ev.nz summary
The short version
The EV3 is Kia's smallest electric SUV, 4.3m long with five seats. Two batteries are offered: 58.3kWh in the Light SR and 81.4kWh in every other trim, with up to 605km of WLTP range in the Light LR. Four trims are front-wheel drive; the GT adds a second motor and all-wheel drive.
Highlights
- Up to 605km WLTP range (Light LR)
- 5-star ANCAP rating (2025)
- 460L boot plus a 25L frunk
- 7-year / 150,000km vehicle warranty
- V2L interior socket and exterior adapter on every trim
- Named 2025 World Car of the Year
Worth knowing
- DC charging peaks at 100–128kW, slower than Kia's 800V models
- Heat pump only on GT-Line and GT
- Light SR tows just 500kg braked
- On-board AC charger is 10.5kW, so 11kW wallboxes run below full rate
- GT figures still subject to local inspection
This summary is based on Kia New Zealand specifications and ANCAP data, checked on 24 October 2026. It is not a road test: ev.nz has not driven this car and does not give it a score.
NZ line-up and pricing
| Trim | Price | Battery / drive | Range (WLTP) | 0–100 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light SR | $55,520 +ORC | 58.3kWh, FWD | 436km | 7.5s |
| Light LR | $62,220 +ORC | 81.4kWh, FWD | 605km | 7.7s |
| Earth | $69,220 +ORC | 81.4kWh, FWD | 563km | 7.9s |
| GT-Line | $75,220 +ORC | 81.4kWh, FWD | 563km | 7.9s |
| GT | $81,590 +ORC | 81.4kWh, AWD | 501km | 5.7s |
Overview
The Kia EV3 is the smallest SUV in Kia New Zealand's electric line-up, at 4,300mm long with five seats. ANCAP records that it arrived in New Zealand in April 2025. Five trims are listed: Light SR ($55,520), Light LR ($62,220), Earth ($69,220), GT-Line ($75,220) and GT ($81,590), all plus on-road costs.
The Light SR uses a 58.3kWh battery (gross) for 436km of WLTP range; the other trims use an 81.4kWh pack, giving 605km in the Light LR and 563km in Earth and GT-Line. All four use a 150kW, 283Nm front motor. The GT adds a rear motor for 215kW, 468Nm, all-wheel drive and 0–100km/h in 5.7 seconds, with 501km of range; Kia notes it is still to undergo local inspection.
Kia quotes 10–80% DC charging in about 29 minutes for the Light SR (up to 100kW) and 31 minutes for the long-range battery (up to 128kW). On a 50kW charger that takes 55 to 79 minutes, and a full 10–100% charge from an 11kW wallbox takes 5 hr 20 min to 7 hr 15 min through the 10.5kW on-board charger.
Boot space is 460L with the rear seats up (413L in the GT) and 1,251L folded, plus a 25L front boot. Every EV3 gets an interior V2L socket under the rear seat and an exterior V2L adapter. Braked towing is 500kg for the Light SR, 1,000kg for the long-range front-drive trims and 1,500kg for the GT.
The EV3 was named 2025 World Car of the Year. Kia New Zealand covers it with a 7-year / 150,000km vehicle warranty, an 8-year / 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty and five years of Kia Roadside Assist.
Range and charging
Charging times are Kia New Zealand figures; the shorter time in each range is the Light SR with the 58.3kWh battery. The on-board AC charger is rated at up to 10.5kW, so an 11kW wallbox cannot run at its full rating.
