2 weeks Ago
Kia's ever-increasing line-up of electric vehicles includes the EV3 – which has been crowned UK Car of the Year 2025. This week, we got behind the wheel of this futuristic-looking vehicle to see if it lives up to its lofty billing. The EV3 has a compact body style and a range of more than 350 miles on a single charge - which outstrips what's on offer from some of its more pricey rivals.
Available in two different battery specifications, standard cars have a 58.3kWh battery with a range of up to 270 miles, while the larger 81.4kWh battery version provides a 372-mile range.
The sunshine reflects off the Kia EV3's sculpted bodywork (Image: T&A) The longer range version, priced at £35,995, is £3,000 more expensive than its stablemate, but it's probably worth the additional outlay for that extra reassurance between charge-ups. The EV3 offers sprightly performance – not blisteringly quick but swift enough to satisfy day to day driving needs. With 201bhp on tap, it'll perform the sprint from a standing start to 60mph in a pleasing 7.
3seconds. There’s also the option for full one-pedal driving on the EV3 – which means the car automatically slows down when you ease off the accelerator. The smooth and refined nature of the drive is something that singles out the EV3 from other vehicles.
It goes about its business in such an effortless manner, being whisper quiet at motorway speeds and well-damped over road imperfections. The vehicle has a smart look from all angles (Image: T&A) If you want to make progress along a B-road, the steering won't provide you with huge amounts of feedback, but it's accurate and trustworthy enough to provide sufficient confidence when cornering briskly. Meanwhile, the suspension is tailored towards comfort rather than an outright sporty drive.
Despite its smaller proportions, Kia has kitted out the EV3 with much of the same tech you’d find on its bigger brothers, with three comprehensively equipped trim levels – Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S. Creature comforts include heated seats and a high proportion of eco-friendly materials as standard. Standard kit includes a 12.
3-inch digital cockpit and 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is crisp and easy to use. Excellent sound quality comes courtesy of the eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system on ‘GT-Line S’ models, with centre speaker, subwoofer and exclusive grille pattern for the speakers.
The vehicle's interior, including the impressive infotainment screen (Image: T&A) The vehicle offers bags of practicality, with four USB-C charging ports, two front and rear, plus one for media device connection. The 460-litre boot extends to 1,250 litres with the seats folded down – which compares favourably to rivals and is one of the most generously proportioned compact crossovers for both passengers and luggage. Looks-wise, the EV3 has a bold and distinctive appearance.
At the front, it features the latest generation of Kia's Digital Tiger Face. The distinctive vertical ‘Star Map’ headlamps – inspired by the lines used to draw constellations together – are powered by LEDs and characterised by a thin lens projection, or for the ‘GT-line’ and ‘GT-Line S grades’, small cube projection. Flush door handles which present themselves automatically on ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ models contribute to a modern, high-tech look.
Active air flaps with air curtains improve aerodynamic efficiency. Boldly styled 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels complete the exterior’s modern aesthetic. The EV3 is available in seven eye-catching colours in the UK: White Pearl, Midnight Black, Sunset Orange, Shale Grey, Lithium Silver, Pistachio Green and Frost Blue.
All three grades feature a long list of standard safety equipment, including Highway Driving Assist 2.0 with Hands-on Detection (HDA2), Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist with Rear-Cross Traffic Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist 2.0, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Lane Follow Assist 2.
0 (LFA2) with hands-on detection, Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Multi-Collision Brake Assist (MCB). A Blind-Spot view monitor, 360-degree surround view monitor, parking collision-avoidance assist, and Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) are all fitted to the ‘GT-Line S’ grade In conclusion, there's a lot to like about the EV3. It's refined, spacious, has plenty of range and come with lots of standard equipment.
Wit this in mind, it's easy to see why it won the prestigious award. Kia EV3 ‘Air’ 81.4kWh FWD MAX POWER: 201bhp MAX TORQUE: 283Nm MAX SPEED: 105mph 0-62MPH:7.
7 seconds BATTERY: 81.4kWh Li-ion polymer DC FAST CHARGE TIME: (10-80%) 50kW: 1h 19m ENERGY CONSUMPTION (combined): 4.2mi/kWh / 149Wh/km PRICE: £35,995.
