Kia EV3 first drive: the affordable EV we have been waiting for — SkimNews
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- Kia launched the EV3 in North America with US sales starting mid-August 2025, following its 2024 European debut where it won the 2025 World Car of the Year award
- The EV3 starts at $29,890 and offers up to 321 miles of range, two battery packs (58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh), available all-wheel drive, and five trims — more configurations than the Chevy Bolt ($28,995) or Nissan Leaf ($29,990)
- Kia notes that of roughly 80 EV models on sale in the US, only the Bolt and Leaf were priced under $30,000 before the EV3 arrived, calling out the thin affordable-EV field
- The Niro EV, which the EV3 effectively replaces, started at $39,700 with 253 miles of range — making Kia's entry-level EV approximately $10,000 cheaper than its predecessor
- The EV3 uses a 400-volt version of Kia's E-GMP platform with peak DC charging rates of 100–127 kW and a NACS port providing access to more than 40,000 DC fast chargers
- Kia sold 514 EV3s in the first full month in North America and has about 1,300 units in dealer stock, with the AWD GT-Line making 261 hp and the top GT trim reaching 60 mph in 5.4 seconds
Why it matters: With only two sub-$30K EVs available before the EV3 landed, the model's configurability is its real differentiator — but the reviewer warns that if dealers stock the $41K Wind FWD and $43,490 GT-Line AWD trims they tested, most buyers will never see the advertised $30K entry price, undermining the 'affordable EV' pitch.
Ask SkimNews
