In the market for a compact electric crossover? You might want to wait a little bit longer since for the first time in the region, the Kia EV3 was unveiled at the first Kia EV Day Asia Pacific in Taiwan. According to the Korean carmaker, it has packed a lot of the tech from its EV9 flagship into this tiny package. Let’s take a quick look.
The EV3 is almost the same size as the Sportage. It resembles the ruggedness of its bigger siblings, the EV4 and the EV9, with its blocky front fascia and signature headlights. Flush door handles, meanwhile, provide for a minimalist-looking profile. Boxy rear fenders and a sloping roofline also accentuate the modern-sporty design Kia is aiming for. The crossover rides on two-tone 19-inch wheels whose design complements the overall look of the car. I personally like the exterior and I think this will stand out in our streets.
Kia’s commitment to a sustainable future is evident in the EV3’s interior not only because of its earthy design but also because it uses recycled and biomaterials. It has a charcoal and white colorway for the cabin, while neatly placed orange trims add to the overall minimalist and futuristic vibe. Dynamic ambient lighting also boosts the interior mood.
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The main attraction of the cabin is the 30-inch ultrawide panoramic display that houses all the essential controls. Sound is channeled through a premium Harman Kardon sound system. For the driver, there’s also a high-definition 12.3-inch head-up display. The EV3 is also equipped with generative AI to deliver a more user-friendly experience.
It might be a compact SUV, but the EV3 has decent space inside, especially in the front row. It also has a lot of storage options as well as a sliding table console. Speaking of space, Kia is also proud to say the 460-liter rear cargo area is the largest in this segment.
The EV3 has a maximum output of 201hp and 283Nm of torque. You can choose between two variants: The Short Range has 58.3kWh battery with 436km of range, while the Long Range comes with a 81.4kWh battery that can supposedly do up to 605km. Kia adds that it will only take 31 minutes to charge the Long Range from 10-80%, while the Short Range will need 29 minutes. The i-Pedal 3.0 feature also allows for one-pedal driving and optimizes regenerative braking. There’s a variety of advanced driver assist systems, too, like forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and highway driving assist.
With the efforts of local Kia distributor ACMobility, it looks like there will be a bright future for EVs in our country. The EV3 might be a viable option for people who want to dip their toes into the EV market—it’s just a question of when Kia Philippines will bring it to the Philippines. Fingers crossed this promising car will be competitively priced.
More photos of the Kia EV3:
