The compact electric crossover is already on sale in its home market of South Korea after it bagged 10,000 bookings in less than a month.
The Kia EV3 compact EV has finally been spotted in the U.S. It is being referred to as “a game changer” by the Korean auto giant. The compact electric crossover is wooing the potential customers all across the globe. In the U.S., it might bear the tag of being one of the most affordable EVs in the country. Since the existing price is in the vicinity of $30,000 to $35,000, the $7,500 federal tax credit could change the game entirely.
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Kia EV3 Compact EV Spotted In U.S.
This video arrives from KindelAuto on YouTube. The visuals vividly capture the heavily camouflaged compact EV plying on the roads. The demeanour and silhouette of the EV3 are easily recognizable since we already know what it looks like. In fact, after the Korean launch, both car critics and buyers have been quite impressed by the EV. That is already a testament to the fact that Kia has managed to achieve something truly remarkable.
While there are no official announcements yet, Kia is reportedly thinking of manufacturing the EV3 at its Monterrey facility in Mexico. It will be shipped to the entire North America from here. As per The Korean Car Blog report, the production target is 110,000 units per annum. Note that this is 10,000 units higher than its Gwangmyeong plant in South Korea. Clearly, Kia is ambitious about its North American plans.
The Korean version gets two trims – Long Range w/ 81.4 kWh battery and Standard Range w/ 58.3 kWh battery pack. In both these iterations, the peak power and torque figures remain identical – 150 kW (204 PS) and 283 Nm (209 lb-ft). Additionally, the maximum WLTP range is a healthy 600 km (373 mi.). The 0-100 kmph (62 mph) sprint comes up in just 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 170 kmph (105 mph). The battery takes 31 minutes to juice up from 10% to 80% using a DC fast charger.
| Specs | Kia EV3 |
| Battery | 81.4 kWh and 58.3 kWh |
| Range | 600 km (373 mi.) [WLTP] |
| Power | 150 kW (204 PS) |
| Torque | 283 Nm (209 lb-ft) |
| DC Fast Charging | 10-80% in 31 minutes |
| Acc. (0-100 kmph / 62 mph) | 7.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 170 km/h (105 mph) |
Dimensions, Features and Tech
The Kia EV3 compact EV measures 4,300 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width, 1,560 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,680 mm. Just like most modern EVs, there are two storage spaces – boot and frunk. The capacities are 460 liters and 25 liters, respectively.
| Dimensions | Kia EV3 |
| Length | 4,300 mm |
| Width | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,560 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,680 mm |
| Storage | 460-litre boot & 25-litre frunk |
The list of top in-cabin functionalities includes:
- 12.3-inch Touchscreen Infotainment Display
- 12.3-inch Driver’s Instrument Cluster
- 12-inch Head-up Display (HUD)
- Ambient Mood Lighting
- Highway Driving Assist 2 – Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS)
- i-Pedal 3.0 Regenerative Braking Technology
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) Charging
- Recyclable Materials like Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on various components
- Digital Key 2.0
- Premium Streaming Service
- Harman Kardon Premium Audio System
- AI Assistant Technology
- Voice Assistant
- Navigation
- NBA Display Themes (Kia Connect Store)
- OTA (Over-the-Air) Software Updates
- Relaxation Seat
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Highway Driving Assist
- Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Remote Smart Parking Assist
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Learn Electric Cars Says
The Kia EV3 compact EV has been an instant success in its native market. In fact, the response has been so overwhelming that the management now thinks that it would be able to replicate this success even stateside. Also, if it is able to secure a sub-$30,000 price tag after the tax credits, I believe the EV3 might just turn out to be a market disruptor. The need for affordable electric cars is already on the rise at the moment all across the globe. Let us keep an eye out for more details in this regard.