Kia’s popular electric SUV is now on sale in the US. The range-topping EV3 GT delivers 288 horsepower from a dual-motor AWD setup with exclusive sporty design elements inside and out, starting from $45,890.
Meet the Kia EV3 GT, an AWD sports electric SUV
Kia finally launched the EV3 in the US and Canada, its smaller electric SUV, which has been on sale in Europe since late 2024.
The 2027 Kia EV3 is among the most affordable electric SUVs in the US, with prices starting at just $29,890. That’s for the cheapest Light trim with a single electric motor and a standard 58.3 kWh battery, good for an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 221 miles.
The electric SUV is available in four trims: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and the range-topping GT variant.
Front-wheel-drive (FWD) comes standard, while all-wheel-drive (AWD) is optional on the Wind, Land, and GT-Line models. FWD variants offer 201 horsepower and 209 lb-ft of torque, enabling them to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.
Upgrading to AWD costs an extra $3,200, but adds a rear motor for a combined 261 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque.
The EV3 GT gains a bit more power, with 288 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque, and can go from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 5.4 seconds.
Like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, the EV3 GT includes a Virtual Gear Shift and Active Sound Design system that mimics the feel of shifting gears with fake torque-matched engine sounds.
The range-topping GT model also gains exclusive exterior design elements, including 19″ GT wheels with a Gloss Black Finish and green brake calipers, Gloss Black front and rear bumper trim, lower body cladding, and GT Body Styling.
A new image from KindelAuto shows the range-topping EV3 GT parked in public, flashing its sporty design.
Inside, the EV3 GT is equipped with all the range-topping features Kia has to offer, including a 12″ Head-Up Display (HUD), sports seats, a premium 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and more GT-exclusive elements.
All EV3 models come with Kia’s new ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit) and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The system includes nearly 30″ of screen space combined, including dual 12.3″ driver display and center infotainment screens, plus a 5″ climate control display.
All EV3 trims come with standard features, including i-Pedal 3.0 one-pedal driving, vehicle-to-load (V2L), and Smart Cruise Control (SCC).
| 2027 Kia EV3 Trim | Starting Price* | Driving Range |
| Kia EV3 Light FWD | $29,890 | 221 miles |
| Kia EV3 Wind FWD | $34,990 | 321 miles |
| Kia EV3 Wind AWD | $38,690 | 280 miles |
| Kia EV3 Land FWD | $38,490 | 321 miles |
| Kia EV3 Land AWD | $41,690 | 280 miles |
| Kia EV3 GT-Line AWD | $43,490 | 280 miles |
| Kia EV3 GT AWD | $45,890 | 280 miles |
All trims also have a native NACS charge port. The standard 58.3 kWh battery can charge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes using a 350 kW DC fast charger. The 81.4 kWh battery takes around 31 minutes.
While the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is more expensive, it offers significantly more power with up to 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque when N Grin Boost is engaged.
Top comment by Jason Dunn
I find myself somewhat frustrated by Kia now. My family and I are looking for a third EV, and the Kia EV9 was at the top of my list to go and test drive. Between the negative dealership experience, where the barely-comprehensible salesperson glossed over well-known Kia issues, and the very legacy approach that Kia took with its controls and cargo space in the vehicle, I left very disappointed in everything Kia had to offer.
I was genuinely shocked at the level of complexity in the controls; it's like Kia said: "Hey, let's take a gas car and make it even harder to figure out what every button and switch does."
And for the size of the vehicle, the EV9 has shockingly little frunk and sub-trunk storage. This is a HUGE vehicle and they couldn't design it to have a large frunk and sub-trunk? This seems like lazy engineering to me.
It's like legacy car manufacturers learned absolutely nothing, having watched Tesla for 15+ years. It frustrates me so much there aren't more vehicles that are designed from the ground up.
Rivian is the only other car company that has a vehicle that is even remotely appealing to me as a Tesla owner who refuses to buy another Tesla, but the R2 I want isn't available until later this year. 😫
The IONIQ 5 N can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, 2 full seconds less than the Kia EV3 GT.
After cutting prices last month, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N now starts at $59,900. The 2027 Kia EV3 GT starts at $45,890.
Which one would you drive? The Kia EV3 GT or the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N? Drop your pick in the comments below.
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