Just in case you had doubts: the KIA EV3 is the best electric compact SUV... also for long trips

The KIA EV3 is the electric car of the moment. A vehicle that, thanks to its space, comfort and performance, can work perfectly as a second car… and that, by choosing the right battery, can even be a alternative as the only family car for long journeys. And that is what we verified at the KIA Driving Experience, a day organised by the Korean brand in which we drove from Madrid to Burgos to confirm the qualities of the EV3 on long-distance journeys, both in terms of driving dynamics and the charging experience or range.

The result did not surprise us: we had already spent a few days living with the electric SUV, and here you can read the road test of the KIA EV3, in which I explained why I think it is one of the best electric cars and a real alternative for forgetting about petrol and diesel.

In the test, and in the video below, you have all the details on why the EV3 stands out against the competition, though I will sum it up briefly: it is a car with a very appealing design (some customers go to the dealership asking about the EV3 without even knowing it is electric), comfortable, well equipped, with a very well-used interior and notable dynamic qualities. A very balanced vehicle that also costs less than its closest rivals, which has taken it straight to the top of the best-selling electric cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNhMgn-KhQI&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.highmotor.com%2F&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ

In this article we will focus exclusively on the features that make the EV3 also a valid car for taking on journeys with the family, without the anxiety or stress over range that many users feel with electric cars, and which, thanks to proposals such as KIA’s, is starting to become a thing of the past.

The key is the battery: which EV3 to choose?

If you have made it this far, and especially if you have read the test at the link I left you in the first paragraph, you probably already know that the Kia EV3 is available with a 204 hp electric motor and two battery options. In the Standard Range version the capacity is 58.3 kWh, which allows a homologated WLTP range of 436 km. The battery of the Long Range variant is 81.4 kWh, and the WLTP range rises to 605 km.

I will tell you upfront that, as happens with all electric cars—and with combustion cars too when we compare homologated consumption with real consumption—you will not achieve those ranges in either case. The matter, therefore, would be as simple as going for the battery with the greater capacity without thinking twice… but the price difference is enough to make you consider it carefully, because it is almost 5,000 euros more that you have to pay for the “Long Range” EV3.

To choose well you will have to consider two things. The first is consumption and, therefore, the “real” range. The EV3 uses very little energy in urban driving. And although it is not one of the most efficient cars in its segment on the motorway, its energy consumption is also moderate when driving on the motorway at a relaxed pace—legal speeds—and maintaining a steady gear. With the small-battery EV3 you will have no problems reaching 350-380 km of range in urban driving (depending on traffic and, above all, outside temperature; you know that in winter the range drops), but when travelling you should plan stops every 250 km, leaving a safety margin. In the Long Range version the real figures will be closer to 450 km in the city, and you will reach 350 km on the motorway without too much trouble.

So which battery should you choose? My recommendation is as follows: only if you are going to travel very frequently—and I stress this point, “very frequently”—may it be worth making the financial effort for the Long Range version. Especially if, on your most common trips, the distance to cover allows you to arrive with a single charge and recharge at your destination.

Otherwise, the small-battery EV3 will serve you equally well for travelling. Keep in mind that with either version, on journeys exceeding the 350 km maximum real range that we recommend planning with the longer-range EV3, you will have to stop to recharge. And as we will see, the question of charging on the road is very well resolved.

Fast charging: from 10 to 80% in half an hour

As we confirmed once again at the KIA Driving Experience, the KIA EV3 charges very well at fast-charging stations. With the small battery it does so at up to about 100 kW, and the Long Range reaches nearly 130 kW. In either case we are talking about half an hour to go from 10 to 80% capacity, always under ideal conditions.

On the KIA Driving Experience day we stopped at the excellent facilities of Zunder at the Tudanca service station to test the fast charging of the EV3, in this case the Long Range, with which we completed the route. Only about 15 minutes, enough to have a snack and, in the meantime, check the stability of the charging power, which quickly reaches peaks of almost 120 kW and stays above 110 kW until it reaches 70% capacity, after which it decreases progressively. From 80% onwards, for example, the charging power already drops to around 30 kW, which is why, when travelling, two short stops are almost always more advisable than one long stop charging to 100%.

And this is a clear example of what I mentioned earlier: with the “large” battery EV3 you can comfortably make the Madrid–Burgos trip without stopping to recharge (we did it on the return) and even arrive at your destination with enough margin to get around the city before charging again. With the standard-battery EV3 you could also do it, but only just, limiting cruising speed and, above all, with that “range anxiety” we want to escape from, for which a short charging stop is enough… and then back on the road.

EV route planner and Kia Charge service: that easy

Another feature of the EV3 that makes journeys easier is the advanced route planner, which not only lets you check the real-time availability of the recommended charging stations on the infotainment system screen, but also includes the starting charge level in the route calculation to suggest where to stop to recharge, preconditions the battery so that charging is more effective as we approach the charging station, lets you set the battery charge level you want to arrive at your destination with, and even includes in the estimated journey time the time needed to recharge.

Also helpful is the so-called “range guide”, which takes into account your driving style based on previous trips to show the maximum and minimum distances you can cover with the remaining charge.

In addition, KIA simplifies the charging process with its unified KIA Charge service, which provides easy and convenient access to a network of around 15,500 charging points from different operators in Spain (800,000 in 28 countries), handling payment with a single card or with the brand’s app. Could it be easier?

Kia EV3 – Image gallery

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverKIA EV35 versions · from 37,040 €