The KIA EV3 finally arrives in the US market, priced below 30 thousand dollars

The KIA EV3 is now available in the United States, with a starting price of 29,890 dollars (excluding destination charges). This compact SUV thus positions itself as the most affordable electric option in the brand’s range in the North American market, and it does so below the 35 thousand dollars that the South Korean manufacturer had initially considered as its target price.

The entry-level version, under the name Light, features a 58.3 kWh battery paired with a 150 kW motor on the front axle. According to the EPA, this version offers a range of 221 miles (355 km). The rest of the versions incorporate a larger 81.4 kWh battery, with ranges reaching 321 miles (516 km) while keeping the same front-axle motor.

KIA also offers versions with dual electric motors, with a combined output of 195 kW. In this case the range is somewhat lower, coming in at 280 miles (450 km). It is also worth noting that at the top of the range, the EV3 GT raises the combined output of its motors to 215 kW with 468 Nm of torque. This version, aimed at the most demanding drivers, also stands out for including simulated gear shifts and an active sound system.

More technical specifications to consider

The DC fast-charging times of the EV3, from 10 to 80 percent, are 29 minutes for the entry-level version with the smaller battery and 31 minutes for the rest. This compact SUV is based on the E-GMP architecture of the Hyundai group, although in this case it uses a 400-volt architecture, unlike higher-end models such as the EV6 and EV9. In European tests, the extended-range version reaches a peak charging power of 128 kW and is able to sustain more than 120 kW up to around 70 percent.

All units destined for North America come standard with the NACS connector, which allows the use of Tesla Superchargers directly without any adapter. They also come from the factory with bidirectional charging (V2L) and the one-pedal driving system i-Pedal 3.0.

The range is structured into five trim levels: Light (from 29,890 dollars), Wind (from 34,990 dollars), Land (from 38,490 dollars), GT-Line (from 43,490 dollars) and GT (45,890 dollars), all amounts to which the destination charge must be added. Finally, it should be noted that the dual electric motor setup providing all-wheel drive is standard on the two top versions and costs an extra 3,200 dollars on the Wind and Land.

Production for the North American market has already begun at the Mexican plant in Pesquería, the second assembly center in the world producing this compact SUV alongside the one in South Korea. The first deliveries of the KIA EV3 in the United States are expected in the coming weeks, although the manufacturer has not yet confirmed an exact date.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverKIA EV35 versions · from 37,040 €