Gallery
Specifications
| Specification | Light SR | Light LR | Earth | GT-Line | GT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driven wheels | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Motor | Permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) | ||||
| Maximum power | 150kW | 150kW | 150kW | 150kW | 215kW |
| Maximum torque | 283Nm | 283Nm | 283Nm | 283Nm | 468Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.5s | 7.7s | 7.9s | 7.9s | 5.7s |
| Top speed | 170km/h | ||||
| Specification | Light SR | Light LR | Earth | GT-Line | GT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery (gross) | 58.3kWh | 81.4kWh | 81.4kWh | 81.4kWh | 81.4kWh |
| Battery type | Lithium-ion (NCM) | ||||
| Range (WLTP) | 436km | 605km | 563km | 563km | 501km |
| Energy consumption (combined) | 14.9 kWh/100km | 14.9 kWh/100km | 16.2 kWh/100km | 16.2 kWh/100km | 18.1 kWh/100km |
| Drag coefficient | 0.263 | 0.263 | 0.263 | 0.263 | 0.270 |
| Specification | Light SR | Light LR | Earth | GT-Line | GT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-board AC charger | Up to 10.5kW | ||||
| Ultra-fast DC, 10–80% | Approx. 29 min (100kW) | Approx. 31 min (128kW) | Approx. 31 min (128kW) | Approx. 31 min (128kW) | Approx. 31 min (128kW) |
| 50kW DC, 10–80% | Approx. 55 min | Approx. 79 min | Approx. 79 min | Approx. 79 min | Approx. 79 min |
| 11kW AC, 10–100% | Approx. 5 hr 20 min | Approx. 7 hr 15 min | Approx. 7 hr 15 min | Approx. 7 hr 15 min | Approx. 7 hr 15 min |
| Vehicle-to-load (V2L) | Interior socket and exterior adapter | ||||
| Specification | Light SR | Light LR | Earth | GT-Line | GT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length / width / height | 4,300 / 1,850 / 1,560mm | 4,300 / 1,850 / 1,560mm | 4,300 / 1,850 / 1,560mm | 4,310 / 1,850 / 1,570mm | 4,310 / 1,850 / 1,575mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,680mm | ||||
| Ground clearance | 140mm | 140mm | 140mm | 147mm | 153mm |
| Tare weight | 1,845kg | 1,930kg | 1,930kg | 1,930kg | 2,050kg |
| Seats | 5 | ||||
| Boot (seats up / folded, VDA) | 460L / 1,251L | 460L / 1,251L | 460L / 1,251L | 460L / 1,251L | 413L / 1,204L |
| Front boot (frunk) | 25L | ||||
| Towing (braked / unbraked) | 500kg / 500kg | 1,000kg / 750kg | 1,000kg / 750kg | 1,000kg / 750kg | 1,500kg / 750kg |
| Turning radius | 5.19m | ||||
| Wheels | 17" alloy | 17" alloy | 19" alloy | 19" alloy | 20" alloy |
| Spare | Temporary mobility kit | ||||
| Specification | Light SR | Light LR | Earth | GT-Line | GT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle warranty | 7 years / 150,000km | ||||
| High-voltage battery | 8 years / 160,000km | ||||
| Roadside assistance | 5 years Kia Roadside Assist | ||||
Specifications from Kia New Zealand's EV3 range and specifications page, checked 24 October 2026. Kia notes the EV3 GT is still to undergo local inspection, so its figures may change. Battery capacities are gross figures as published by Kia New Zealand.
Equipment
Standard on every EV3
- Twin 12.3" screens with satellite navigation
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Kia Connect with over-the-air updates
- Dual-zone climate control
- i-Pedal one-pedal driving with paddle-adjustable regeneration
- Interior V2L socket and exterior V2L adapter
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Highway Driving Assist and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- 25L front boot (frunk)
- Seven airbags including a front centre-side airbag
Earth adds
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- 12-inch colour head-up display
- Heated front seats and heated steering wheel
- Composite leather trim and power driver's seat
- Wireless phone charger
- Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Remote Smart Parking Assist
- Rear privacy glass
GT-Line adds
- GT-Line 19-inch alloy wheels and styling
- Heat pump
- Ventilated front seats, driver memory seat
- Harman Kardon 8-speaker audio
- Power tailgate
- Cube-projection LED headlights and full LED tail-lights
- Ambient mood lighting
GT adds
- Dual-motor AWD: 215kW / 468Nm, 0–100 km/h in 5.7s
- Electronically controlled suspension
- 20-inch alloy wheels and larger brakes
- Suede and composite leather seats with Neon Green accents
- Power sunroof
- 1,500kg braked towing
Safety
Kia New Zealand lists seven airbags on every EV3, including a front centre-side airbag and curtain airbags for both rows, plus Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction turning/crossing), Lane Keep and Lane Follow Assist, Blind-Spot and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and a driver monitoring camera.
Sources and verification
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 24 October 2026. Specs that could not be confirmed have been left out.
- Kia New Zealand: EV3 overview Line-up, warranty, World Car of the Year 2025
- Kia New Zealand: EV3 range and specifications Prices, performance, battery, charging, dimensions, equipment
- Kia New Zealand: EV3 features Charging, V2L, head-up display
- Kia EV3 brochure (PDF)
- ANCAP: Kia EV3 safety rating 5 stars, 2025
- Kia New Zealand: warranty and roadside assist Warranty programme by model
Note: ANCAP's rating page says its 5-star (2025) rating applies to all EV3 variants; Kia New Zealand's specification table lists the GT as "Unrated" while it awaits local inspection. Prices exclude on-road costs and can change; check with Kia New Zealand before buying.
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