Kia’s most important of 2024
This year, Kia is introducing an important new electric model for Koreans: the EV3. This will be a tough competitor to the Peugeot e-2008 and Volvo EX30 and has already been caught on Dutch soil. We would like to thank AutoWeek reader Rik Heymans for the submitted photos. Rick: thank you!
During a major event in October last year, Kia pulled back the curtain on three brand new study models: the Concept EV3, Concept EV4 and the Concept EV5. The Concept EV3 was perhaps the most important of the three. With that design study, Kia looked ahead to the – you would expect it – EV3. This will be an electric crossover, which enters a tough battlefield, especially in Europe: that of the compact electric crossover. Thanks to AutoWeek reader Rik Heymans, we can show you the Kia EV3 in a packed test suit, photographed in our own Netherlands.
The Kia Concept EV3.
With the Kia EV3, the Koreans are focusing more strongly than ever on the compact electric crossover market. The brand is of course already active in this with the electric variants of the Niro. The Niro is also available with hybrid powertrains, the EV3 will be a real member of Kia’s EV model line and this means that it has been developed entirely as an electric model. In terms of EV capabilities, that probably makes it even more capable than the electric variants of the Niro.
The interior of the Kia Concept EV3.
The Kia Concept EV3 looked as if it could go into production without major adjustments and the test sample photographed in Amsterdam proves that few elements of the study model do not make the transition to the production model. The lighting undergoes subtle changes at the front and rear and the side mirrors have been replaced by more conventional ones.
For the first time, we can show you a large part of the final interior of the EV3. Here we see significant differences with what the Concept EV3 showed, although little changes in the design. The EV3 has a slightly more conventional panel, but apparently still consists of two displays. Below the display of the infotainment system there appears to be a module with touch-sensitive buttons. Nice detail: the vertical decorative elements on the door panels seem to have reached the production stage.
For the EV3, Kia gave an expected European starting price of around €33,000. It therefore seems to be more affordable than the electric Niro. Kia will unveil the EV3 this year.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl