Kia EV3 review

Interior:

Dashboard & tech

Kia has always been good at putting plenty of tech into its cars and that’s no different with the EV3. You’ve got a 12.3-inch driver’s display and a main infotainment screen of the same size which both feature clear, easy-to-read graphics and lots of information. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, too, so it’s easy to pair your smartphone.

The good news is that Kia hasn’t adopted a screen-only layout, so you still get plenty of shortcut buttons for key functions. This makes the whole setup easier to use on the move, and far more intuitive than in rival offerings which have done away with buttons entirely.

Comfort

The EV3 is designed to be as family-friendly as possible, which is why inside there are lots of pleasant but hard-wearing materials. These help the car to be more comfortable overall, while the standard-fit seats are well-padded and easy to adjust.

To help make things even more comfortable, the EV3 comes equipped with heated seats and a heated steering wheel on all models, which are big bonuses when it gets cold. You can precondition the car to warm up to a pre-set time via the main screen, too.

Quality

The quality of Kia’s cars has gone from strength to strength, and that’s particularly apparent in the EV3. All of the key surfaces that you interact with feel well-made and robust, and though there are some harsher plastics here and there, they’re located in places that are often scuffed or marked.

Even the buttons surrounding the main screen are well-damped and have a tactile feel to them. The only thing we do feel lets the side down is an odd ventilation panel next to the driver’s display, as it’s nearly always blocked by your hands when you’re holding the steering wheel.

Practicality & boot space:

Interior space

Space is pretty good in the EV3. Up front, there’s a light and airy feeling thanks to a large windscreen, and there’s a decent level of shoulder room as well. In the back, things are a little tight; though for most people it won’t be a problem, taller passengers might find their heads touching the headlining.

However, overall space is good and there are easily accessible ISOFIX points, so loading a child seat inside should be relatively fuss-free.

Boot space

Boot space is an area where the EV3 surges ahead of rivals, as at 460 litres, it dwarfs those offered by nearly all of the competition. Plus, you get an extra ‘frunk’ under the ‘nose’ of the car, providing additional storage for the charging cables. Overall, it helps to make the EV3 a very practical option and one which offers far more storage space than you might think initially.

Versatility

Overall versatility in the EV3 is - you guessed it - good as well. There are plenty of storage solutions dotted throughout the cabin, and we like the slide-out tray which extends from the central armrest. There’s a large storage area underneath it, too, and you’ll find a trio of power points under the main display for keeping devices topped up.

The EV3 also gets vehicle-to-load technology, which means you can use the car’s on-board electricity supply to power external devices, such as an air pump when you’re camping or even a kettle for a mid-journey brew.

Driving:

Driving experience

Refinement is an area where the EV3 really stands out as with its comfortable suspension and hushed interior, it feels a lot more upmarket than you might think. Even at motorway speeds, things stay quiet, which makes the EV3 relaxing to drive, even over long distances.

The only snag is over-the-shoulder visibility, which is hampered by rather chunky pillars at the back. The good news is that you do get a proper rear wiper, shunning a trend for wiper-less cars that we’ve seen on many new EVs.

Performance

All versions of the EV3 get a 201bhp electric motor which brings a 0-60mph time of just under eight seconds, no matter which version you opt for. Kia has also equipped the EV3 with a handy one-pedal driving mode, which is ideal for around-town driving. Essentially, you need only to lift off the accelerator and the car will start to slow down automatically, so it’s great for stop-start traffic.

At present, there are no faster versions of the EV3 planned, but the performance on offer in this model seems adequate enough.

Running costs:

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

As with any EV, how cheaply you can run the EV3 will depend on how you can charge it. Access home charging and you’ll be able to keep it topped up for a fraction of what you’d spend on an equivalent petrol or diesel, though if you rely on public charging and these costs will increase.

Value for money

New, the EV3 remains a competitively priced car. It starts at £33,055 for a base-level ‘Air’ car with a smaller battery, or £36,055 for a car of the same grade with a larger battery. All cars come well equipped for the money, though, and unless you want a car with larger wheels, it does feel like the entry-level model offers the best value.

Though it remains a very new car, some EV3 models have started filtering into the used market, where you could find some money off.

Reliability & warranty

Kia cars are well-known for their reliability and the EV3 shouldn’t prove to be any different. All models come with a standard seven-year warranty, which is one of the best around. In addition, the battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles and, if the charging capacity drops below 70 per cent in this time, Kia will replace it.

Safety:

Safety features

Kia has kitted the EV3 out with a whole range of safety features, regardless of which trim you go for. It’s why standard Air-specification cars have blind spot collision avoidance assist and forward collision avoidance assist, as well as a special highway driving assist system which helps to keep the car within its lane. You’ll find front and rear parking sensors included on all models, too.

The EV3 was also awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP.

Trims & engines:

Trim levels

The Kia EV3 is available in three specifications: Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S

• Air: This entry-level trim level brings loads of equipment including a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a 12.3-inch driver’s display.
• GT-Line: This grade adds a sportier flavour with 19-inch alloy wheels and a full GT-Line styling kit, as well as LED headlights and wireless smartphone charging
• GT-Line S: This is the top grade available on the EV3 and adds front and rear heated seats, a 360-degree parking camera and a head-up display.

Engines

The EV3 is available with just the single motor option, but there are some choices in terms of battery. Entry-level cars get a 58.3kWh battery which brings a range of up to 270 miles between charges. Then, there’s the 81.4kWh model which unlocks a range of up to 372 miles.

Rapid charging means that the EV3 can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes when you’re connected to a suitably speedy charger.