2026 Kia EV3 review

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The Kia EV3 is an award-winning electric vehicle (EV), and for good reason.

The smallest, likeable little EV is a real looker and this compact looks like an eye-catching small . It has presence and style, there’s a lot of features and comfort inside it; that is surprising good practicality.

But I’m not sure that the value-for-money equation is pretty much the same as it does in this high-end small electric SUV – especially considering some of those competitors in the EV space today.

How much does the Kia EV3 cost?

The Kia EV3 is relatively cheap… even if you don’t think of the best-spec flagship. It is a budget model for this GT-Line variant, which matches with some larger, high-spec electric SUVs on the market.

| Model | Price before on-roads |
| — | — |
| 2026 Kia EV3 Air Standard Range | $47,600 |
| 2026 Kia EV3 Air Long Range | $53,315 |
| 2026 Kia EV3 Earth Long Range | $58,600 |
| 2026 Kia EV3 GT-Line Long Range | $63,950 |

When you’re looking at your driveway about $70,000 for this compact electric SUV… and still don’t know what to expect if it’s going with that price, such as a surround-view camera system or the Korean brand’S brilliant blind-spot surveillance cameras set up.

Sadly, Kia didn’t get those features fit for a top-shelf (tech focused) model… I think it would be money-pinner.

A lot of EV3 variants are available for sale in most places around Australia, so it’s worth noting that we have earlier pricing story to get more information about the deal.

To see how the Kia EV3 lines up against the competition, check out our
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What is the Kia EV3 like on the inside?

The door handles are a question that I need to discuss before we go inside the house,’ . Reverses The back ones? Up on the C-pillar with a real handle. a great… so long as your kids don’t try to let themselves in.

But the front handles? They’re terrible.

It is hard to grip, and the keyless entry sensor doesn’t work enough for s to be helpful. My week of testing was a test that failed more than it should have been, and with so many new cars having ‘walk-up unlocking’ available, this car’s ‘Smart’ entry system can be anything but.

Okay, but once you’re inside? It’s a nice place to be.

The finishing is upmarket and classy, and of course it has a high-tech edge to proceedings, too.

It is not a dog-made , and there’s – in fact ‘there’d be. QR code to tell you how much eco-signalling can do by the interior finishes?

Despite the fact that it is not like you’re sitting in a yellow wheelie bin, I really love the interior colour of the EV3 GT-Line with its bold two-tone design which distinguishes it from other ELs in the segment.

There’s great seat comfort and adjustment, with the door-mounted controls for the seat heating and ventilation, the steering wheel heating (and the settings of memory) winning over. However, Buttons FTW (buttons) paraphrasingr.

The whole host of buttons and controls below, beside the central screen, is a bit of an “unique” type of but some are semi-haptic and when you’re resting the palm of your hand there to use the media system, it can easily bump ‘a control that’ll take you somewhere else in the menu zone’.

It has a climate control panel next to the media screen with spherical low-reson design that’s at odds with the 12 in its context. 3-inch digital shows it’s sandwiched between, and you have to swing your head out to see the controls because it is not directly within the driver’.

They are easy to accept, and you’ll have to learn the big screens for . On the main touchscreen there are plenty of options, if you dislike bing-bong safety tech and overbearing ‘assist systems’ you will have to accept the safety settings in particular. Scroll down for .

The storage is great, with a large open space between the seats (cupholders and’wireless charger) and big sleeves in all four doors for bottles that have cutouts for bottle. A centre bin and a slide-out desk are in between the front seats, which our photographer Glenn (who is based on his real job) observed “looks like kitchen bench”. He’s right, he’d be the one who paraphrases. The Laminex-like .

While the back seat is okay, it’s going to be a fit for smaller and/or younger more comfortably-fitting rear seats. I am 182cm/6’0” and could be in my own driving position, but it is not too cavernous back there.

There’s a flat floor and rear-directional air vents, which makes it feel pretty airy; the big glass roof helps too.

In fact, of course there are ISOFIX points and three top-tether anchors for child seats as well (not including a flip-down armrest with cupholders).

For this size of car, boot space is good and there’s a dual-floor setup that allows you to use the cargo capacity more effectively. It runs out at 460 litres with the rear seats up.

