Kia opens EV3 pre-orders in Mexico ahead of US launch

Kia opened pre-orders for the highly anticipated EV3 in Mexico, where the electric SUV will be built and shipped to the US later this year.

Kia EV3 pre-orders open in Mexico as US launch nears

On Wednesday morning, during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s “Mañanera del Pueblo,” or daily press conference, Kia Mexico’s managing director, Horacia Chavez, announced the Korean automaker will invest $649 million to produce electric vehicles in the region.

After building the first prototypes in March, Kia opened pre-orders for the EV3 this week, its compact electric SUV that will be produced in Mexico.

The 2027 Kia EV3 will be available in Standard Range EX and Extended Range SXL trims. The former uses a 58.3 kWh battery, providing a WLTP range of up to 436 km (270 miles), while the latter has a larger 81.4 kWh battery, delivering up to 605 km (375 miles).

On Mercado Libre, the Kia EV3 SXL is available to pre-order, starting at 767,700 pesos, or about $44,000.

In the US, the 2027 Kia EV3 will be available in five trims later this year: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT. The base Light version uses the same 58.3 kWh battery, which Kia estimates will provide up to 220 miles of range under EPA conditions.

Higher-priced trims, including the Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT trims, will be available with the extended-range (81.4 kWh) battery with an estimated EPA range of up to 320 miles in the Front Wheel Drive models.

All-wheel drive (AWD) will be optional on Wind and Land trims and standard on the GT-Line and GT variants.

Based on the 400V E-GMP platform, the EV3 Light with the 58.3 kWh battery can charge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes. The 81.4 kWh battery takes slightly longer at around 31 minutes. Kia’s electric SUV also has a native NACS charge port.

Kia will launch the 2027 EV3 in the US by the end of the year. We will learn prices soon, but the EV3 is expected to start at around $35,000, making it one of the most affordable EVs in the US.