Kia EV3 launches in US from $29,890, becoming brand's cheapest EV

Kia has positioned the EV3 aggressively for its delayed US market launch. At $29,890 before the $1,495 destination charge, the entry-level version undercuts the $35,000 starting price Kia had previously targeted and becomes the brand’s cheapest electric car in the country.

The base EV3 Light uses a 58.3 kWh battery and a 150 kW front-mounted electric motor. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates this version at 221 miles (356 kilometres), almost exactly matching Kia’s previous estimate of 220 miles.

All other versions receive the 81.4 kWh battery. In combination with front-wheel drive, it provides up to 321 miles (517 kilometres) of EPA range. The all-wheel-drive variants reach 280 miles (451 kilometres) and produce a combined 195 kW. At the top of the range, the EV3 GT increases output to 215 kW and 468 Nm and adds simulated gear shifts and an active sound system.

Kia quotes ten-to-80-per-cent DC charging times of 29 minutes for the smaller battery and 31 minutes for the larger pack. The EV3 is based on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP architecture, but unlike the EV6 and EV9, it uses a 400-volt system. During our EV3 Long Range test drive in Europe, the 81.4 kWh version briefly exceeded its stated 128 kW peak charging power and maintained more than 120 kW until around 70 per cent state of charge.

For North America, Kia equips all versions with a NACS port, giving drivers access to compatible Tesla Superchargers without an adapter. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) and Kia’s i-Pedal 3.0 one-pedal driving system are also standard.

There are five trim levels. The Light starts at $29,890, followed by the Wind at $34,990 and Land at $38,490. The GT-Line costs from $43,490 and the GT from $45,890, in each case excluding the destination charge. All-wheel drive is standard on the GT-Line and GT and costs an additional $3,200 on the Wind and Land.

There is also an important production angle to the North American launch. As reported at the end of July, Kia began producing the EV3 at its existing Pesquería plant in Nuevo León, Mexico, on 4 August. Mexico is the EV3’s second production location after South Korea, although Kia has not confirmed that the US-market vehicles will come from the Mexican plant.

Kia is initially assembling the EV3 in Mexico with a local content share of 27 per cent, with high-value components such as the battery still imported from Asia. The manufacturer plans to increase local content over time as it expands EV production in the country.

kia.com, electrek.co, insideevs.com