New Kia EV3 electric car revealed: better than a Volvo EX30?
May 23, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Kia EV3, a small electric SUV with over 370 miles of range. Read on to find out more about this Volvo EX30 alternative.
- New Kia EV3 revealed
- Alternative to the Volvo EX30
- Identical design to the concept
- Over 370 miles of range
- Eco-friendly interior materials
- On sale later this year
The new Kia EV3 is here to take on the Volvo EX30, and on the face of it this small SUV has a lot going for it. You get over 370 miles of range, a massive boot and all the latest tech.
It’s not going on sale in Europe until the early autumn, and there’s no word on price just yet either – although the brand has previously said it’s targeting a figure of under £30,000.
New Kia EV3 design
Kia has done it again. Just like with the EV9, the new EV3 looks almost identical to the Kia concept car we first saw last year. It looks a bit like an EV9 which has been photocopied at 50%, although this is no bad thing.
The upright front lamp design is something we’ve come to expect across the Kia range these days, however the EV3 has some sleek daytime running lights which flow into the trim across the bonnet. It’s a pretty clean front-end design overall, with just some air intakes lower down to break things up.
Looking at it from the side there’s some chunky black cladding which makes the EV3 look a bit more muscular, and the flush-fitting door handles are pretty sleek as well. There are nine colours to choose from, including this all-new light green hue.
There’s something of the Volvo EX30 about the rear end. The sloping roofline and squat stance are akin to that car, and the tail lights are almost carbon copies of the EV9’s.
New Kia EV3 range and performance
You can choose between two batteries in your new Kia EV3, a 58kWh pack or a long-range 81kWh unit. The larger of the two has up to 373 miles of range, but how does this compare to this car’s alternatives?
Well the Volvo EX30 can manage up to 295 miles on a charge, while the Smart #1 falls exactly 100 miles short of the Kia. The Peugeot E-2008 doesn’t hold a candle either, with that car having 250 miles of range.
Unlike the rear-wheel drive EV9, the new EV3 has a single electric motor powering the front wheels. It has just over 200hp, and 0-60mph is dealt with in 7.5 seconds. In this respect the EX30 has the EV3 beaten, because it’s available with a 428hp dual-motor setup.
New Kia EV3 interior and infotainment
The interior is an area which has been toned down slightly from the concept, but the EV3’s cabin still looks thoroughly modern and funky.
Just like in the larger EV9, the dashboard is dominated by two 12.3-inch screens – one for the infotainment and one in front of the driver, and there are plenty of recycled materials used on the seats and the door cards. There’s also a handy sliding table in the middle which is perfect for a cheeky McDonalds while you’re charging.
The table even looks like a kitchen worktop, although it probably isn’t suitable for chopping veg. If you’re feeling a bit sleepy after your Big Mac, the seats can be set to a relaxation mode to recline and take a nap.
In terms of practicality, this may be a small SUV but it has a pretty big boot. You get 460 litres of luggage space, 60 litres more than the Volvo EX30 and a whopping 130 litres more than the Smart #1 has to offer.
New Kia EV3 price and release date
Order books for the new Kia EV3 will open in the autumn, however a price hasn’t been confirmed just yet.
When the concept was first unveiled last year, Kia said it was aiming for a price tag of around 35,000 US dollars. That’s roughly £29,000, which would make it a few thousand pounds cheaper than the Volvo EX30.
The Kia EV3 has the potential to be one of the best small electric SUVs on the market, but you’ll have to wait until we get behind the wheel to find out if it’s truly a match for the EX30, the reigning Carwow Car Of The Year.
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