Kia EV3 SUV spotted testing in the U.S.; to slot below the EV6

Update: ‘Production’ section updated.

Kia plans to launch 8 electric SUVs following the EV6. While the EV9 is just out of the pipeline, the next launch is the Kia EV3, scheduled to debut in 2024. An EVx SUV refers to a dedicated electric vehicle and not a conversion BEV such as the Niro EV or Soul EV.

Further details have now come to the surface in what is likely to be Kia’s most significant launch in 2024. Here’s what we know about the new Kia EV3.

Design

Early spy shots of camouflaged prototypes from the S.Korean portals suggest the Kia EV3 will have a funky and futuristic exterior design, with a flattish roofline. The silhouette reminds us a bit of the Niro EV, but it looks sharper and boxier. Vertical daytime running lights, chunky five-spoke alloy wheels, a clean tailgate, vertical rear lights, a shark-fin antenna, and conventional side mirrors are the exterior features observed on the production-oriented model.

Unlike the Niro and Sportage compact SUVs, the EV3 will likely have rear door handles integrated into the C-pillar. On September 6, 2023, X user ray4tesla shared spy shots suggesting that Kia has started testing EV3 prototypes in the U.S. as well. The test car spotted in the U.S. also revealed that the EV3 has flush-fitted front door handles, and like the Euro-spec prototype, it featured pillar-mounted rear door handles.

The EV3 will have C-shaped LED light signatures, which extend into the fenders, making it look quite unique from the EV9. From what we can tell, the EV3 will appeal to customers who prefer offbeat designs, as opposed to, say, the Jeep Avenger EV. We aren’t implying that it’ll be a small SUV, though. Positioned within the same size category as the Niro EV, it would be differentiated by higher performance, longer range, shorter charging times, more space, and added comfort, connectivity, and convenience features.

The Kia EV3 will look “very close” to the Kia Concept EV3, Karim Habib, Executive Vice President, and Head of Kia Global Design Center, has confirmed, Autoblog stated in a report on October 12, 2023. The rear-hinged doors won’t be making it to the road-ready model, though, just as expected.

Interior

The Kia EV3 should feature a modern interior with a minimalist theme. Similarities with the EV5 should include a sleek dashboard with freestanding but combined dual displays, a four-spoke steering wheel, slim AC vents, and a compact climate control system.

One of the cons of the Kia Niro EV’s interior is its dual-function touchpad with climate and infotainment controls. Thankfully, the Kia EV3 is likely to have physical buttons that can be pushed up or down to access the various functions of the climate control system. On the flip side, the core infotainment system buttons like home, map, search, setup, media, and favorite might be operated via capacitive touch buttons built into the dashboard.

A 12.3-inch driver information display, a 5-inch climate control display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment display, all featuring Kia’s new Unified Graphical User Interface (GUI), could be integrated into a single panel. Kia may equip the EV3 with its new connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system that features crisp graphics, a simple menu structure, smooth animations, OTA update support, and wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto compatibility.

We expect the company to use various sustainable materials like bio plastic and recycled PET or fishing net carpet in the cabin. Spy pictures have shown the EV3 featuring curvy front seats with bolsters designed to look like they wrap elegantly around the driver and passenger.

The EV3 should offer more comfort in the rear than the Niro EV, as it seems to have more legroom, reclining seats, and a flat floor. Additionally, Kia has confirmed folding bench-type rear seat which can be folded upwards which will help drivers carry heavier items like kick scooters or bicycles.

Specifications

The new Kia electric crossover will ride on the Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). It has been confirmed that the EV3 will utilize a front-wheel drive application of the E-GMP, which it will share with the Kia EV5 and Kia EV4.

“The development of the EV5, EV4, and EV3 based on FWD is aimed at implementing electric vehicles at the right cost because the price barrier must be lowered to popularize electric vehicles,” Cho Sang-woon, Kia’s Global Business Planning Division Executive Director, said at the 2023 Kia EV Day in October 2023 (translated via Danawa).

Similar to the EV5, the EV3 could come with a 64 kWh battery pack and a ~140 kW motor in the entry-level configuration. We expect around 270 miles of EPA-est. range in the long-range EV3. Also expected in the Kia electric crossover is ultra-fast charging (10 to 80% SoC in about 20 minutes), as well as Plug & Charge support.

Expected Features

Bidirectional charging

The Kia EV3 will likely have an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) that enables a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. V2L allows offloading power to external equipment like domestic appliances, power tools, and electronic devices at the campsite or worksite. A vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging function would be possible, meaning customers can rescue charge-depleted EVs using the EV3’s battery pack.

