It’s been a remarkable year for Kia, which is rapidly positioning itself as one of the most innovative and exciting brands in the industry. Having wowed us earlier in the year with the seven-seater EV9, Kia followed up with an updated EV6 that featured a raft of improvements over the original. But in many respects, both these were a warm-up act for the headliner of 2024 – the EV3.
Remarkably faithful (on the outside at least) to the Concept EV3 that appeared late last year, the production version is one of the most exciting small electric cars we’ve seen in a very long time. What marks the EV3 apart from the competition? Well, for us, it’s a combination of factors. Kia knows that in order to tempt buyers into switching from petrol and diesel, it needs to win the range argument. Ignore the fact that most of us need far less range than we think we do, switchers will always look for a car that won’t give them range anxiety. By offering an 81kWh battery pack and a range of 372 miles, the EV3 offers total peace of mind. And even when a recharge is needed, the EV3’s peak charging speed of 135kW is significantly higher than most rivals can muster.
Then there’s the design, which takes all the best elements of the EV9 and EV6 and distils them into a compact package that turns heads wherever it goes. The interior cleverly matches form with function, and adds a host of lovely design touches that elevate the driving and ownership experience. It’s clearly a car designed by people who actually use cars, rather than just design them. The infotainment system is slick, easy to navigate and is neatly integrated into the cockpit. There’s no iPad tacked to the centre console here – it all feels considered and designed around the driver – a rare quality.
The icing on the EV3’s cake is the driving experience. Kia’s chassis engineering has advanced in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and the EV3 delivers the perfect drive. The ride quality, even on the largest wheels, is exceptional, while the steering is perfectly weighted and a joy to use. Factor in an intuitive and full adjustable braking regen system and you have a car that feels at home on every kind of road.
Will the EV3 become a game-changer in the electric car market? It very well might. In terms of value, range and what you get for your money, it stands head and shoulders above everything else in the sector. And for those reasons, it is a clear winner of our Car of the Year title for 2025.
Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said:
“As the electric experts we consider Kia to be one of the most innovative and exciting car brands around, and we believe the EV3 is a game-changer in the electric car market. In terms of style, range, space, tech and sheer value for money, it stands head and shoulders above everything else in its class. We think the EV3 will give buyers new to electric cars the confidence they need to make the switch, and it’s the clear winner of our Car of the Year title for 2024.”
