What's the difference?
An entry-level car doesn’t normally start at half a million dollars but that’s what the Ferrari Amalfi is; the most affordable way into the pride of Italy’s current line-up.
A 2+2 GT with the engine in the front, driving the wheels at the rear, it’s a substantially upgraded and remodelled version of the Roma it replaces.
No plugs, no motors, no drive battery, just a twin-turbo V8 pumping out 471kW of pure internal-combustion power in a sleek, relatively lightweight two-door coupe.
CarsGuide was handed the keys for a brief stint behind the wheel to see if it’s an improvement on its much-admired predecessor and a worthy alternative to the heavy-hitting, top-shelf machinery it competes with.
Kia Australia has big expectations for its littlest EV.
Not only is the small SUV priced to take on some of the very popular offerings from China, but it’s also packed with enough features to make a Euro buyer think twice. In fact, it starts from less than $50,000 drive-away.
We drove it at its global launch in South Korea and came away pretty impressed, so now the big question is - does it hold up now that its rubber is on the road here in Australia?
It may not have the GT pedigree of the Aston Martin DB12, the luxury credentials of a Bentley Continental GT or the brutal acceleration of the Porsche 911 Turbo S, but the Ferrari Amalfi is a brilliant 2+2 coupe, retaining the cool character and best attributes of the Roma it replaces while improving dynamic response and progressing the ‘entry’ model’s design evolution. A joy to drive (and look at).
The GT-Line is relatively expensive, yes. The Air Standard Range isn’t groundbreaking even at under $50,000, no. But the sweet spot in the EV3 line-up is being able to pay $53,315 for the Air Long Range and come away with a roomy small SUV that can realistically cover almost 600km in the real world.
And it does everything properly, no big red flags or dealbreakers.
Its steering weight at speed on winding roads being the biggest complaint isn’t the end of the world for how otherwise comfortable the EV3 feels on-road.
Put it this way - I recently spent a few days in a Mini Aceman, a five-door electric SUV not too far from the EV3 in size. It is about as fast, and costs a little more, but it doesn’t have a lot more to offer in terms of features and it’s nowhere near as good on range with about 400km to its longer-ranged versions.
The EV3 might still have a bit of ‘sensible’ about it compared to some other electric small SUVS, but when it looks this cute and can get you an extra round trip out of the city compared to ‘Euro’ brands at the same price, it’s hard not to be impressed.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.