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Kia’s range-topping $46,000 EV3 GT electric SUV looks even better in person

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.

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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.

Kia-EV3-GT-US
Kia EV3 GT (EU-spec) at the Brussels Motor Show (Source: Kia)

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.

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Kia EV3 GT (EU-spec) interior (Source: Kia)

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 TrimStarting Price*Driving Range
Kia EV3 Light FWD$29,890221 miles
Kia EV3 Wind FWD$34,990321 miles
Kia EV3 Wind AWD$38,690280 miles
Kia EV3 Land FWD$38,490321 miles
Kia EV3 Land AWD$41,690280 miles
Kia EV3 GT-Line AWD$43,490280 miles
Kia EV3 GT AWD$45,890280 miles
Kia EV3 price and driving range by trim in the US

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.

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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Avatar for Peter Johnson Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson is covering the auto industry’s step-by-step transformation to electric vehicles. He is an experienced investor, financial writer, and EV enthusiast. His enthusiasm for electric vehicles, primarily Tesla, is a significant reason he pursued a career in investments. If he isn’t telling you about his latest 10K findings, you can find him enjoying the outdoors or exercising