First drive in the Kia EV3 before it hits the US – A fun little compact that’s sneaky big inside [Video]

During a recent trip to Spain for Kia EV Day 2025, I got a chance to test drive the new EV3 compact SUV before it hits the US market. Be sure to check out my video below as well.

Background on the EV3

The lead-up to to our long-anticipated first drive of the Kia EV3 before it launches in the US dates back to the fall of 2023, when the Korean automaker debuted it as a concept at the LA Auto show, next to the EV4, which Kia confirmed will also be sold in the US earlier today.

Since then, we’ve seen countless updates from Kia trickle in, educating the masses on the (compact) size and capabilities of this new bespoke model, which it hopes will become a best seller, given some of its class-leading specifications.

In addition to being compact and affordable, the Kia EV3 also promises to be one of the more sustainable BEV models on the market. It utilizes a slew of recycled materials in its interior, but more on that later. The production intent Kia EV3 debuted in May of 2024, but we still weren’t certain at the time if US consumers would get the opportunity to buy one.

Kia has since confirmed that the compact SUV will, in fact, be sold in the US. Before then, it launched in Korea, the UK, and parts of Europe with early success. I took a trip to Spain with Kia this past weekend to attend its annual EV Day event in Tarragona, about an hour and a half south of our hotel in Barcelona.

To get there, I was given an EU spec EV3 to test drive and see what this new model is all about. My thoughts are below, as well as a quick video recap.

The Kia EV3 could sell very well with US consumers

Before I dig into my (brief) driving impressions, I want to share some specs about the EV3 so you can better understand where Kia intends to position this compact SUV in the US market and what level of performance you can expect at that price tier.

As you can see from the images I snapped outside of Kia EV Day 2025 in Tarragona, the EV3 is a rather compact SUV that feels like a perfect fit for the EU market, hence why it’s already available overseas. However, open-minded US consumers could get a real kick out of this model, which is sneaky spacious inside and provides plenty of advanced tech for your dollar – something I consistently applaud Hyundai Motor Group for.

In Europe, Kia benchmarked the EV3 against small BEVs like the Volvo EX30, Volkswagen ID. 3, Smart #1, and Renault Megane E-Tech to name a few. While is shared a lot of similarities with those competitors in size and for instance, charge rates, the EV3’s E-GMP platform excels in other ways those models cannot. For example, its 10-80% charge time is comparable to the pack at first glance, but more impressive when you account for how much larger the SUV’s battery pack is:

So while the EV4 may charge at a similar rate to other compact electric SUVs in its class, its replenishing a much larger battery, delivering significantly better all-electric range (AER):

Yes, it’s WLTP range and not EPA, but that’s all we have to go on at this point as we don’t have official US specs for the Kia EV3 yet. Still, you can gather how much better the charging performance is for a Kia compact SUV that goes farther on a single charge. Here are some other notable specs:

• Dimensions: 4,200mm long, 1,850 mm wide, and 1,560 mm tall
  • Wheelbase: 2,680 mm
  • Luggage Space: 460 liters and 1,250 liters with rear seats folded down
  • Frunk Space: 25 liters
• Aerodynamics: 0.263 Cd
  • The exterior front fascia is equipped with Active Air Flaps (AAF) and a 3D body undercover to improve efficiency
• Kia AI Assistant: New AI voice assistant powered by ChatGPT
• Digital Key 2.0: Transform your smartphone into your vehicle key using the Kia App
• Trim Levels: The Kia EV3 will be available in three versions: Standard Base, Long Range Base, and Long Range GT-Line. Here’s how they compare:

Inside and out, the EV3 features an admirable design approach from the Kia team that uses 10 material solutions that will eventually be incorporated into all Kia models. For example, the fender, door garnish, slide sill molding, and bumper cover were built using recycled plastic from automotive waste and the wheel guards were assembled from recycled plastic PET from post-industrial waste.

Moving inward, the door trim was built from Bio PTO, and the sliding center console was made from recycled plastic (PCM). The steering wheel was assembled using bio paint and the floor mats are made from recycled PET carpet. this is all part of a 7-year partnership with The Ocean Cleanup in which Kia plans to help remove 0.5 Mio kg of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that plagues our ocean. As such, the EV3’s trunk liner was made using 40% recycled ocean plastic.

The pictures I took were of the base-level trim, but I got to experience a higher trim for my drive. Although my time behind the wheel was short, I do have some driving impressions as Kia prepares to launch the EV3 in the US soon.

Driving the Kia EV3 through Spain and video review

As I stated the trip from Barcelona to Tarragona was only about and hour and a half and included a driver swap, so I only had about 45 minutes behind the wheel. That’s not ideal to give you my full thoughts on how the EV3 drives, but I experienced enough to give you an idea of what to expect.

My first impression was how large the compact SUV feels when inside it. This is a common occurrence when testing Hyundai Motor Group EVs, as its E-GMP platform allows for an entirely flat floor and a wide wheelbase that maximizes every inch of space. The trunk looks small from the outside, but it was surprisingly spacious for the vehicle’s overall length and tiny back end behind the wheels. The frunk, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired, but that’s not uncommon for Kia and Hyundai vehicles. At least the hood opens, right?

When driving, the EV3 is smooth and quiet. It doesn’t have the most giddy-up, but that’s not what this BEV was designed for. This is a daily-use-family car and was designed as such, and Kia nailed that aspect.

I was thoroughly impressed by the massive 12.3″ head-up display (showcased in my video below) which shows your current speed, the speed limit, details of lane keep assist and your next turn, including how far away that turn is and what lane you should be in. I loved this feature.

I, of course, also loved i-Pedal 3.0. HMG’s regenerative braking is some of the smoothest in the business, and they upped their game with i-Pedal 3.0, which now features four separate levels, including a new “auto” mode that uses GPS and sensor data to offer optimal regenerative braking techniques based on conditions like road grade or the traffic ahead of you. Why isn’t every automaker doing this?

One last feature that stood out to me was the battery diagnostics present right on the main center screen. This box to the right (seen in the image below) broke down how the EV3’s battery was being used, broken down by categories and percentages, including driving, electronics, climate, and battery care. That was a nice little touch that could truly help US consumers more easily understand how to manage their battery life and maximize range and efficiency.

Overall, my time with the EV3 was brief, but it was enough to declare that this is a tech-forward, compact SUV designed as an everyday family car with more than adequate range that will more than support that lifestyle. Kia’s charging prowess cannot be denied, and US consumers might scoff at the EV3 at first, but once they get in one and poke around, they will likely change their tune.

We don’t have an exact timeline on when the Kia EV3 will hit the US, but have been told sometime in 2026. We also don’t have official pricing or EPA range yet but have been told it will have an MSRP starting in the mid-$30,000 range. For comparison, the EV3 starts at 29,000 euros ($30,200) for the standard range base model in Spain and 33,790 ($35,190) for the long-range base model.

I hope to get more time in an EV3 as Kia’s US launch moves closer, but for now, you can check out my look at the compact SUV in the video below.

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