Cascais, Portugal. Team of mobile.bg from the venue.
Say hello to Kia's cheapest electric car yet. This is the 2025 Kia EV3, which is now available to order in Bulgaria, and our team attended the first dynamic tests of the model, which the brand conducted in Portugal. After getting up close and personal with the innovation that the Koreans say will be a "game changer", we can say that the Korean brand will undoubtedly strive to overtake the Chinese in both price and quality. Here are our impressions of the latest Kia.
Exterior and interior
Similar in size to the familiar Kia Niro, the EV3 impresses much more with its appearance. The car uses Kia's latest corporate design, which is less curvy and a lot more European, while also looking "more digital". With LED lighting signatures and boxy proportions typical of the brand's latest models, you could be forgiven for mistaking it for the EV9 flagship, but one that's shrunk in the wash.
At first glance, the latest Kia EV3 might seem too compact, but there are some pretty big numbers here. Despite being similar in size to the Volvo EX30, the EV3 offers a segment-breaking boot volume of 460 liters and a massive (WLTP) range of up to 605 kilometres. The car also has features and technology filtered from much larger and more expensive models from Hyundai and Kia that should help this compact electric car outpace the competition.
Kia's interior design philosophy for the new EV models is focused on simplicity and space efficiency, in addition to sustainable materials and unique colors and textures. All of this is evident in the EV3's interior. Despite being just 4,300mm long, the EV3 feels very spacious inside, with an airy and rather "upright" instrument panel, luxury-looking door trims and an open center console.
Materials quality is also very good considering its entry-level positioning, with a nice mix of soft-touch and textured surfaces, some of which feel cheaper, though. This is because these parts are made of recycled and, according to experts, environmentally friendly materials. There's even a QR code on the passenger side of the dashboard that can guide you through the sustainable materials the interior is made of, which include recycled PET, old fishing nets, organic PU and paints.
Otherwise, the EV3 has comfortable front seats that are electrically adjustable in higher trim levels, like the ones we tested in Portugal. While the GT-Line trim we drove and which you see in the photos has a striking white seat cover that contrasts perfectly with the dark console and the accent is on the seat, the other trim levels have a light gray interior with bright orange accents for the console. There are many options, and they all look good, or in other words, there is something for every taste.
The open interior concept means that the configurable main console has adjustable cup holders and an open storage cube for bags or other large items, and there is a large sliding forward armrest that can act as a desk while the car is stationary. High-end models offer the Premium Relaxation Seat, which electrically slides and reclines like a lounger or armchair while you wait for the EV3 to charge or just want to relax in the car.
The downsized big car theme continues with the infotainment system, as the EV3 borrows the dual screen central touch panel from the brand's larger and most technologically advanced EV9 model. A 12.3-inch digital display for the driver and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, including a 5.3-inch touch panel for air conditioning controls. This is Kia's latest technology (ccNC) and, as we expected, it's very good.
As for second-row space, we didn't spend much time in the back seat, but the boxy proportions and long wheelbase for a car in this class mean you can comfortably fit a tall passenger behind a tall driver. The flat rear seat and floor mean occasional use of the middle seat should be more comfortable than in most vehicles of this size, but like any other car in this segment, this space is for short distances. For two passengers in the back, however, it's perfect.
In addition, rear passengers get great amenities like an available outlet for charging a laptop or other device, rear air vents, a folding center armrest with cup holders, and heated rear seats on higher trim levels that complement the available heated and ventilated front seats. There are of course also the necessary ISOFIX attachment points for child seats. In other words, the salon is not "WOW" at first glance, but it is extremely practical, spacious and comfortable. Overall, the EV3 is shaping up to be a very practical compact vehicle.
Kia EV3 Dimensions
Length 4,300 mm
Width 1,850 mm
Height 1560 mm
Wheelbase 2680 mm
Trunk volume 460 liters (1,250 liters)
Engine and driving characteristics
At launch, the Kia EV3 will be offered with a single motor electric drivetrain with the option of two battery sizes. There's also a 25-litre boot under the bonnet, which is surrounded by plastic trim to hide the powertrain.
