First Sightings Of Affordable Kia EV3 Compact EV In U.S.
The compact electric crossover is already on sales in its home market of South Korea after it bagged 10,000 bookings in less than a month.
Kia EV3
Kia EV3 Breaks Cover – All You Need To Know
The much anticipated Kia EV3 has finally been revealed with evident inspiration from the flagship EV9. The Kia EV3 compact electric SUV has been revealed a few hours ago. The Korean auto giant has gone all out with the amount of tech, features, specifications and connectivity. With aesthetics looking like the younger sibling of the mighty popular EV9, the interior bears minimalist elegance and an uncluttered layout. It will be introduced in Korea in July 2024 followed by the European launch in the second half of the year. Other regions will follow thereafter. You might also like: Kia Electric Pickup Truck Spied Testing, Looks Inspired By EV9 Kia EV3 Revealed – Specs I shall commence with what powers the new compact electric SUV. It gets a fairly large 81.4 kWh battery in the Long Range trim and a decent-sized 58.3 kWh battery in the Standard model. Both these trims make use of electric motor which generates a healthy 150 kW (204 PS) and 283 Nm (209 lb-ft) of max power and torque. This propels the EV3 from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a respectable 7.5 seconds. The top speed is a decent 170 km/h (105 mph). It continues to use Hyundai’s E-GMP architecture. The Long Range model boasts a commendable 600 km (373 mi.) (WLTP) range on a single charge. Using a DC fast charger, the battery can be replenished from 10-80% in 31 minutes. With a full 3D undercover, the drag coefficient is a cool 0.263 Cd. State-of-the-art Battery Management Unit (BMU) and Cell Monitoring Unit (CMU) technology ensure that the high-voltage batteries use energy efficiently. 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) Specs Dimensions and Storage Being a compact electric SUV, the Kia EV3 bears appropriate dimensions and excellent storage capacity. It measures 4,300 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width, 1,560 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,680 mm. That makes it quite spacious for a compact SUV. There are two storage spaces – a 460-litre boot and a handy 25-litre frunk. 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. Dimensions and Storage You might also like: Kia EV9 GT Will Boast 0-62 mph Time of 4 Secs, Debut in January 2025 Features, Tech and AI The interior of the new Kia EV3 offers a rather sophisticated and minimalist cabin with a generous use of recyclable materials like Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These are among the most easily recycled plastics in the world. You would find these in numerous areas of the interior, including the seats, headliner, door armrests, garnish, floor mats, and luggage board. The top highlights of the latest tech include: You might also like: 2025 Kia EV6 Gets A Bigger Battery And More Range Learn Electric Cars Says The launch in the native market will take place in July. By the end of this year, we will see the compact electric SUV in Europe followed by other international markets early next year. With the EV3, Kia aims to cater to the mass market by ensuring premium features at relatively affordable prices. As is the case with almost all technologies, the top amenities trickle down to smaller models. That seems to be the case here as well. The EV3 gets toned-down versions of many elements from the EV9. I am excited about seeing how well the customers embrace it.
Kia EV3 Teased Ahead of May 23 World Premiere
Just 6 months after the concept was showcased, Kia announced the World Premiere of the EV3 electric SUV to be held on May 23, 2024. The much anticipated Kia EV3 has officially been teased before the May 23 World Premiere. Those interested could watch the live stream on YouTube at 19:00 KST (10:00 GMT / 12:00 CET). Interestingly, the teasers highlight the production model with many elements straight from the concept. I know people are always excited to see elements from the concept making their way to the production version. The Korean auto giant will ensure that it comes to pass. The launch is slated for later this year. Also, the EV4 sedan could follow in 2025. You might also like: Kia EV9 GT Will Boast 0-62 mph Time of 4 Secs, Debut in January 2025 Kia EV3 Teased Ahead of World Premiere The teaser confirms the continuation of Kia’s globally acclaimed ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy with the EV3 as well. We know that the existing EV6 and EV9 embody this design language already. The EV3 will also bear bold, geometric and robust aspects of this theme. One could evidently experience this in the boxy rear fenders, tailgate, signature Star Map Lighting, etc. The teaser image encapsulates the striking 7-shaped LED DRL which flanks the main headlamp cluster. In fact, it is positioned on the extreme edges of the bonnet. We even get a glimpse of the squared-off wheel arches adorned with black claddings. At the rear, the roof-mounted spoiler is visible. Apart from that, the elements from the C pillars seamlessly merge into the vertical component of the LED taillamp. Look closely and you will even see the glass panel connecting the taillamps. Concluding the inspection, I also like the hint of the roof rails to accentuate its SUV-ish traits. All in all, the inspiration from the larger sibling, the EV9, is apparent. It also means that the upright stance and rugged elements will lend an imposing road presence. I would be prepared to witness an attractive compact SUV that will offer similarities to the EV9 to some extent. Expected Specs Kia has been tight-lipped about the kind of specifications it will offer with the EV3. However, we know that it will use the established and widely successful E-GMP architecture of the Hyundai Motor Group (parent company of Kia). Apart from that, we also anticipate that the EV3 will draw power from either a 58 kWh and/or a 77.4 kWh battery pack. For the price-conscious buyers, there will be a single-motor 2WD variant. However, we might even have a dual-motor AWD trim for those seeking spirited performance. Needless to mention, more details will emerge at the World Premiere. You might also like: Upcoming Affordable Kia Electric EVs – EV2 and EV3 Learn Electric Cars Says Hyundai Motor Group in general and Kia in particular are slowly emerging as the players to beat in the global EV industry. Their products like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 5 N, Ioniq 6, Kia EV6, and EV9 have already tasted immense success from customers and critics alike. If you think about it, this entire success story of Hyundai and Kia is barely a couple of years old. It is already ahead of most legacy carmakers in EV sales across the globe. Going forward, they are now focusing on low-cost mass-market electric cars. That is where a product like the EV3 comes into the picture. The platform and battery aspects are already sorted, and the Korean giants are now readying an onslaught of new vehicles rapidly. Their product-offensive strategy might just be enough to make them market leaders within a short span of time. We shall keep an eye out for more developments in this space.
