The review
All EV Sales editorial review. Researched from official specifications, safety ratings and published expert reviews; not a first-hand owner review. Key facts Price from: A$47,600 (Air Standard Range, Australia, before on-roads) · £31,555 (Air Standard Range, UK) · US$29,890 (2027 Light FWD, US, due late 2026) Official range: 436–604 km (WLTP, Australia) · 270–375 miles (WLTP, UK) · up to 321 miles (EPA estimate, 2027 US model) 0–100 km/h: 7.5–7.9 seconds (single-motor versions); 5.7 seconds (dual-motor EV3 GT, Europe) Peak DC charging: about 128 kW (10–80% in roughly 29–31 minutes) Safety: 5 stars ANCAP (2025) · 4 stars Euro NCAP standard, 5 stars with Safety Pack (2025) Overview The EV3 is Kia's smallest electric SUV, sitting below the EV5 and EV6. It is sold in Europe and Australia now, with US sales due to start late in 2026. It suits singles, couples and small families who want long range without a large car. Design & Interior The boxy styling borrows heavily from the larger EV9 and looks more expensive than the price suggests. Inside, two 12.3-inch screens sit side by side, with a separate strip for climate settings. Several testers say that climate strip is partly hidden by the steering wheel rim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard in Australia. Entry versions use a lot of hard plastic, while higher grades add fabric trim and feel more upmarket. Driving All single-motor versions use a 150 kW front motor, which gives adequate rather than rapid acceleration. Reviewers agree the ride is soft and settled, and Australian cars get a local suspension tune that copes well with broken roads. Cabin noise is low at motorway speeds. The trade-off is agility: there is noticeable body lean in faster corners, and the steering is light and uninvolving. A dual-motor EV3 GT with 215 kW has joined the European range. Range & Charging Range is the EV3's strongest point for its size. The 81.4 kWh Long Range battery gives up to 604 km in the Australian Air and 375 miles in the UK. The Standard Range car manages 436 km. Australian testers recorded about 16.6–17.1 kWh per 100 km, which is competitive. UK testers suggest about 250–320 miles in real use for the Long Range. DC charging peaks at about 128 kW, which is ordinary, but the charge curve is steady. A heat pump is not standard on every grade. Practicality The 460-litre boot is larger than many small SUVs and some mid-size ones, and there is a 25-litre front compartment. Rear legroom and headroom suit two adults. The rear seats do not slide or recline, unlike some rivals. Vehicle-to-load power output is available. Australian buyers get a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, with the battery covered for seven years or 150,000 km. Safety ANCAP awarded five stars in 2025 for all Australian variants. Scores were 83% for adult occupants, 86% for children, 78% for vulnerable road users and 81% for safety assist. Euro NCAP gave four stars to the standard car and five stars with the optional Safety Pack, with 83% adult and 84% child scores. Euro NCAP noted the driver's head reached the steering wheel through the airbag in the offset crash. Some Australian reviewers also found the driver monitoring alerts over-sensitive. Verdict The EV3 offers mid-size range, a quiet ride and a practical boot in a compact footprint. It is a sound choice for buyers who value range and comfort over driving enjoyment. Reasons to look elsewhere include middling DC charging, some cheap cabin materials on base grades and top-spec Australian prices that approach larger rivals. US buyers should note it arrives as a 2027 model from late 2026. How we rated it Range 4.5 (excellent range and efficiency for its size) · Performance 3.5 (comfortable and quiet, but not agile) · Safety 4.0 (five-star ANCAP, but four stars in Europe without the pack) · Comfort 4.0 (soft ride, low noise, roomy for its size) · Overall 4.0 (average 4.0; no value adjustment). Sources ANCAP rating: https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/kia/ev3/1695a1 Euro NCAP 2025 assessment: https://www.euroncap.com/assessments/kia/ev3/1111/ Euro NCAP rating announcement: https://news.euroncap.com/safercars/kia-ev3---euro-ncap-2025-results---standard-equipment-4-stars-and-with-safety-pack-5-stars/s/92ae3909-87a5-4ca2-a394-0f4c90188f50 Kia UK EV3 prices and specs: https://www.kia.com/uk/new-cars/ev3/ Kia Australia EV3 range and charging: https://www.kia.com/au/cars/ev3.html Kia US 2027 EV3 pricing and range: https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/models/ev3/2027 CarExpert review (Australian pricing): https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-reviews/2026-kia-ev3-review RACV review: https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/car-reviews/kia/2026-kia-ev3-review.html What Car? review: https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev3/estate/review/n27102 Carwow review (UK range and charging): https://www.carwow.co.uk/kia/ev3 Electrek, EV3 GT specs: https://electrek.co/2026/09/07/kia-launches-three-gt-evs-ev3-gt-ev4-gt-ev5-gt/