The Kia EV3 is The Car Expert’s Car of The Year 2025!
Summary
The Kia EV3 is a compact all-electric SUV/crossover that arrived in the UK at the very end of 2024.
Built on the same foundations as larger family cars like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, the EV3 is Kia’s answer to the Volvo EX30 and Hyundai Kona Electric, now battling for sales in the rapidly expanding small SUV class.
As with Kia’s other electric models, the new EV3 stands out with its dramatic styling. The tech and mechanical bits underneath are very good as well, resulting in a car that’s competitive with other small SUVs as well as being easy to live with. Battery range is plenty for most UK households, while charging speeds are some of the fastest around if you’re using public chargers.
Initial reviews published by the UK motoring media after the EV3’s local launch have been overwhelmingly positive. Car’s Ben Whitworth calls it a “deeply impressive piece of kit”, while Top Gear’s Peter Rawlins argues that the EV3 offers everything you could want out of a compact crossover – “the Koreans have nailed the brief once more.”
Here at The Car Expert, our editor Stuart Masson says that the EV3 “should be at the top of your list” if you’re looking for a small SUV, or your first EV.
As of June 2025, the Kia EV3 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A with a score of 82%. The car’s excellent review scores are bolstered by its low running costs, zero tailpipe emissions and a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. It is currently one of the highest-rated new cars on sale.
EV3 highlights
- Plenty of tech included as standard
- Comfortable driving experience
- Attractively priced
- Competitive battery range
EV3 lowlights
- Not many trim level options
- Rivals offer more headroom
- Not particularly exciting on the move
Key specifications
Body style: Small SUV/crossover
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £32,995 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2024
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“The Kia EV3 should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a small electric SUV. If you’re thinking about switching from a petrol car to an EV, it would also be a very good choice.”
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
Read full review
The Car Expert
Stuart Masson
“The Kia EV3 offers impressive range, a clever interior and room for the family in a well-priced package. It’s not exciting but it ticks every other box.”
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
Read full review
Carwow
Mario Christou
More reviews
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The new Kia EV3 compact electric SUV offers a long range, a practical boot, and good passenger comfort in a stylish package.”
Author: Alex Ingram
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“Stylish, practical, well-equipped and with bags of range, the all-electric Kia EV3’s impressive affordability is icing on the cake.”
Author: Dan Trent
Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: GT-Line
Score: 8 / 10
“Kia’s new compact EV places efficiency and practicality ahead of driving appeal.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Kia’s first dedicated compact EV aims to be the definitive choice, with efficiency and its segment-leading range.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The EV3 is a deeply impressive piece of kit, it really is. It nails it’s family transport remit with unerring accuracy. Dynamic and distinctive design, a spacious and intelligently-configured cabin, brisk performance and an absorbent ride quality, plenty of kit, decent range and all at a price that’s closer to affordable than most of its rivals.”
Author: Ben Whitworth
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kia EV3 takes on the small electric SUV class with cool styling, oodles of interior space and a choice of batteries that both post impressive range figures.”
Author: Jordan Katsianis, Andy Goodwin
Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kia EV3 is a funky, comfortable and practical model that drives well and can travel a long way on charges.”
Author: James Batchelor
Read review
Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The Kia EV3 is a compact electric SUV that offers a long range, handsome styling and loads of tech. It’s set to take on rivals including the Volvo EX30, VW ID.3 and Jeep Avenger, and we absolutely love it.”
Author: Ginny Buckley
Read review
Fleetworld
Model reviewed: Air 81kWh
“Frankly, there’s nothing to dislike about the EV3 and almost everything to feel good about. It’s fun to drive, has a decent range, quick to charge, comfortable, roomy, and it’s even priced at sensible levels. It’s got all the kit you need in this entry-point Air trim, too, which makes it a cracking fleet choice.”
Author: Alisdair Suttie
Read review
Model reviewed: GT-Line
“It’s probably not surprising that the EV3 is an impressive vehicle, given that the two larger models in Kia’s ‘EV’ series have been so well received over the past couple of years. The Koreans have stuck with a tried-and-tested formula on a smaller scale, with a quality interior, decent performance (from both powertrains) and loads of miles from a full charge.”
