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.
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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.