Upcoming Affordable Kia Electric EVs – EV2 and EV3
Kia targets launching 8 electric car models in the USA by 2029 including the likes of the EV2, EV3, EV4 and EV5. Kia is planning an onslaught of affordable electric cars with its upcoming models which include EV2 and EV3. In recent announcements and spy media, the EV2 has been spotted, while the EV3 also looks to go into production based on the concept version soon after. The future of electric mobility will rely heavily on the availability of affordable EVs. The Chinese car marques are already flooding the international markets with their inexpensive compact EVs. Even Ford has deployed its Skunkworks division to develop a range of cheap EVs from scratch. Since the Chinese carmakers don’t offer their models in the USA yet, thanks to exorbitant tariffs, legacy players like Kia can stretch their lead in this space with more mass-market electric cars. The EV2 and EV3 could be key products in that strategy. You might also like: Kia EV6 Facelift Spotted Testing – Everything We Know So Far Upcoming Affordable Kia EV2 and EV3 The Kia EV2 spy media stems from the 숏카 SHORTS CAR channel on YouTube. The visuals capture a heavily camouflaged, upright and compact vehicle plying on the road. One could deduce the sleek vertically-oriented LED DRLs, a boxy silhouette, prominent roof rails, stylish alloy wheels and an upright and tall-boy stance. Apart from that, the wheel arches are quite pronounced, lending it a rather muscular demeanour. Not many details are available about the specs or features. Nevertheless, if it were to launch in the USA, the prices could be in the vicinity of $20,000 – $25,000. In fact, the video mentions that the EV2 in its native market of South Korea could even start at $14,500 (20 million Won). On the other hand, the EV3 will be a compact electric crossover SUV. As a matter of fact, we might witness the EV3 in the flesh later this year (2024). In this case, we can infer a few aspects from the concept version. The front end will borrow aesthetic cues from the larger EV9 with a sleek LED DRL setup along with a slim LED headlamp cluster. The overall silhouette will bear SUV-ish traits with most design elements inspired by the EV9. In a detailed interview with the Automotive News, Kia America COO Steve Center said, “We’re ahead of most, and we’re trying to rush out ahead because our technology will be more evolved. You can’t just jump in and catch up. You have to have your own R&D, your own secret sauce.” This is a clear indication that the Korean auto giant will launch an affordable EV onslaught. You might also like: Kia EV8 Could Replace The Iconic Stinger In Electric Avatar Learn Electric Cars Says The entire automobile industry is evidently worried about the inexpensive Chinese EVs flooding the international markets in the immediate future. Sure, the demand for electric cars in top economies like the USA and China seems to have slowed down a little in comparison to the forecasts. Nevertheless, we have to remember that a whole lot of developing regions are still at a nascent stage when it comes to EV adoption. Markets like Thailand, Singapore, India, Brazil, the Middle East, and countries in Europe and South East Asia are yet to experience the EV explosion. The legacy carmakers have a presence in all these nations. Hence, everyone wants to get in the game of mass volume, low-cost EVs. That is where the future growth is set to derive from. Car marques like Kia and Hyundai have positioned themselves perfectly to cater to these regions with their mass EVs. With electric car models like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, EV6 and EV9, Hyundai and Kia have already established themselves as pioneers in this space across the globe. They want to maintain their lead and expand their footprint before other auto giants catch up. Essentially, they are leveraging their first mover’s advantage to set up global dominance before the Chinese car companies do so.