Cute cubism delivers with strong claimed range, capacity credentials.

SQUARE-edged now comes in small - Kia has unboxed its latest electric vehicle, the compact EV3.

Expected to arrive around April next year - this based on Australia market timing, Kia NZ having yet to say anything -  with price and specifications yet to be shared, the EV3 is an important car.

Similar in size to the internal combustion-powered Seltos and electrified - but not fully electric - Niro crossover within the Kia showroom, it will more importantly stand as the cheapest electric Kia will have here.

While the local distributor will be keen to see the new EV market lift from the doldrum, it might also be heartened that this product shapes up well against the BYD Atto 3, a darling of the EV sector here until everything went bad this year. 

The similarities are not just in general dimension but, according to Kia South Korea, could well show with price-matching as well. This for a Kia that is vastly more modern and has a strong specification and a potentially more promising drivetrain.

With strong LED lighting signatures and boxy proportions, those who have seen it suggest you could be forgiven for thinking it’s just an EV9 that shrunk in the wash.

Kia is going big on explaining the car as being a compact at the kerbside - with a length of 4300mm, 1850mm wide and 1560mm height - that is large on the inside, with what it is touring a segment-busting cargo capacity plus a huge WLTP driving range, of up to 605 kilometres.

In respect to the first, it has 460 litres of claimed volume available with the rear seats in place and 1250 litres with them folded. There’s also a 25 litre frunk.

EV3 is just at the start of its development path. For instance, media taken to Seoul, South Korea, last week were only shown single motor types. An all-wheel-drive dual motor is still being worked up. Also, the GT-Line seen here is the highest spec at the moment. However, there is talk of a GT.

At launch, the Kia EV3 is available with one single-motor electric drivetrain with the option of two lithium ion battery sizes, 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh. Power is 150kW and torque is 283Nm. Zero to 100km cites in 7.5s for the standard range, climbing by 0.2s for the long range. The standard range is said to clock 436 kilometres on a charge, the LR will go for 605km, the brand says. It has yet to share an official energy consumption average. The maximum DC recharge rates at 102kW and 128kW.

EV3 lifts the dual-screen array with central touch panel from the larger EV9; so a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen feature, sandwiching a 5.3-inch touch panel for the climate controls.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are expected to feature on NZ models; a Kia Connect subscription with app-based remote services and functionality is also being talked about for this part of the world, according to press reports.

The GT-Line’s equipment includes Premium Relaxation Seat that electrically slides and reclines like a lounge or armchair.

Amenities include an available vehicle-to-load (V2L) outlet under the rear seat to charge a laptop or another appliance.

Other features include rear air vents, a folding centre armrest with cupholders, as well as heated outer rear seats on higher models heated and ventilated front seats.