Kia EV3 specifications
Drive - Front
Battery - 58.3kWh li-ion (standard range) 81.4kWh li-ion (long range)
Power - 150 kW (204 hp)
Torque - 283 Nm
Acceleration 0-100 km/h - 7.5 seconds
Energy consumption - 14.9k Wh/100km
Mileage (combined WLTP) 436 km/ 605 km
Kia officially quotes a charging time of 31 minutes using a 350kW fast charger for the Long Range battery. The car's 400-volt architecture means it will reach a maximum of 128kW, unlike the EV9, which can reach 270kW on a DC fast charger, but that's not small for a car in this class either. But let's pay attention to the actual driving of this small, high-tech car.
Our road tour of Portugal covered nearly 200km, including highway and city driving, and a variety of traffic conditions both in and out of the city. The relatively short drive that the Koreans gave us gave us good feedback, and our opinion in short is that the car is promising. The 204 horsepower electric motor is dynamic enough for a vehicle of this size. Kia engineers have put some firmness into the initial throttle response to make acceleration smoother and less abrupt given the immediate torque from the electric motor. For normal driving this is fine.
The car accelerates smoothly to city speeds and has plenty of reserve if you step on it when you turn onto the highway. We had plenty of opportunities to test this, and the EV3's straight-line performance is optimal. On the autobahn, the EV3 rides with decent but not quite excellent road and wind noise isolation. The noise from the 19-inch tires is felt especially on rougher sections of the highway at high speed.
As for the EV3's steering and handling in general, we have to say that the car offers reasonably good controls, but without much feedback. The low center of gravity, thanks to the floor-mounted battery pack, makes the car stable in corners, even though the suspension is tuned for a softer ride.
The light steering can be a disadvantage at higher speeds, but it and the compact size make the EV3 extremely pleasant for city driving. The square design and large windows also aid in easy maneuverability, given that all corners of the EV3 are easily seen. But parking is made even easier because the Koreans have provided a surround camera system that, typical of Kia, offers an excellent high-resolution view of the car's surroundings, making parking this "box" on wheels a real song. The available curb view function from the side mirrors means that our sweet mates will have no excuse for scraped rims.
As for cameras, the EV3 also comes with two more that display a picture directly in front of the driver. This is Hyundai and Kia's Blind Spot View Monitor system, which displays a live image from a side camera when you turn on one of the turn signals. Does this car need it? Probably not, but it helps the EV3 feel even more premium.
Adaptive cruise control and the Lane Following Assist system form the basis of Highway Driving Assist 2.0, which is a semi-autonomous assistant using navigation data. This system is definitely needed. It works perfectly and, with good markings, makes the driver's tasks much easier. Like other Kia models with similar systems, the adaptive cruise function accurately and smoothly maintained the set speed and managed the distance to the cars in front without randomly pressing the brakes or applying the gas.
The annoying speed limit assistant by sound signal, inherent in many new cars, can be turned off here with the push of a button on the steering wheel, which is definitely an "extra" for most of the more experienced drivers. But where the little Kia beats the competition is mileage on a single charge. Often brands will quote WLTP driving ranges that are very difficult to achieve in real-world conditions, but the EV3 gave us confidence that the brand's lofty mileage claims are actually achievable.
Given that we were driving in temperatures over 20 degrees and high humidity, the on-board computer read 14.9 kWh/100 kilometers, which means at least 550 kilometers without recharging. In conclusion, we will say that the Koreans have really made a pleasant-to-drive electric car, designed both for young people with an active lifestyle and for families. This car is good for both the city and the countryside and offers excellent comfort and space, decent dynamics and impressive range on a single charge.
Conclusion and price
This is one of the very good EVs we've driven and it can definitely be a "game changer" in the compact segment of electric cars. Both high technology and attractive prices play a major role in this. Naturally, they are not low for the average Bulgarian, but against the background of direct competition and considering the rich basic equipment and top technologies, they are more than attractive. Despite the good prerequisites, it is difficult for us to say whether the EV3 will be a remarkable success in Bulgaria, since electric cars are still not respected in our country. But considering them as a separate unit, this is one of the optimal options. It's an easy car to drive in the city and on the highway, and offers an array of tech features to keep you comfortable.
