Across the Atlantic, the cheapest all-electric Kia is the EV2, which starts around the $31,000 mark, but it’s too small for American buyers, so today at the New York International Auto Show, Kia has revealed the stylish new 2027 EV3. The automaker calls it a “right-sized all-electric entry SUV,” and with up to 320 miles of range and a native NACS port opening up access to most charging stations, it seems like a decent runaround. All-wheel drive is also available, so it can be used in the winter, and with a downsized take on the EV9‘s styling, it’s a handsome little EV. Let’s take a closer look.
2027 Kia EV3: Five Flavors to Choose From
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The 2027 Kia EV3 will be offered in five trim levels: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT, with the latter offering more performance. The 400-volt E-GMP platform provides a standard-range 58.3 kWh battery for the base, front-wheel-drive Light trim, delivering up to 220 miles according to Kia’s estimates, or a long-range 81.4 kWh battery for the others, which can have AWD and provide up to 320 miles of range. This is helped by an active air flap in the front bumper and a flat underbody cover, resulting in a drag coefficient of 0.275. Kia hasn’t said how much power the base model produces, but AWD models make 261 hp, and the EV3 GT jumps to 288 hp. This trim also offers a virtual gear shift system and active sound design to make the EV experience more engaging. The GT also provides sportier suspension and steering setups, but all trims have Macpherson struts in front and a multi-link design at the back.
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DC fast charging refills the base 58.3 kWh battery from 10-80 percent in around 29 minutes, while the 81.4 kWh battery in the other trims takes two minutes longer. As an EV, Kia has given the EV3 its i-Pedal 3.0 system for one-pedal driving, which can bring the car to a complete stop without touching the brake. This recuperates energy and can work in reverse, too. The EV3 is also useful as a power source, with Vehicle-to-Load and Vehicle-to-Home functionality via a Wallbox.
2027 Kia EV3: Small Car, Big Screens
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Just like the 2027 Seltos revealed concurrently, the EV3 gets a pair of 12.3-inch screens alongside each other (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and available Netflix and YouTube streaming), complemented by a 5.0-inch climate display. Below this, an open center console with retractable cupholders provides a place to store pocket fillers. Heated and ventilated front seats are available, while the rear seatbacks can recline up to 39 degrees. When there’s nobody sitting back there, the rear seats fold flat in a 60/40 split, creating a cargo area with 56.5 cubic feet of volume. Keep those seats in place, and you have a decent 26.1 cubes, plus a 0.9 cubic feet in the frunk.
A power liftgate that can automatically open using the Smart Key is also available, and the opening speed and height of this are customizable through the infotainment system. Speaking of the key, Digital Get 2.0 not only lets your smartphone lock/unlock the car and turn the EV3 on, but also share vehicle access with others via text, meaning they don’t need your key to borrow your car.
Related: Kia’s Cheapest Sedan and Flagship EV Both Just Won Top Safety Awards
Naturally, the GT-Line and GT models need to feel special inside, so the former gets a three-spoke steering wheel, metal pedals, and off-white two-tone seats, while the latter gets bucket seats and neon green accents in the seatbelts, steering wheel, and interior trim. Multicolor ambient lighting is also available, as is a 12-inch head-up display, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless device charging, a surround-view camera, and a connected garage door closer.
2027 Kia EV3: Safety and Other Highlights
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As standard, the EV3 comes with eight airbags, and like the aforementioned Seltos, Kia also offers forward collision avoidance assist with junction turning and junction crossing aids, a highway driving assist system, reverse collision avoidance assist, and remote smart parking assist. Other noteworthy features include customizable interior dash themes from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic, Star Wars, the NBA, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Pricing, however, is not something Kia is ready to share this early in the year, with that to follow closer to the EV3’s on-sale date sometime in late 2026. Hopefully, this will be cheap enough that we barely notice the absence of the EV2.
