The Kia EV3 is set for a Philippine launch, though the timing remains unclear. While its local arrival was confirmed at the 2026 Philippine International Motor Show in June, Kia hasn’t given any new updates since, as it’s currently focused on the debut of the Sportage Turbo Hybrid.
Over in Australia, the EV3 has been fully rolled out with five variants. These are highlighted by a new all-wheel-drive GT-Line trim, now offered as the top option in the model lineup. It gets a considerable upgrade in power and performance over the base-level EV3, along with engineering improvements for increased durability.
The latter is specific to units in Australia, with the official release saying the overhauled suspension and steering systems are “specifically tuned for Australian conditions.” That likely means that Philippine-bound units will get the standard underpinnings, but the AWD GT-Line does come with larger brakes.
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Ultimately, the hallmark changes are in the crossover’s increased power output. It has 261hp and 385Nm of torque from its dual motors—a far cry from the 201hp and 283Nm on standard single-motor models.
It’s then equipped with an 81.4kWh battery, which is the same pack used in long-range variants. However, its 559km driving range is slightly lower than the 604km in other long-range two-wheel-drive EV3s. It makes up for that loss with speed, as it can complete the 100kph sprint from a standstill in just 6.6sec. Before that, the EV3’s fastest claimed 0-100 time was 7.6sec. And being a GT-Line spec, it also gets performance-focused styling, with new wheels and a sportier-looking interior.
Would you want to see Kia bring the EV3 GT-Line AWD to the Philippines? Let us know in the comments section.
