Kia's EV3 no 'baby' with all the range and tech for much less money

Have you been looking for an affordable electric vehicle with a sufficient driving range and all the latest tech? Well, search no more. Kia’s EV3 is finally available on the market.

Kia's EV3, the most affordable option in its all-electric range [KIA]

[TEST DRIVE]

SOKCHO, Gangwon — Have you been looking for an affordable electric vehicle with a sufficient driving range and all the latest tech?

Well, search no more. Kia’s EV3 is finally available on the market as a compact electric SUV, a segment still controlled by a handful of players like Volvo and Fiat. Even Tesla has yet to enter the sector.

Kia's EV3 on the road. It is the brand's smallest and most affordable EV yet in its all-electric range. [KIA]

Despite its shockingly low price tag, sure to appeal to the masses, the EV3 remains chic and roomy, with the latest tech and safety features.

The Korea JoongAng Daily recently got a chance to test drive the EV3 on a 200-kilometer (124-mile) trip from Seoul to Sokcho, Gangwon, an opportunity European and U.S. customers must wait at least until the fourth quarter to enjoy.

Exterior-wise, the vehicle has earned the appropriate nickname of "Baby EV9." The two front ends look very much alike, with their tall, boxy frames and vertical headlamps. The EV3 is a bit more rounded and slightly less muscular.

The rear door handle is hidden in the C-pillar, which gives it more like a coupe-like vibe with some sportiness. [SARAH CHEA]

The rear door handles are hidden in the C-pillar, which gives the vehicle a sporty, coupe-like vibe.

From the driver's seat, one can see the EV3 is no baby, its nickname notwithstanding. The interior is spacious, and this reporter — all five feet three of her — felt at ease behind the wheel. It is not a big car, but no one will ever accuse it of being small, either.

Steering wheel and dashboard of the EV3. [SARAH CHEA]

It is lengthier, broader and higher than rival Volvo's EX30. Its 2,680-millimeter (106-inch) wheelbase is around 30 millimeters longer than that of the EX30, meaning it offers more legroom.

The EV3 might not be an optimal family car. A 6-foot reporter who participated in the test drive pushed the seat back, leaving little legroom for passengers in the rear seat.

The center console armrest incorporates a sliding table and storage, which was undoubtedly helpful when this reporter used a laptop for a while at a highway rest stop. An EV3 engineer said the car was designed "as an alternative to home,” and the table made for an outstanding workspace, despite its vehicular location.

The center console armrest incorporates a sliding table and storage, which is certainly useful when using laptops or writing documents in a car. [SARAH CHEA]

Wireless smartphone charging is available [SARAH CHEA]

The table has its drawbacks, however. It lacks cupholders, a minus for heavy coffee drinkers like this writer.

Though there were cup holders under the center console, reaching for cups while driving was uncomfortable. The storage space is too small for handbags — or even smaller purses — despite Kia marketing it as “useful” for drivers.

The rear of the EV3 [KIA]

Driving was smooth and quiet throughout the test drive despite heavy rain and wind. Friendly driving assistant systems were available — for example, the car automatically closed its windows when entering a tunnel.

The latest AI assistant made driving a bit more enjoyable. It’s smart enough to answer complicated questions like, "What is today's Kospi index?" or recommend good restaurants in Sokcho.

“The EV3 is an environmentally friendly option with excellent energy efficiency,” Kia’s AI assistant said when asked about the car's most significant advantage.

Jeong Won-jeong, head of domestic sales at Kia, introduces the EV3 during a press conference after a press test drive session on July 23 in Sokcho, Gyeonggi. [KIA]

The long-range EV3 can travel 501 kilometers on a single charge, while the standard version can travel 350 kilometers. That is remarkable mileage compared to market rivals like the Volvo EX30, which can travel 404 kilometers on a single charge.

The i-Pedal system even makes it more efficient. Drivers can adjust the level of regenerative braking, which charges the car itself while driving, so that drivers can accelerate, decelerate, and even come to a complete stop with only the pedal.

When turning on the turning signal, the car shows the roads on the dashboard to maximize safety. [SARAH CHEA]

The approximately 200-kilometer test drive started with 471 kilometers on the battery and ended with 284 kilometers. The pedal system saved 13 kilometers.

The fuel economy was recorded at 6.6 kilometers per kilowatt hour, considerably higher than its claim of 5.2 kilometers per kilowatt hour. Another reporter who participated in the test drive even recorded 7.9 kilometers.

“Mileage and charging time were the two areas we focused most on in the development process,” said Jeong Won-jeong, head of domestic sales at Kia, during a press conference after the test drive. “The EV3 was released with a very cost-competitive price tag to promote the EV's popularity.”

The price may be the vehicle's biggest charm. The sticker price of an EV3 starts at 42.1 million won ($30,000), which falls to around 30 million won in Korea with an EV credit offered by the government.

Applying an additional local government subsidy may result in a final cost as low as 29 million won.

The EV3 is spacious enough for a driver, but maybe not an optimal choice for a family car. [SARAH CHEA]

That’s considerably cheaper than the rival Volvo EX30, which starts at 50 million won. The sticker price of a Tesla Model Y, whose mileage is similar to the EV3, begins from 53 million won.

Kia already accepted around 20,000 orders in Korea.

European sales will start in the fourth quarter, while U.S. customers must wait until 2025. The EV3's starting price will be around $35,000 globally.

Kia aims to sell 200,000 EV3s globally.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]