Kia Australia will be introducing its most affordable electric vehicle (EV) yet during the early stages of 2025.
The 2025 Kia EV3 will arrive in local showrooms during the first quarter of next year, the company’s local arm has confirmed with CarExpert, becoming the fourth EV-badged dedicated electric Kia after the EV6, EV9 and incoming EV5.
CarExpert is also attending the international media drive in Seoul, South Korea, in early September ahead of an Australian market launch in the new year.
Earlier this week Kia announced pricing and specifications for the UK-market EV, potentially pointing to a sharp starting price when it lands in Australian showrooms.
The EV3 is available in the UK in three distinct trim levels and with two battery options, with pricing starting from £32,995 (AUD $64,837), and topping out at £42,835 (AUD $84,173) for the top-spec GT-Line S with Heat Pump.
While direct conversions may make that sound ridiculously expensive, it’s the positioning within the lineup that offers a more accurate indication of how the EV3 might be priced when it reaches Australia.
The base EV3 starts for less money than the most affordable auto-equipped Sportage in the UK, which is a mid-spec model that comes as standard with a 48V mild-hybrid system.
In Australia, the mid-tier Sportage SX+ starts from $42,050 plus on-road costs with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and front-wheel drive, climbing to $47,450 with the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with all-wheel drive. Should the EV3 follow similar positioning to the UK-spec model, the starting price in Australia could dip below $50,000.
That will put the EV3 in contention with a number of affordable Chinese EVs, including the BYD Atto 3 (from $44,499), MG 4 (from $39,990 D/A) and the China-sourced Tesla Model 3 (from $54,900). Unlike those EVs, the EV3 will be produced at Kia’s Sohari plant in Gwangmyeong, South Korea.
Measuring 4300-4310mm long, 1850mm wide and 1560mm tall on a 2680mm wheelbase, the Kia EV3 has a similar footprint to something like the Kia Seltos, though it’s shorter in length and wider than the combustion-powered SUV.
In the UK, the base 2025 Kia EV3 Air comes with the ‘Standard Range’ 58.3kWh battery and a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, good for a claimed WLTP combined driving range of 267 miles (429 kilometres).
An additional £3000 (AUD $5895) buys you the 81.4kWh ‘Long Range’ battery pack which boosts claimed driving range to a significant 372 miles (598 kilometres).
Only the base Air offers both battery options, with GT-Line and GT-Line S grades in the UK coming as standard with the Long Range unit.
Read more about the UK-market pricing and specifications here.
Would you buy the Kia EV3 for $50,000? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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