Comparison test: Kia EV3

DW (English)

Compact electric SUVs are an increasingly popular segment, with models boasting longer ranges and also more sustainable materials. REV checks out KIA's EV3 in comparison with its direct rivals: the VW ID.3 and Volvo's EX30.

Transcript

00:00This is the all-new Kia EV3, a compact electric SUV that aims to snatch buyers from VW ID.3,

00:17Volvo EX30 and alike in that segment.

00:20But can it actually compete?

00:22We'll find out right now.

00:23Welcome to Rev.

00:25Compact SUVs are an extremely popular segment as they offer a decent amount of space while

00:29still being small enough to fit in a lot of parking spaces.

00:33The EV3 is driven by a 150 kilowatt, 204 horsepower electric motor which sits at the front axle

00:42which is rather unusual if you compare that to Volvo EX30 or VW ID3 where the motor is

00:51at the rear and therefore those are rear wheel driven.

00:54But to be fair, talking about a power output of around 150 kilowatts, it doesn't matter

01:01whether your motor is at the front or at the rear.

01:06VW's ID3 has been on the market since 2019 and has recently received an update.

01:14It's currently available from around 33,300 Euros.

01:20The Volvo EX30 is still pretty new, having come onto the market at the end of 2023.

01:26The cheapest version starts at just under 40,000 Euros.

01:35There are two different battery sizes, 58 or 81 kilowatt hours and 81 kilowatt hours

01:42is rather big for that compact segment.

01:45If you compare that to EX30 or ID3, those have a little smaller battery.

01:55The Kia can reach up to 436 kilometers according to WLTP while the Volvo is already finished

02:04after 100 kilometers less, so 336, something around that.

02:10And the ID3 has around 50 kilometers less than the Kia.

02:15All of these figures are for the entry level versions.

02:19The recuperation of the EV3 can be adjusted with the pedals behind the steering wheel.

02:27Three different levels are possible, one, two, three, and those feel quite different

02:33in terms of deceleration.

02:35At the max level, you can move the car in one pedal drive.

02:40Of course, it won't completely stop, but if you drive carefully and look ahead, then

02:46it should be no problem.

02:53Unlike its bigger brothers, the EV6 and EV9, the EV3 is not based on 800 volts technology

03:02but regular 400 volts just as its competitors in that segment.

03:08And that is one of the reasons that Kia is able to offer the car for that price.

03:12But that also means that in terms of charging, it is not as fast as its brothers.

03:20It is comparable to the Volvo or the ID3.

03:25You have around half an hour of charging from 10% to 80% no matter if you have the big or

03:30the small battery.

03:36What's good with the EV3 is that the heat pump comes as standard and that's especially

03:42interesting for colder markets, just as Germany, and that way you won't use too much energy

03:48to keep your car warm during the winter.

03:52The top of the range EV3 and ID3 have a maximum range of 605 kilometers, but the Kia costs

03:5941,400 euros and the VW almost 6,000 more.

04:04The interior of the EV3 looks quite different from most other cars nowadays because it uses

04:12a lot of recycled materials.

04:13You can see that this one right here, just like this one, and others are made from recycled

04:21materials.

04:28You have these touch shortcuts for the most important functions.

04:32Then you have two 12.3-inch displays and a little 5.5-inch display in the middle for

04:38climate control.

04:40But don't worry, the climate can also be controlled down here, at least you can adjust the temperature

04:46and the ventilation, which is very good because that way you can feel the buttons without

04:53actually having to look at them.

04:55If you were to use that touch screen right here, it is somewhat hidden behind the steering

05:02wheel, at least if you're the driver.

05:04Of course, if you're a co-driver, then you can easily see it, but maybe it's not as easy

05:08to reach it as you will have to lean over.

05:16The steering wheel looks okay, it's not exactly my style, but it has some kind of a boxy design

05:23that the car in general has, so that fits together.

05:27In the center you will find that console here that you can move to the front, that way you

05:34will have a little more space.

05:36Right down here you will find nothing, as there is no storage space back here, which

05:43is a little sad.

05:45But on the upside you have a lot of storage space down here, also two cup holders that

05:50you can open and close, depending on whether you need them or not, wireless charging for

05:56your smartphone.

05:57What I have to say, though, is the charging spot is quite low in the car.

06:02I could imagine that Kia did this on purpose because, at least in Germany, you're not allowed

06:09to touch your phone while driving, and that way you won't be tempted to touch it.

06:16Furthermore, you have two USB-C sockets.

06:21The problem I see with that is, if you have your smartphone wirelessly charging in the

06:27center, then you cannot add a second smartphone to that.

06:31So you will have to put that down here, which means the cable will go above your other smartphone,

06:37around your cup or bottle or anything, and that doesn't really look very tidy.

06:46Considering this is a 4.3-meter SUV, so rather compact, the space in the back is quite ample.

06:54You have a lot of legroom.

06:56The seat is adjusted to me sitting in the front.

07:04A nice feature the EV3 has is the route guidance that will keep an eye on your battery level.

07:11So whatever destination you set in the navigation system, it will tell you how many percent

07:17you will have left when you reach that.

07:19And if you can't reach that with the current battery level, then it will add charging stops

07:26along the route and tell you how long you need to charge.

07:29That is no new feature in itself, but it's cool to see that in the compact SUV segment.

07:35The EV3 has a huge array of driver assistance systems, and the most annoying one is the

07:49speed warning.

07:50Of course, that is true for most modern cars nowadays, and with some of these, you will

07:56have to search for the option to deactivate the sound in the menus, and that is not good.

08:03But Kia has a clever solution to that.

08:06If you keep the mute button for the radio pressed, then the speed limit warning sounds

08:14will be disabled, and only those.

08:16So you will still be warned if you drive over the line or don't pay attention.

08:25The entry-level price for the Kia EV3 is just under 36,000 euros in Germany, which places

08:33it basically between the Volvo and the ID.3.

08:37The ID.3 is a little cheaper, therefore has a little less power and also a little less

08:43range, and the Volvo is a little more expensive, has way more power, but also way less range.

08:56The thing that is always good about Kia cars is their rather long warranty.

09:01For seven years, 150,000 kilometers, depending on what you reach first.

09:07If you compare that, for example, to Volvo, those offer five years or 150,000 kilometers,

09:14which is also okay, and VW only has two years, though you have to admit that VW gives a separate

09:22warranty on the battery that it won't fall below 70% of its capacity within 160,000 kilometers,

09:31and that is also quite good.

09:38Summing up my EV3 experience, I have to say the car is quite comfortable.

09:43It has a lot of clever features, and even in the base version, it offers a lot of standard

09:48equipment, which is good.

09:50The entry-level price, just under 36,000 euros, which is around the same price you

09:55pay for any other car in that segment.

09:58So if the boxy design doesn't repel you, it might just be the car for you.

10:04On the plus side, the Kia EV3 can score points with its usage of sustainable materials, a

10:10good range, its spaciousness, the vehicle-to-load function, and the easy operation of most of

10:15the features on the interior.

10:18The only negative issues are the absence of stowage space under the armrest in the center

10:22and insufficient space for smartphone charging right next to the USB sockets.

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