► Compact electric SUV revealed
► EV3 will be the smallest cheapest Kia electric car
► Revealed alongside EV4 saloon
Kia has revealed a new, second phase of lower cost electric vehicles, and it’ll partly be led by this, the new Kia EV3. Revealed in concept form at the brand’s EV day in Korea in October 2023, the EV3 is an electric SUV that promises to bring all the style and tech of the Kia EV9, EV6 and EV5 – but at a significantly cheaper price point.
Now we’re caught the new EV3 out winter testing in the guise of what appear to be pre-production prototypes. And even heavily disguised it seems clear the final version of this new compact electric car is staying true to the design of the concept.
What’s it?
On first glance, the EV3 is just another electric SUV – albeit smaller than anything we’ve seen from the Hyundai Motor Group. However, as you’d expect from the makers of the EV6, the EV3 features some interesting design choices.
Most obvious is an aggressive, windscreen-forward design combined with a long, sloping roofline. The result is a car with a striking silhouette, but also one that should also generate an impressive drag co-efficient.
Like the EV4 and EV5, Kia’s designers have also done their best to remove the any circular shapes near the wheel arches; the EV3 uses blocky, squared wheel arches with asymmetrical angles – and pairs it with square wheel covers.
It’s clear: Kia is continuing its bold design language, regardless of the car’s price point. And it’s also clear the firm is staying true to its vision when in comes to the production version.
The prototypes even feature unusually funky wheel coverings.
What about inside?
Inside, the EV3 concept features a clean, uncluttered dashboard – just like the EV4 concept revealed at the same event.
Being a concept SUV, the EV also aims to create a versatile open space – using moving seats and tables to create four modes; Focus, Social, Refreshing and Storage. The Kia’s rear seats can also be folded, making room for other luggage such as electric scooters and bicycles.
Our spy photographers have managed to capture a glimpse of the production interior during this latest winter test, and although there’s a more conventional steering wheel (probably for the best, frankly) there are signs that the rest of the cabin is also following the concept very closely.
Mushroom materials
The interior of the EV3 Concept rejected the usual leather or wood for sustainable materials, with the console table in the electric SUV produced from mushrooms: ‘Mycelium, which comes from mushroom roots, combines excellent strength with an extremely soft surface,’ said Marília Biill, Head of CMF Design at Kia. ‘Developing grown materials, a process referred to as bio fabrication, is a major goal for Kia.’
Now we can’t say for sure, but there’s certainly something unusual enough to look at with the centre console of the prototype that our spies decided to snap a close-up.
Does that look mushroom-derived to you?
When does the Kia EV3 go on sale?
We’re expecting to see the production-ready EV3 before the end of 2024, possibly even before the mid-point of the year. Hyundai-Kia moves very fast these days, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the order books open well ahead of 2025, too.
Pricing is rumoured to position the EV3 below the Kia e-Niro, which would see it start at less than £30,000.