National distributor is very probably a starter - but has yet to confirm intent.

ASSUMPTION Kia’s now unveiled electric rival to the Hyundai Kona, Volvo EX30 and BYD Atto 3 will come to New Zealand has yet to be wholly confirmed by the national distributor, however all the signs appear right.

One clue that the EV3 revealed overnight will be a certainty here is that Australia, with which the NZ franchise often shares product, has confirmed it is a starter for the small sports utility, with shipments expected to start in early 2025.

Kia NZ, for its part, has remained mum. Its involvement in the story so far has restricted to merely sending out international pack about the car, with no local comment included.

The EV3 is based on the Hyundai-Kia Group’s E-GMP modular electric vehicle platform and, like the next size up and similar-looking EV5 that is coming here before year-end, has a front-wheel-drive bias and a 400-volt charging architecture. Other EMP product already here are rear-drive and 800v.

There is conjecture cars for this part of the world might also share another commonality with EV5 - being manufactured in China, this to allow for better price parity with its Chinese rivals.

Also now raising thought is the future of the brand’s smallest current electric, the Niro, which bases on the same combustion-first platform as the Kona. 

Kia headquarters has said the Niro EV will continue to be sold alongside the EV3 in some markets, but has not been more specific. It has also, however, expressed thought that from now on the Niro hybrid will be of higher priority.

The EV3 production model bears close resemblance to a same-named concept Kia revealed last year. It also has similar styling to the Volvo, though Kia claims the EX30 - also produced in China - was not used as a benchmark.

Kia’s car will produce in standard and extended-range variants, the latter offering a WLTP-rated 600 kilometre driving range.

Standard range versions have a 58.3kWh battery pack, while the extended range steps up to an 81.4kWh unit with a claimed 10-80 percent charge time of 31 minutes. 

All versions have a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, allowing for a best 0-100kmh time of 7.5 seconds and a 170kmh top speed.

The larger battery car comes in a GT Line trim, pictured here, with Kia asserting a dual motor GT is in the works.

The EV3 measures 4300 millimetres long, 1850mm wide and 1560mm tall, with a 2680mm wheelbase. It has a 430-litre boot capacity – with a two-tier storage board allowing for 140 millimetres of load height flexibility – and a 25-litre front storage compartment. Kia claims “largest luggage space in its class” when those capacities are combined.

The five passenger cabin has a panoramic display with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a five-inch climate control display, and a CNNC infotainment system like the EV5, EV6 and EV9.

Other interior highlights include configurable ambient lighting, a fold-back relaxation mode for the front seats, a 12-inch head-up display and a Harman Kardon audio system.

The centre console incorporates a sliding table and storage area with a lower area which can store drinks, snacks, and small backpacks while personal electronic items such as laptops and tablets can be placed on the table when the vehicle is stationary.

The technical element stretches to support for a digital key and in-vehicle or outdoor vehicle-to-load and Kia says owners waiting for their EV3 to charge can watch videos from streaming services like Netflix and YouTube via LG’s WebOS Automotive Content Platform.

The EV3 also has a built-in generative artificial intelligence voice assistant based on a “heavily modified” version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

For all that reach into electronic involvement, the car retains some old-school design logics, in retaining physical controls for key functions like cruise control, entertainment, drive mode and navigation. It also has traditional wiper and indicator stalks and a column-mounted gear selector.

EV3 enters its home market in July, with Europe thereafter given priority amongst export destinations. Kia says it expects to sell 200,000 EV3s annually.