One of the key challenges facing the electric mobility sector is reducing the price of electric vehicles. This challenge is being tackled thanks to brands like Kia, which is introducing models such as the new EV3, a 100% electric compact SUV with a highly competitive price that aims to be a top-seller. The Kia EV3 will be available with two powertrains and two battery sizes. Its entry-level version comes with a 58 kWh battery, 170 horsepower, and is priced from €35,000. A larger battery version is also available, with a 77.4 kWh battery, 218 horsepower, and priced from €42,000.
Our Analysis
We had the opportunity to test the EV3 in its 218 horsepower version with the 77.4 kWh battery, and we were pleasantly surprised.
The vehicle demonstrated excellent dynamic performance, prioritizing comfort. It also impressed with its spacious interior, despite being a relatively compact model.
During our test, we drove a total of 925 km with an average consumption of 20.3 kWh/100 km. This means that with the large battery version, we achieved a real-world range of over 400 km, easily reaching up to 500 km in an urban environment.
Charging Test
We took the large-battery EV3 to one of our stations with chargers up to 400 kW to test its charging performance, and here are the results:
As seen in the graph, the peak power achieved was 130 kW, as advertised by the manufacturer. Although the peak charging power is not extremely high, the charging curve is impressive as it maintains 130 kW up to around 65%. This means that it took just about 22 minutes to charge the battery from 20% to 80%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the new Kia EV3 is a model that has pleasantly surprised us with its great value for money. It is a model that fully meets the needs of customers and we strongly believe it will be well received in the market.