There is a space for’sane spare wheel’, but you don’t get one of the most frustrating things about paraphrasing. Just like a Tyre repair kit, you’ll have to fit your charging cables in there and the standard V2L adapter too, except for boxed-off edge sections. A cargo cover, shopping bag hooks and a cargo cap are also included in the ‘s list.

| Dimensions | Kia EV3 GT-Line |
| — | — |
| Length | 4310mm |
| Width | 1850mm |
| Height | 1570mm |
| Wheelbase | 2680mm |
| Cargo capacity (VDA) | 460L (behind rear seats) 25L (under-bonnet storage) |

To see how the Kia EV3 lines up against the competition, check out our
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What’s under the bonnet?

EV3 GT-Line No one is more grunt than you are for choosing the ev3, which doesn’t make you any further. But in fact, the GT-Line is actually the shortest of the lot when it comes to acceleration.

| Specifications | Kia EV3 Standard Range | Kia EV3 Long Range |
| — | — | — |
| Drivetrain | Single-motor, front-mounted | Single-motor, front-mounted |
| Battery | 58.3kWh lithium-ion | 81.4kWh lithium-ion |
| Power | 150kW | 150kW |
| Torque | 283Nm | 283Nm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1845kg | 1930kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 7.5 seconds | 7.7 seconds (Air LR) 7.9 seconds (Earth, GT-Line) |
| Energy consumption (WLTP, claimed) | 14.9kWh/100km | 14.9kWh/100km (Air LR) 16.2kWh/100km (Earth, GT-Line) |
| Energy consumption (as tested) | N/A | 17.1kWh/100km (GT-Line) |
| Claimed range (WLTP) | 436km | 604km (Air LR) 563km (Earth, GT-Line) |
| Max AC charge rate | 11kW | 11kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 100kW | 127kW |

Kia is looking to add a faster GT version of the EV3 (and cost) to ‘put performance and price level’ if it really matters to you.

What about EV range and charging considerations, then?

It is good distance for a relatively small car with an estimated 536km WLTP rated range of the GT-Line.

While it has an official charging rate of 11kW AC, you’re going to have to be three-phased to get the fastest home recharge. But in the real world, it’ll recharge at a DC rate of 127kW (at maximum DC rates) that is claimed 10-80 per cent recharge time of 29 minutes.

An acceptable 16.-gt-line official energy consumption for the GT-Line, is a good 16 per cent of its original size. A week of testing, including a few hundred-kays of mixed driving and some 17-year-old return from my test (about 2kWh per 100km) was tested. 1kWh/100km) .

To see how the Kia EV3 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

How does the Kia EV3 drive?

It’s really pretty excellent.

EV3 has a better drive experience than the big-EV9, with ‘higher ride/handling/comfort and control balances of mid-size model model models’.

While it is a bit comfortable on most surfaces, sharp edges may slightly detonate things because of its huge (heavy!) wheels with low-profile tyres but over higher speed undulations it has balanced, controlled and cruisy.

The drive either doesn’t feel heavy but if you’re following the liveliest and lithest experience, then the smaller battery is an absolute charmer for entry-level Air.

Great The steering is also great as it is, with an emphasis on weighting and reactivity that makes driving more fun and interesting than many competitors. Also, it has a terrifically tight turning circle and is super-handy in urban driving situations.

While the powertrain doesn’t necessarily push boundaries in terms of power and torque, this little machine is very urgent and moves quickly when you mash your foot down. I think it’s faster than the numbers say, especially when you just have to jab it in order to get around a slow-moving car.

This braking has several regen modes, with one-pedal driving mode for those who are afraid of using the left pedal; and it is also suitable for s to drive in. Great, though you should be aware that it may make passengers sick because it is very assertive in One Pedal mode. ICE-style Three other options you have to choose, including more ‘free-rolling’.

It is a bit of high-speed road-noise intrusion on rougher surfaces, and I noticed some small wind noise at freeway speed (refinement-wise), too.

Until now, I’m not an avid fan of bing-bongs and audible chimes to warn you what things the car thinks you are doing wrong.

That is a car with . And this one? It’s very much like that, too. One of the driver monitoring cameras that seems to think you’re a dangerous driver is checking the speedo or your mirrors. Having to go through multiple menus on the screen to disable both ‘distracted driver’ and ‘fatigue monitoring– each and every time you drive the EV3 is a chore.