Author: John Challen
Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: GT-Line S
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kia EV3 GT-Line Soffers an easy driving experience with very comfortable ride quality, an excellent driving range of up to 361 miles, and practical amounts of space. It has a well thought out mixture of screens and physical buttons in the cabin, which contributes to the car overall having very few areas that we can find fault with.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review
Model reviewed: Air
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kia EV3 is a compact electric SUV with an impressive driving range of up to 375 miles and pricing that starts at the more affordable end of the EV spectrum. It shares its bold styling with the larger EV9 and also has lots of interior space for the driver, passengers and luggage.”
Author: Paul Clarke
Read review
Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kia EV3 is another impressive entry in the Korean brand’s growing electric portfolio, providing a decent amount of range, a premium feel and great styling without breaking the bank.”
Author: Matthew MacConnell
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Kia EV3 is bold looking, inside and out. It offers strong value for money and an impressive driving range.”
Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Kia EV3 is an accessible and thoroughly well-rounded car that could slot effortlessly into family life. And as such vehicles are now increasingly SUV-shaped, it has become the electric benchmark to beat.”
Author: Tim Pitt
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Kia leaps into the EV fray with the highly competitive EV3”
Author: Ben Whitworth
Read review
The Independent
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“One of the very best EVs on the market today, the Kia EV3 is well priced, goes a long way on one charge, and has space for the family.”
Author: Steve Fowler
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 81kWh GT-Line
Score: 8 / 10
“A distinctive design and good dynamics help the Kia EV3 rise above the massed ranks of ‘motorised fridges’.”
Author: Andrew English
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Kia EV3 ticks all the compact electric crossover boxes: the Koreans have nailed the brief once more.”
Author: Peter Rawlins
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: May 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 83%
Child protection: 84%
Vulnerable road users: 78%
Safety assist: 78%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of June 2025, the Kia EV3 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the EV3 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of June 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Kia EV3 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the EV3, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 333 miles | A | 267 – 272 miles | B – B |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 4.5 m/KWh | A | 4.5 – 4.5 m/KWh | A – A |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 36 | C | 34 – 38 | C – C |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £205 | B |
| Year 2 | £421 | A |
| Year 3 | £693 | A |
| Year 4 | £854 | A |
| Year 5 | £1,103 | A |
| Overall | £3,276 | A |
The Kia EV3 is a very affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
An official battery range of 333 miles (which varies from 267 miles to 372 miles, depending on which model you choose) is excellent for a car of this size, and you shouldn’t need to worry about running out of charge in normal day-to-day driving.
Its electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is also excellent, and the even better news is that scheduled servicing costs for the EV3 are very affordable during the first five years of ownership.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Kia EV3
As of June 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Kia EV3. However, this information is updated very regularly so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Kia dealer.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Kia EV3 has received.
2025
- World Car Awards – World Car of the Year
- UK Car of the Year Awards – Car of the Year + Best Small Crossover
- AM Awards – New Car of the Year + Best EV
- Autotrader Awards – Car of the Year + Best Mainstream Electric Car
- DrivingElectric Awards – Car of the Year + Best Family EV
- Fleet News Awards – Best Mid-size SUV
- Top Gear Electric Awards – Best EV Crossover
- Women’s World Car of the Year Awards – Best Compact SUV
2024
- The Car Expert Awards – Car of the Year + Best Small Crossover
- Electrifiying.com Awards – Car of the Year
- News UK Motor Awards – Best Small SUV/Crossover
- Top Gear Awards – Best Crossover
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Kia EV3, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica | BMW iX1| BYD Atto 2 | Citroën ë-C3 Aircross | Cupra Born | DS 3 E-Tense | Fiat 600e | Ford Puma Gen-E | Honda e:Ny1 | Hyundai Kona Electric | Jeep Avenger | Kia Niro EV | Mazda MX-30 | Mercedes-Benz EQA | MG ZS EV | Omoda E5 | Peugeot e-2008 | Renault Mégane E-Tech | Smart #1 | Suzuki e-Vitara | Toyota Urban Cruiser | Vauxhall Mokka Electric | Volkswagen ID.3 | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volvo EX30
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Kia EV3 at The Car Expert
Buy a Kia EV3
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Kia EV3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
Lease a Kia EV3
If you’re looking to lease a new Kia EV3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Select Car Leasing. Find out more
Subscribe to a Kia EV3
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from SelfDrive.
Find out more
Car subscriptions from DriveFuze.
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Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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