of load height flexibility, increasing practicality for various activities.
The near-30-inch widescreen display integrates a 12.3-inch cluster, a five-inch air-conditioning panel, and another 12.3-inch AVN display. This seamless display offers touch operation for climate control and provides clear, intuitive information to the driver. The screen extends to the center of the dashboard, providing entertainment and navigation access for the front passenger.
Essential vehicle functions, such as drive mode, cruise control, entertainment, and navigation, are easily controlled via steering wheel buttons. A row of seamless buttons below the central screen provides intuitive access to mapping, media, and vehicle settings.
Customers can choose from a variety of interior colors, materials, and trim finishes inspired by Air, Earth, and Water elements, including Subtle Grey, Warm Grey, Blue, and Onyx Black (exclusive to GT-line).
Sustainability is a core focus in the Kia EV3, incorporating recycled fabrics on the dashboard and door trims for a welcoming ambience. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a highly recyclable plastic, is used extensively throughout the interior, including seats, headliner, door armrests, garnish, floor mats, and luggage board, demonstrating Kia’s commitment to eco-conscious materials.
Electric Drivetrain, Range, and Charging of the Kia EV3
The Kia EV3 measures 4,300mm in length, 1,850mm in width, and 1,560mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,680mm. It utilizes a front-wheel-drive electric powertrain based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and Kia’s fourth-generation battery technology. The EV3 Standard model features a 58.3kWh battery, while the EV3 Long Range variant is equipped with an 81.4kWh battery.
Both models utilize a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, achieving a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 170km/h.
Spencer Cho, Vice President and Head of Global Business Planning, stated, “The Kia EV3 has been designed and engineered to meet the needs of customers who want a car that matches their sustainability values but do not want to compromise their practical everyday needs. It provides one of the best living and luggage sizes in its class, while our flexible E-GMP architecture delivers a best-in-class AER driving range. With the EV3, Kia has redefined the EV SUV segment to create a compact model that is comprehensively equipped with innovative technology and features.”
Kia engineers have prioritized efficiency in the EV3, incorporating enhanced body aerodynamics with a full 3D undercover, achieving a low drag coefficient of 0.263 Cd. Advanced Battery Management Unit (BMU) and Cell Monitoring Unit (CMU) technologies ensure optimal energy usage for both battery pack options.
The Kia EV3 Long Range offers an estimated range of up to 600km (WLTP), providing confidence for longer journeys. The advanced Vehicle Charging Management System enables rapid charging from 10-80 percent in approximately 31 minutes, minimizing downtime.
Advanced Technology, Safety, and Connectivity in a Compact EV SUV
The Kia EV3 is equipped with advanced safety, driving assistance, convenience, and charging features typically found in larger, premium EV SUVs. This elevates the ownership experience significantly beyond current compact SUV offerings, providing a transformative and superior driving experience compared to traditional ICE vehicles.
Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) include eDTVC Electric Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control for enhanced power delivery and stability. Features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist provide comprehensive driver support.
Kia’s Remote Smart Parking Assist allows for confident maneuvering in tight spaces without being in the vehicle. A 12-inch Head-up Display (HUD) projects key information onto the windshield, minimizing driver distraction and enhancing safety.
The Kia EV3 debuts Kia’s new i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking technology, allowing drivers to customize regenerative braking levels for one-pedal driving. This maximizes energy efficiency, reduces driving fatigue, and extends range.
Image alt text: Kia EV3 charging at a fast charging station, highlighting its quick charging capability and advanced battery management system for efficient energy replenishment.
As a segment first, the Kia EV3 offers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging, enabling users to power external devices, increasing versatility for various lifestyles. Digital Key 2.0 allows for unlocking and starting the EV3 using smartphones or smartwatches, and digital key sharing with others.
The Kia EV3 offers a holistic suite of connectivity and entertainment features. Premium Streaming services, delivered via LG’s Automotive Content Platform (ACP) powered by webOS, provide access to diverse content. In-car gaming is also available, enhanced by the Harman Kardon audio system for a home-cinema-like experience.
Chang Sung Ryu, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Brand & CX, commented, “Cars are no longer just a means of transportation but an extension of our ‘life space.’ Developed with numerous customer-centric innovations, the EV3 offers our customers an immersive content consumption experience with our premium streaming services and class-leading sound system. Providing the ability to digitally customize the EV3’s interior through the Kia Connect Store in the same way one would personalize a smartphone, alongside the introduction of Kia’s AI Assistant these examples further highlight how the EV3 responds to customers’ ever-evolving needs.”
Kia’s AI Assistant, initially introduced on the Kia K4, is also featured in the EV3, offering intuitive voice control and interaction with vehicle features. Utilizing generative AI, the voice assistant understands natural language and complex contexts, enabling natural conversations and support for travel planning, entertainment, and information search. Kia plans to expand AI Assistant features across other EV models, starting with the EV3, and broaden its services in Europe.
Kia EV3: ‘A Moving Power’ Global Campaign and Launch
Kia’s global campaign for the Kia EV3, ‘a moving power,’ emphasizes the company’s dedication to innovation, cutting-edge design, and technology, and its commitment to expanding its EV offerings. The Kia EV3 is set to enhance EV accessibility, offering sustainable, efficient, and convenient mobility for a broader audience.
The Kia EV3 will debut in Korea in July 2024, followed by its European launch in the second half of the year, with plans for further expansion to other regions after its European market entry.
*Editor’s note: Availability of vehicle features mentioned in this press release may vary by trim level and/or country.