It is also more pronounced to the tune of ‘new speed zone’ and ‘overspeed’ warnings, which can be easily ignored by holding the mute button on the steering wheel (and even disabled assistance for keeping up as such) I just wish that one of the brand’s favourite buttons would have a press-and-hold function to disable the driver monitoring camera. Why is a good drive experience less fun than if it’s based on the fact that doesn’t enjoy what you do.

To see how the Kia EV3 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

What do you get?

The EV3 is available in three distinct trim levels in Australia.

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2026 Kia EV3 Air equipment highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Kumho PS71 tyres
• Tyre repair kit
• Matte plastic wheel-arch cladding
• Black roof rails
• Power-folding, heated, body-colour side mirrors
• Automatic LED headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• Partial LED tail-lights
• Acoustic windscreen
• Two-tone cloth upholstery
• Manual seat adjustment
• Column shifter
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• 5.0-inch climate control display
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – wired, wireless
• Satellite navigation
• 2 x front USB-C ports
• 2 x rear USB-C ports
• Wireless phone charger
• 6-speaker sound system
• DAB+ digital radio
• Dual-zone climate control
• Rear-facing air vents
• V2L capacity interior and exterior
• Kia Connect with over-the-air updates
• i-Pedal one-pedal driving
• 5 drive modes

• Normal
• Eco
• Sport
• Snow
• My Drive

EV3 Earth adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Hankook iON Evo tyres
• Two-tone synthetic leather upholstery
• 10-way powered driver’s seat adjustment with lumbar
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Power tailgate

EV3 GT-Line adds:

• 19-inch GT-Line alloy wheels
• Gloss black side mirrors
• Gloss black wheel arch cladding
• LED projector headlights with light cubes
• Full LED taillights
• Dynamic welcome lights
• Two-tone GT-Line synthetic leather upholstery
• 10-way power passenger seat adjustment with lumbar
• 2-position seat memory
• ‘Premium Relaxation Seats’ for driver and passenger
• 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Head-up display
• Metal sports pedals
• Ambient lighting
• Rear privacy glass
• Extendable centre console tabletop

To see how the Kia EV3 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

Is the Kia EV3 safe?

The Kia EV3 achieved the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating when it was put through the protocols earlier this year.

| Category | Kia EV3 |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 83 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 86 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 78 per cent |
| Safety assist | 81 per cent |

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking

• Car detection
• Pedestrian detection
• Cyclist detection
• Junction assist

• Lane-keep assist
• Highway Driving Assist 2
• Blind-spot assist
• Driver attention monitoring
• Intelligent speed limit assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• High-beam assist

The EV3 range has an surround-view camera system, which is usually becoming standard equipment in all models of the Kia model (and even though it may be lofty) unlike other Kian models (although this does not mean that any variant gets such a device).

There is also no Blind Spot View Monitor system, which comes with the surround-camera setup in Kia land and that means this high tech car feels a little behind the times when it’s safe.

Then there are the gripes I mentioned earlier… Anyway, it has the five-star rating, so what would I know?

Also, it has seven airbags dual front and rear-side; a front centre air bag; curtain air bags for both rows of seats.

To see how the Kia EV3 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

How much does the Kia EV3 cost to run?

Kia Australia offers’seven year unlimited-kilometre warranty for private buyers’ on the seven years of their own terms. In Kia EV models, the battery pack is seven years or 150,000km (not-quite-up-to-industry-norms level) long.

| Servicing and Warranty | Kia EV3 |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres – vehicle 7 years or 150,000 kilometres – EV battery |
| Roadside assistance | Up to 8 years – service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 7 years prepaid |
| Total capped-price service cost | $674 – 3 years $1285 – 5 years $1897 – 7 years |

Kia Australia prepaid servicing for the EV3 is available in three ways $674 (three-year plan); $1285 (5 year plan; $1897 seven-month plan).

Kia’s customers can also get up to eight years of roadside help, too, according to . With each service, it ranks with its .

To see how the Kia EV3 lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool

childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Kia EV3

Such a nice compact electric crossover, this top-spec GT–Line looks great outside, feels good inside and ticks many of the boxes that EV buyers may like to buy.

That’s a pricey, but it’s still missing some things that you think would be the value of this type of . It’s also a bit frustrating, especially when you don’t like the safety systems that are off.

It’ll be all the EV they ever need for some buyers. For others there are options that’ll tick the box better.

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