Preview: 2026 Kia EV3: A Stylish, Compact Electric Car With a Long Range
Kia’s upcoming EV will add another more affordable choice for EV buyers
If you’ve been waiting for a small electric vehicle with a long range, tons of style, and a price around $35,000, it might be worth waiting a little longer for the Kia EV3. Kia’s newest EV is small in size but big on looks and technology, and it’s coming to the U.S. as a 2026 model.
Most electric cars on the market right now are expensive luxury models. But along with new models from Mini, Fiat, and Volvo, the EV3 marks an upcoming wave of smaller, more affordable electric cars.
Size-wise, the EV3 is similar to the current Kia Soul and Kia Niro. We expect it to have a driving range of up to 350 miles depending on how it’s configured—Kia estimates about 372 miles between charges based on the WLTP testing standard, which tends to be more generous than how the EPA rates EVs.
Photo: Kia Photo: Kia
CR's Take
Most EVs on sale today have price tags that are out of reach for the average American consumer, so it’s good to see another relatively affordable electric car on the way. The EV3 also appears to build on the success of prior electric models from Kia and Hyundai, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV9, mixing style and technology into a practical package. We look forward to testing it.
Outside
Kia says the EV3 was designed with the philosophy of “Opposites United,” blending natural and modern forms into a harmonious whole. We think the slim front and rear lights, creased fenders and beltline, and contrasting trim make it look a lot like a mini EV9. Despite its relatively small size, the big, bold 19-inch wheels give it an illusion of height. As with other Kia models, an optional GT-Line trim will give the EV3 a more aggressive, sportier look.
Photo: Kia Photo: Kia
Inside
One benefit of vehicles designed from scratch to be electric, as opposed to models originally designed around gas powertrains, is that they tend to have extremely roomy interiors. That’s thanks to the positioning of the battery and motors, and the lack of a gas engine and conventional transmission. Like other electric models from Kia, including the EV6, there’s an open storage space between the front seats, including a slide-out tray. We haven’t seen the second row, but we expect there to be a flat floor back there. Kia says there’s 16 cu.-ft. of storage behind the rear seat and just under a cubic foot of storage space in the “frunk” under the hood. That’s a little less than the Kia Soul offers.
Photo: Kia Photo: Kia
Topped by two 12.3-inch screens, the dashboard and controls appear very similar to the EV9 SUV. We weren’t fans of that model’s overly complicated design choices, including the twist-action gear selector with built-in start button, dashboard-embedded infotainment shortcut buttons, and climate information hidden behind the steering wheel rim.
Other features include adjustable lighting, recycled fabric and plastic trim, a smartphone-as-key feature, and an infotainment system that’s designed to entertain occupants with downloadable apps and games while the car is charging. Drivers should be able to customize the infotainment system display, too. An AI-powered voice assistant will debut in Korea, although we don’t know if it will become available in the U.S.
Photo: Kia Photo: Kia
What Drives It
Kia says the EV3 will come in two variants. The Standard model gets a 58.3-kilowatt-hour battery, and the Long Range model gets an 81.4-kWh battery. Kia hasn’t shared the range of the standard model, but the automaker estimates that the Long Range will get about 372 miles of driving range, which likely translates to somewhere between 300 and 350 miles per charge based on the EPA’s method of testing EV range. According to the automaker, it can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent at a public DC fast charger in a little over half an hour. This is slower than we are used to seeing with other Kia models, which take about 20 minutes under ideal conditions. It also features V2L—or “vehicle-to-load”—technology, which allows owners to power small appliances using the car’s battery at campsites or during power outages.
Both models are front-wheel drive and use a single 150-kW electric motor. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph should be around 7.5 seconds. One-pedal driving is possible with adjustable regenerative braking technology.
The EV3 is built on the same E-GMP platform that underpins other new electric models from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, Kia EV6 and EV9, and Genesis GV60. So far, these vehicles have impressed us with their long ranges, roomy interiors, responsive handling, and quick acceleration.
The EV3 will likely be built in Korea, so it won’t qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.
Active Safety and Driver Assistance
Kia only shared specifics about the Korean-market EV3, but we expect to see features on the U.S. version such as automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic emergency braking, lane centering assistance, adaptive cruise control, and Kia’s Highway Driving Assist active driving assistance system.
