I've just spent an hour at the wheel of a new Kia EV3, widely considered to be one of the best new electric cars you can buy.
It's not my cup of cha; I'm not in the market for an electric car, so I'm unlikely to drop upwards of thirty-three grand on a new one. But on the evidence of my brief drive on the rural roads near Newbury, I can see why it's so highly regarded.
Google ‘Kia EV3 review’ and you're presented with a list of glowing endorsements, including a five-star review from What Car? and a 10/10 rating from Electrifying.com. The sort of websites you should be using if you're about to sign up for a lengthy PCP deal.
But here's the thing: I think the Kia EV3 is to family cars in 2025 what the original Nissan Qashqai was when it arrived in 2007. Yes, nearly two decades have passed since the modern-day crossover hit the streets and, quite literally, changed the shape of the family car.
Firstly, like it or not, electric cars are in vogue. We're being pushed into a cul-de-sac by legislation and taxation, with our overloads hoping that we'll ditch our petrol and diesel cars in favour of something electric. We won't, of course, but others will.
And those people – your friends and neighbours who don't love cars – should take a look at the Kia EV3. It could be a rival to the Volvo EX30 – a car I enjoyed ‘owning’ for a week.
Here are some basic facts. Prices range from £33,000 for the Air with a 58.3kWh battery, rising to £44,000 for the GT-Line S with a 81.4kWh battery and heat pump. The official range is between 270 miles and 375 miles, depending on the model, while an 80 percent charge should take around 30 minutes. Up to 125 miles of range can be added in 15 minutes, which is enough time to down a Big Mac meal on the way home from wherever it is you've been.
Decent prices for an electric SUV with space for the family, realistic range estimates, lots of kit and a long warranty. There are cheaper electric cars, but far too many of them are as exciting as a Soviet bus shelter and as appealing as a genital wart.
Styling is subjective, but the EV3 looks good, especially if you choose the optional Frost Blue metallic paint (£625). One chap emerged from the hotel as I was taking some photos and told me it “looks beautiful”. A stretch, perhaps, but if Joe or Joanne Bloggs like the design, it should pass the driveway or office car park test. I'd take a rain check on the ‘EV03 FUN’ reg plates, though.
Is it FUN? No. The instant acceleration is impressive, and a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds for the 81.4kWh Air model is decent, but the sprint is surprisingly joyless. I know I'm a dinosaur, but acceleration has to be accompanied by engine noise and a manual gearbox. Without them, you feel detached from the experience – little more than a passenger.
The interior is a mixed bag. There's as much grey plastic as you'll find in a Kia Magentis, and while it's not as funky and airy as an EX30, there are some neat touches. The seat upholstery is made from recycled PET fabric (polyethylene terephthalate), which is more appealing than leather and not to be confused with recycled pets (which would be odd).
There are some niggles, including the strange position for the start/stop button, the twist-type dial for the gear selector, and the heated seat and heated steering wheel buttons on the driver's door, but these would cease to be ‘issues’ once you've lived with the car for a few days.
It's worth remembering that this is a ‘review’ based on a very brief drive. Just an hour with the car, which included five minutes trying to start the thing, a few minutes stuck in traffic caused by a collision on the M4, and a dozen or so minutes taking photos.
But it's while I was stuck in traffic that I appreciated the relaxed ambiance and the fact that I wasn't consuming any fuel. The digital display is packed with features – far too many for me to discover in an hour – and, praise be, Kia has included several physical buttons for the primary functions. The ‘Hey Kia’ voice control worked well, too.
There's space for three adults in the back, aided by the flat floor, while the boot looks large enough for the luggage required for a family holiday. Google tells me it has 460 litres of space, which is two litres more than you'll find in a Laguna III hatchback. Look, I'm trying to make this relevant for you.
A third-generation Renault Laguna will be a cheaper and more satisfying car to buy (albeit without the safety net of Kia's seven-year warranty), but your neighbours aren't into French tat. They want something to get them from A to B, without going via C. A car that will deliver zero hassle, be easy to drive, and will look good when queuing at the Costa drive-thru.
The Kia EV3 ticks all of these boxes and more. In Air trim, the list of standard equipment is generous and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, heated seats, heated steering wheel, climate control, 12.3-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12.3-inch driver display, four USB-C charging ports, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, and a full suite of active and passive driver assistance systems, the likes of which you won't find on an old Laguna.
Maybe the EV3 isn't like the Qashqai after all. While the Nissan sparked the slow death of the family hatchback, spawning countless crossover copycats, the Kia is just another electric crossover vying for your attention. It's not revolutionary or ground-breaking, just a fine example of one of the most popular types of car in Europe.
Go away and read a proper review of the Kia EV3, but on the evidence of my brief drive, it needs to be on your shortlist if you're in the market for an electric family SUV. Me? I'm creating an eBay alert for a Kia Magentis...
