Kia axed its affordable EV, but a replacement is set to go on sale soon
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- Kia drops the Niro EV from its 2027 US lineup, keeping only the hybrid version after the electric crossover had been on sale since 2019 starting under $40,000 with 239 miles of range.
- The 2027 Niro HEV goes on sale this summer with a new design and Kia's ccNC infotainment system.
- Kia's EV3 launches later this year as the Niro EV's replacement, offered in five trims (Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, GT) with two battery packs: a 58.3-kWh pack providing up to 220 miles of range and an 81.4-kWh pack delivering an estimated 320 miles.
- The EV3 is expected to start under $35,000 and comes standard with a native NACS charge port, charging from 10% to 80% in about 29-31 minutes on DC fast chargers.
- EV3 sales have been strong overseas — it was the third-best-selling EV in the UK and Kia's top-selling EV in Korea with nearly 18,500 units sold through June 2026.
- Kia's EV9 three-row electric SUV sold over 7,000 units through June 2026, up 42% from 2025.
Why it matters: The Niro EV's 239-mile range was undercut by newer competitors, and the EV3 directly addresses that gap with 320 miles and a sub-$35,000 price — placing Kia in direct competition with the Toyota bZ ($34,900), Hyundai IONIQ 5 ($35,000), and Chevy Equinox EV ($34,995) in the affordable EV segment.
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