Kia Ev3 2025 News

Sorry, Swifties. While we appreciate the cultural phenomenon that is singer/songwriter, artist and philanthropist Taylor Swift, this is not a paean to a great pop star, but, rather, a reference to the year that marked Japan’s stellar ascension as the biggest threat to the established carmakers of that time. Their fear was existential as well as actual.

Kia has announced pricing for its upcoming small electric SUV, the EV3, ahead of its arrival at dealerships by the end of this month.

Kia is on a massive electric vehicle offensive. The South Korean brand has just added the Tesla Model Y-rivalling EV5 mid-size SUV to its electric car line-up, joining the bigger EV6 and EV9.

Australians aren’t buying as many EVs as they need to.

It’s been a long time since someone who’s not that interested in cars gushed to me about how much they like Tesla (it doesn’t help that the man in charge of Tesla has done less and less for his own reputation as time rolls on), so if Tesla isn’t the brand at the cultural forefront of electric cars then, who should be?

Kia has revealed its UK pricing for what is to be its most affordable electric vehicle, the EV3 crossover. Prices will start at £26,845 ($52,712), before on-road costs. 

Kia is bringing the EV3 small electric SUV, its most affordable EV yet, to Australia in 2025.The South Korean brand debuted the Seltos-sized electric SUV in Seoul with promises of a long driving range and plenty of high-tech features.President and CEO of Kia, Ho Sung Song, said the EV3 will reassure those hesitant about EVs to make the switch.“By providing groundbreaking design, an industry-leading electric drivetrain, and practical, innovative lifestyle solutions, the EV3 aims to extend Kia’s exceptional EV SUV experience to a wider audience. With a WLTP driving range of up to 600km and fast-charging capability, the EV3 addresses common concerns about electric vehicles,” he said.The EV3 follows the design of the large EV9 and coming mid-size EV5 with a boxy shape, short bonnet and dynamic LED lighting front and back.It is built on the company’s modular electric car platform that spawned the bigger models, but the EV3 will be front-wheel drive initially, not rear-wheel drive like the others.Kia executives said this makes the car lighter and is better suited to an entry-level SUV rather than the more performance-focused EV6 and EV9.It’ll be available with two battery sizes: a 58.3kWh unit and long-range 81.4kWh pack.The latter can deliver a range of up to 600km on a single charge. Kia hasn’t revealed the range of the smaller battery version.Power comes from a single 150kW/283Nm electric motor that can go from zero to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 170km/h.A vehicle-to-load function, that is found on Kia’s other EVs, is also present. This allows owners to power household appliances such as a laptop or electric cooker via a household powerpoint in the car.The company hinted it is aiming to price the EV3 between US$35,000 and US$50,000, which is about $50,000 and $75,000 in local currency.It is highly likely the entry-level version could slip in just below the $50,000 mark as Kia Australia is likely to start the bigger EV5 range at just below $60,000.It’s also unlikely the long-range version would top out at the maximum as it would create conflict with the EV5, too.Charging won't be as speedy as the bigger, more expensive models as it forgoes the 800-volt charging architecture in favour of a 400-volt set-up.This means the 350kW maximum rate of Kia’s other vehicles is unlikely. The company said it can replenish the batteries from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes, which would put the charge rate at about 120kW.The EV3 should have a roomy interior that belies its compact size thanks to a boxy shape, a flat floor and a long wheelbase.It has a sizeable 460-litre boot and a small cargo area under the bonnet.A sliding table in the centre console can act as a desk when parked and the front seats have a relaxation mode that folds the chairs backwards.Inside, the EV3 has the same screen layout as the EV9, with a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen joined to a 5.0-inch climate control that is connected to a 12.3-inch digital driver display.A head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling speed and safety warnings onto the windscreen in front of the driver is also included.Kia has also developed a Generative AI digital assistant that can provide information searches, directions and control vehicle functions.

Kia has just revealed its new EV3, the brand’s most affordable electric car yet.The company also confirmed a red-hot dual-motor GT version will join the line-up at a later date.Initially the Kia Seltos-sized EV3 will be available with a single electric motor sending 150kW and 283Nm to the front wheels.The EV3 GT will add a second motor at the rear to deliver all-paw grip.Kia hasn’t revealed outputs for the GT variant, but if it follows the same formula as the larger EV6 GT it could more than double the performance of the front-wheel drive model.This would put it at more than 300kW and 500Nm.The single motor EV3 can hit 100km/h from a standstill in 7.5 seconds, with the EV3 GT possibly dropping into the four second range.Kia’s electric GT models aren’t just about raw power and come with a range of hardware updates to elevate their sporty character.The EV6 GT has bigger, stronger brakes, uprated suspension, sport focused driving modes including a customisable setting, a steering tune to make it more decisive and agile and multi stage stability control settings.It gets some cosmetic tweaks too, with snug fitting GT bucket seats and neon green exterior highlights.Kia didn’t provide a date for the EV3 GT's release, but it is likely to land about a year after the standard vehicle, which is due to hit Australian showrooms in 2025.The EV3 Long Range is the most likely candidate to form the base for the GT.It has a big 81.4kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 600km in the single motor version. That number would drop significantly in an all-paw GT variant.The company hinted it is aiming to price the EV3 between US$35,000 and US$50,000, which is about $50,000 and $75,000 in local currency.Any GT variant would be at the top of the bracket or even pushed into the $80,000 range locally.Charging the EV3 won't be as speedy as the bigger, more expensive models as it forgoes the 800-volt charging architecture in favour of a 400-volt set-up.This means the 350kW maximum rate of Kia’s other vehicles is unlikely. The company said it can replenish the 81.4kWh battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes, which would put the charge rate at about 120kW.

Here is our list of the top SUVs, utes and EVs that people expect to see in Australia in 2024, but in fact won't be here until 2025!

Kia has no interest in entering into the battle to deliver Australia's cheapest electric vehicle, instead vowing to deliver value to its customers, no matter the sticker price on its vehicles.Australia's three cheapest electric vehicles are all from Chinese brands – the MG4, BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora – and all list at a hyper-competitive sub-$40k starting price for their entry-level models.It's a price point that, so far, is yet to be matched by Australia's more established models. And it's a battle that Kia in Australia will look to avoid, suggesting its days of challenger-brand battles are long behind it.Instead, Kia says its name recognition, brand values and legacy in Australia will combine to create value for consumers."We will always compete,” says Kia Australia CEO, Damien Meredith.“But if you’re developing your brand – and we’ve put a lot of work into that – and getting great product, if you can easily translate that to the customer that this is still great value, like the EV9, then do you really want to play in the puddle that is $30,000, or $25,000?"You just need to make those decisions if you want to play in that price point. If you can stay at $40k-$50k, $50k-$60k, and there’s still value, that’s what we’re looking at."If something becomes available, like a smaller EV that’s $40k, we’ll have our hand up for it. But you need to be cautious. We’ve worked hard on getting our brand up, and you need to keep looking at that."Kia's EV portfolio currently spans three vehicles, the Niro, the EV6 and EV9. A Chinese-manufactured EV5 will launch in Australia next year, bringing the brand's tally in Australia to four.But with a plan to launch an electric vehicle at least per year, and a lot of numbers below '5', Kia insists it isn't leaving the affordable market behind, while making the distinction that value doesn't mean cheap.At a recent EV Day, the brand unveiled the EV4 and EV3, which will further lower the cost of entry to a Kia electric vehicle."Kia Australia is heavily invested in the global strategy, and we’ve got out hand up for as many (EVs) as we can get our hands on," says the brand's product planning boss, Roland Rivero.