Heat pump

Kia should equip the EV3 with a heat pump that reuses waste heat energy from the battery, power electronics, and other propulsion components to keep the cabin warm in cold weather without compromising range and help the battery charge quicker by maintaining its temperature during winters.

i-Pedal

The EV3 will likely get i-Pedal, which is Kia’s branding for the one-pedal driving mode. i-Pedal would allow for recuperating maximum energy from braking. Not needing to push the brake pedal would make driving more convenient and reduce brake wear.

Sustainable Materials

Showcasing the Concept EV9 at the LA Auto Show in November 2021, Kia offered a glimpse of how the interiors of its future EVs would feature an eco-friendly design and use sustainable materials. The EV9 Concept electric SUV uses recycled fishnets for flooring. The seating fabric is made of recycled plastic bottles and wool fibers. Vegan leather is used throughout the interior, and gradually, Kia plans to reduce the use of animal leather in all vehicles. This ecological approach from Kia is something that even the Kia EV3 could benefit from.

AR-HUD

The EV3 could feature an advanced head-up display with Augmented Reality (AR) technology. The AR-HUD system projects 3D images of the key driving information like speed, navigation directions, and ADAS data onto the windshield.

Generative AI

Kia has confirmed that it will integrate generative AI technology into the EV3. Collaborating with leading generative AI model providers, Kia will use generative AI for schedule coordination, EV route optimization for efficiency, trip organization, on-the-go entertainment, and crucial emergency assistance – through interactions with the AI assistant.

Production

According to reports in the South Korean media, the upcoming Kia electric SUV, slotting below the Kia EV6, will be manufactured at the AutoLand Gwangmyeong production facility in South Korea. AutoLand Gwangmyeong houses two factories: Plant 1 and Plant 2. The EV9 is made at Plant 1, while the new electric SUV positioned below the EV6 will be manufactured at Plant 2.

TopElectricSUV.com saw a regulatory disclosure dated May 31, 2023, in which Kia confirmed it was going to convert AutoLand Gwangmyeong Plant 2 into a dedicated EV factory. The company said it will suspend production from June 1, 2023, till December 31, 2023, to make the necessary changes. On January 29, 2024, ET News released a report stating test operations will commence in February 2024.

In the future, AutoLand Gwangmyeong Plant 2 will manufacture two EVs. The production of the first model, which almost certainly will be the Euro-focused electric SUV covered in this story, reportedly begins in June 2024. As for the second, it’s expected to be a Forte-like electric sedan, wearing the Kia EV4 nameplate.

In fact, according to the ET News report dated January 29, 2024, Kia plans to make 80,000 units of EV3 annually in its South Korean factory. For the EV4, the company has set an annual production target of 70,000 units, which will bring its net annual EV output to 150,000 units. The EV4 will enter production a few months later, though, at the end of 2024.

From 2025, the European markets will likely source the new SUV positioned below the EV6 from Kia’s plant in Žilina, Slovakia. Kia has confirmed that it will manufacture small and mid-sized EVs in the Slovakia factory starting in 2025.

Release Date

Kia has confirmed that the EV3 SUV will be released in 2024. At the 2023 Kia EV Day held on October 12, 2023, CEO Ho Sung Song confirmed that the EV3 is planned for its domestic launch in the first half of 2024. This opens up the possibility of the EV3 arriving in the U.S. later in 2024.

Generative AI technology will debut in the 2024 EV3 model, with subsequent integration into the EV4 and EV5, and continuous enhancements via over-the-air updates.

Kia Corporation on October 12, 2023

Kia has said that every model in the EV series line will receive a GT variant, which opens the door for a future performance compact electric SUV like the Kia EV3 GT.

Kia America EV strategy

Kia plans to build an EV line-up of 15 models globally by 2027, CEO Ho Sung Song said at the 2023 CEO Investor Day on April 5, 2023. In his presentation for the event, he revealed that 9 of these would be SUVs.

Kia America plans to gradually expand its EV portfolio and the share of EVs in its sales. Eric Watson, Vice President – Sales Operations, Kia America, said that the company will launch one new EV every year until the end of the decade, Automotive News reported on June 17, 2022.

Eight EVs will be present in the Kia U.S. line-up by 2029, including the EV6 that went on sale in February 2022, the 2023 Niro EV that arrived in fall 2022, and the EV9 has just reached dealers. Watson said that Kia America wants EVs to constitute 30% of sales by the end of the decade and then increase their share to 50% in the early 2030s.

TopElectricSUV says

Being more expensive, and bigger than a compact SUV, the Kia EV6 leaves room for a high-riding model that’s smaller, economical, but one with advanced features. This is where the Kia EV3 will come into play, offering tech-savvy young buyers a no-compromise budget EV.

Kia EV3 FAQs

Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s exclusive render of the Kia EV3.