The 2025 KIA EV3 lands in Australia as a smart-sized, mostly front-wheel-drive electric SUV that promises big-car tech without the jumbo price tag. Built on Kia’s E-GMP platform, it uses either a 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh battery, a single 150 kW/283 Nm motor and claims up to 604 km WLTP range, enough to nip from Sydney to Coffs without a sweaty palms charging stop.
Pros and Cons
Pros: brisk off-the-line shove (0-100 km/h in about 7.5 sec), roomy second-row, proper vehicle-to-load socket for the camping kettle, Kia’s new AI voice assistant that actually picks an Aussie accent, and a $48,990 drive-away starting point that makes Tesla’s Model 3 look uppity.
Cons: no all-wheel drive yet, options list balloons the price, and some scratchy plastics lurk below knee level.
How Much Does It Cost?
Kia has four trims. The EV3 Air Standard Range kicks off at $48,990 drive-away, while the Air Long Range nudges $56,490. Spend $62,690 for the Earth Long Range or $68,490 for the leather-clad GT-Line. Western Australians pay about a grand more across the board thanks to local delivery costs.
Features and Benefits
Even the base Air brings a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 18-inch alloys, heat-pump pre-conditioning, and Kia’s clever vehicle-to-load outlet. Long-Range variants layer on an 81.4 kWh pack, bigger 12.3-inch cluster, synthetic-leather trim and a panoramic glass roof. GT-Line spices things up with relaxation seats, Bose audio and pixel-style LED headlights that make school-pickup car park chats way more interesting.
Safety
A full ANCAP rating is pending, but every 2025 KIA Ev3 ships with eight airbags, AEB with junction assist, adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, lane-centring, blind-spot view monitor and a crisp 360-degree camera. Road-edge detection kept the prototype neatly between Noosa’s painted lines on launch day, which bodes well for the star count.
Running Costs
The 58.3 kWh Air Standard Range averages about 14.5 kWh/100 km, meaning a sub-$5 charge on an off-peak home plan. Long Range versions sit closer to 16.8 kWh/100 km. Kia’s 7-year warranty extends to the battery, and service intervals are 12 months/15,000 km with capped-price servicing that undercuts Tesla and BYD by a couple of hundred dollars over five years. Pair that with free public charging credits for early adopters and out-of-pocket costs stay civil.
Comparison To Its Competitors
Against the BYD Atto 3, the KIA EV3 electric vehicle wins on warranty length and interior polish, though BYD claws back points with standard panoramic roof and slightly lower price. Tesla’s rear-drive Model 3 beats it for performance, but you pay roughly eight grand more and lose the tailgate practicality. MG’s updated ZS EV matches the EV3’s sticker but trails badly on range. In short, Kia has threaded the needle: more kit than the budget brigade, less cost than the premium crowd.
2025 KIA EV3 Review: Price, Specs, Interior Tour and On-Road Test
Conclusion
The 2025 KIA EV3 feels like the brand’s coming-of-age moment. It blends realistic WLTP range, punchy KIA EV3 performance, cabin tech that never talks down to you, and a price that keeps the mortgage broker calm. If your driveway needs an electric SUV that is just right rather than super-sized, this one deserves a top spot on the test-drive shortlist.
Rating: 8.4/10
After a week of suburban schleps, highway hauls, and one spirited hinterland loop, the 2025 KIA EV3 scores an 8.4 out of 10. A touch more suspension refinement and an all-wheel-drive option would nudge it higher, but as it stands, the EV3 remains a compelling, good-value entry into Australia’s EV landscape.
