2025 Kia EV3 Review: The Affordable Compact Electric SUV Revolution
The 2025 Kia EV3 is the Korean company’s latest contender in the electric car market. The compact SUV is trying to make a statement about affordability and usability with prices starting at £32,995 and a maximum range of well over 350 miles.
The Kia EV3 is the baby of Kia’s electric SUV family, borrowing styling cues from the bigger, bolder (and award-winning) Kia EV9 – it’s capacious 7-seater SUV. The ‘Mini-Me’ EV3 has that chunky, futuristic vibe going on with its angular lines, geometric detailing, and even a “Judge Dredd sci-fi” aesthetic. Personally, I love the confidence of this design – it’s not trying to be a sleek sports coupe like the EV6, but rather a beefy little SUV with its own personality.
The GT-Line model I tested comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass, and flush door handles that automatically pop out like they belong on a luxury car. Kia’s clearly made an effort to give the EV3 a premium edge, and it shows.
The EV3 comes in three flavours: Air starts at £32,995, with 17-inch alloy wheels and a 58.3kWh battery good for up to 270 miles of range. GT-Line is the sporty middle ground at £39,495, featuring 19-inch alloys, a more aggressive design, and an 81.4kWh battery offering up to 367 miles (472 miles in city driving). At the top sits the GT-Line S, fully loaded at £43,895, with extras like a 360-degree camera, power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system.
Under the bonnet – or rather, under the floor – every EV3 gets a 201bhp electric motor powering the front wheels. That translates to a 105mph top speed and 0-62mph in as little as 7.5 seconds (although this one is at 7.9 seconds). It’s nippy enough for zipping around town or even the odd motorway dash, but it’s not trying to pin you to your seat like some neck-snapping EVs out there.
Stepping inside, the EV3 does a great job of balancing function with flair. Even the base Air trim comes with dual 12.3-inch displays – one for the infotainment and another for the driver’s instruments – alongside a smaller 5.3-inch climate control screen. It’s a smart setup, but the sheer number of buttons and controls might overwhelm you at first. Think “submachine gun loaded with buttons fired at a dashboard,” and you’re not far off!
The GT-Line adds customisable ambient lighting and two-tone artificial leather seats, while the GT-Line S goes all-in with ventilated seats, a head-up display, and a power tailgate.
Practicality is decent for a compact SUV. The boot offers 460 litres of space (expandable to 1,250 litres with the rear seats folded), and there’s a frunk up front for extra storage. Rear legroom is fine for average adults, but taller passengers (like my 6’2” frame) might find it tight behind a similarly tall driver. That said, the slightly raised rear seating position helps reduce any sense of claustrophobia.
On the road, the EV3 feels composed and easy to drive. The ride is comfortable, soaking up bumps without fuss, and the steering is light but precise enough for urban manoeuvres. There’s a choice of driving modes – Eco, Normal, Sport, and even Snow – and you can adjust the level of regenerative braking with paddles behind the wheel. I kept it in Sport mode most of the time because, let’s be honest, why wouldn’t you?
One thing to note: it’s not a razor-sharp corner carver, but that’s not what it’s trying to be. It’s a compact family SUV first and foremost, and it handles that role well. There’s a touch of understeer if you push it hard, but in normal driving conditions, it’s composed, smooth, and super quiet.
The EV3’s charging capabilities are equally solid. With a 350kW fast charger, you can top up from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes, depending on the battery size. For home charging, it’ll take around 5-7 hours on a 7kW wall box. Efficiency is excellent, with combined energy consumption rated at 4.2 miles per kWh, making it one of the most economical options in its class.
The 2025 Kia EV3 ticks a lot of boxes. It’s stylish, practical, tech-packed, and offers fantastic range for the price. While it might not have the sporty looks of the EV6 or the luxury appeal of the EV9, it hits a sweet spot for affordability and usability.
If you’re looking to make the leap into EV ownership without overspending, the Kia EV3 is definitely worth a closer look.
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