Overview

If you want one of the best electric cars, Kia is a great place to start. With more than a decade of experience, its EV6 and EV9 have truly taken the fight to more premium players.

Kia is now looking to do the same in the more compact end of the spectrum with the new EV3, which promises an impressive range, attractive pricing and plenty of space. The EV3 isn’t Kia’s first compact electric car, but it’s the first produced around a dedicated EV platform.

The EV3 is the indirect replacement for the slow-selling Soul EV, and will sit alongside the Kia Niro EV, which is very similar in terms of dimensions and space, but lacks the cutting-edge tech and design of the EV3. Given the Niro’s popularity with taxi and minicab firms, it will likely continue to operate and sell well in this area.

But let’s get back to the new Kia EV3, which is very much a shrunken and more affordable version of the flagship Kia EV9 – winner of the Parkers Best Seven-Seater award in 2025. It carries over the cool, futuristic design of that car into a much smaller package, while also getting a similarly airy and minimalist interior that’s very on-trend.

So what does the EV3 go up against? Well, it sits in the increasingly crowded compact crossover segment, with key rivals including the Volvo EX30, Hyundai Kona EV and Smart #1. The upcoming Skoda Elroq will also sit in direct competition, while you could also consider hatchbacks, such as the Renault Megane E-Tech and Cupra Born.

If you compare specs and prices with the opposition, the EV3 looks excellent on paper. Prices start from £32,995 for the smaller battery model (with a 270-mile range) and £35,995 for the big battery that boasts a claimed 375-mile range, the most of any in this class.

Standard equipment is comprehensive, too, including two 12.3-inch screens, heated front seats and blind spot monitoring to name just a few highlights.

Mid-spec GT-Line models bring 19-inch alloys (up from 17s) a more premium-feeling interior and a wireless smartphone charger, while the flagship GT-Line S boasts a sunroof, Harman Kardon sound system and 360-degree camera system. 

We’ve already driven the EV3 in Seoul, but this is our first chance trying it in Europe – you can read more about how we test cars elsewhere. Given how impressed we’ve been with Kia’s other electric models, can the new EV3 prove just as well-rounded? Read on to find out.