Kia is leading the charge for electric vehicles in South Korea.
Kia has announced the specifications and pricing of its dedicated compact SUV electric vehicle, the Kia EV3, and will start taking orders nationwide from June 4.
The EV3 is Kia’s third dedicated electric vehicle following the first E-GMP-based electric vehicle EV6 in 2021 and the large-scale electrified flagship SUV EV9 launched in 2023.
Kia expects that the EV3 will provide a reasonable option in the domestic electric vehicle market, allowing more customers to experience electric vehicles and enhancing Kia’s position as a leading electrified brand.
The starting prices before electric vehicle tax benefits for the EV3 are as follows: Standard model ▲Air: 42.08 million KRW, ▲Earth: 45.71 million KRW, ▲GT Line: 46.66 million KRW; Long-range model ▲Air: 46.50 million KRW, ▲Earth: 50.13 million KRW, ▲GT Line: 51.08 million KRW.
After completing the registration for eco-friendly vehicles, Kia anticipates that the selling price of the EV3, taking the tax benefits into account, will start from 39.95 million KRW for the standard model and from 44.15 million KRW for the long-range model. Considering government and local subsidies, customers are expected to purchase the standard model in the early 30 million KRW range and the long-range model in the mid to late 30 million KRW range.
Kia plans to begin full-scale sales in July, following the expected completion of government department certification procedures.
Additionally, from June 4, Kia will launch the ‘e-Life Package’ for all its electric vehicles to encourage customers to use electric vehicles more easily and conveniently.
The e-Life Package is a dedicated program that bundles services needed throughout the electric vehicle ownership process, including charging, vehicle care, and used vehicle price guarantees. New services have been added in line with the EV3 contract launch, and some existing operational services have been revamped.
To facilitate convenient charging for customers, Kia offers: ▲ Installation support for chargers tailored to residential environments such as single and multi-family homes, ▲ Charging roaming services and subscription-based charging plans for easy and economical access to public electric vehicle charging stations, and ▲ An on-demand pickup charging solution that offers pick-up, charging, and delivery of the vehicle when emergency charging is needed.
Moreover, under the vehicle care program, services include: ▲ the ‘EV Safety Response Service,’ which safely moves the vehicle to the nearest charging station in case of emergencies like charging needs while driving, and ▲ ‘EV In-Body Care,’ which supports interior and glass replacement as well as detailing from July, in addition to the previously offered ‘EV Safety Care.’
Additionally, the ‘Used Vehicle Price Guarantee Program’ is prepared, which guarantees up to 60% of the residual value for a Kia EV purchased within three years after purchasing a new Kia vehicle.
(* For more detailed information about the e-Life Package, please refer to Kia Members and My Kia.)
Furthermore, customers who contract for the EV3 and receive it this year will benefit from the following: ▲ ‘E-Value Installment Plan,’ allowing a deferral of up to 60% of the vehicle cost until the maturity date, with monthly installments in the 200,000 KRW range (based on a 30% down payment including electric vehicle subsidies), and ▲ additional exclusive benefits for EV3 such as ‘Remote Diagnostic Service’ and ‘K Delivery Service’ along with the ‘EV Safety Response Service.’
(** For more details, please visit kia.com)
Various marketing events will also be held online and offline to experience the EV3.
Kia is collaborating with Disney to create a video featuring both the movie and the EV3, exhibiting the vehicle in cinemas and producing merchandise utilizing characters from , available for purchase at the Kia Car and Life Mall.
Additionally, through TV and digital media, the company will emphasize the various functions and conveniences of the EV3 under the theme ‘My Moving Infra,’ showcasing optimal infrastructure for individual lifestyles.
Also, there will be an invitation event called ‘EV3 Exclusive Preview’ on the 15th and 16th of this month, providing actual vehicle experience opportunities for customers recruited through last month’s ‘EV3 Early Check-in.’
From the 18th, an exhibition themed ‘EV3 in the Locker Room’ will be held at Kia Champions Field (located in Buk-gu, Gwangju), and from the 28th, there will be a dedicated exhibition space for the EV3 at the ‘2024 Busan Mobility Show’ taking place at Bexco, Haeundae-gu, Busan.
Jung Won-jeong, head of Kia’s domestic business division, stated, “With the start of contracts for the EV3, which offers excellent value for money and a reasonable price, we will continuously carry out various events that allow customers to experience the EV3 at various touchpoints. We expect that this will lead customers who have hesitated in purchasing electric vehicles to choose the EV3 without any concerns.”
The EV3 features a design that embodies both dynamism and practicality, based on Kia’s design philosophy, Opposites United.
It presents a dignified and strong front image through the Kia family look star map signature lighting and the vertical small cube projection LED headlights that form the ‘Tiger Face.’ The design cohesion is enhanced with auto flush door handles in the front row and hidden type handles in the second row.
The interior of the EV3 is designed to maximize space utilization and convenience to meet various customer usage needs.
▲ A panoramic wide display that integrates three screens: a 12.3-inch cluster, a 5-inch climate control screen, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system ▲ A 12-inch windshield-type head-up display ▲ Dynamic ambient lighting ▲ A double D-cut steering wheel enhance the driving space with the latest specifications.
Additionally, there’s a ‘sliding console table’ that can be extended forward by 120mm, along with 1st row relaxation comfort seats and 2nd row reclining seats, creating a cozy living space that feels just like home for all passengers.
Exterior color options for the EV3 include three new shades: Adventurine Green, Shale Gray, and Frost Blue, among a total of seven choices, while interior colors can be chosen from three options: Medium Gray, Light Gray, and Navy.
The EV3 GT line applies dedicated design elements like wing-shaped lower bumpers and charcoal & white interior colors to create a stronger and more adventurous atmosphere than the base model.
The EV3 is equipped with the E-GMP dedicated platform and 4th generation battery from Hyundai Motor Group. Kia operates the EV3 with a long-range model that has a battery capacity of 81.4 kWh and a standard model with a battery capacity of 58.3 kWh.
The maximum driving range on a single charge, certified by the Ministry of Industry using 17-inch wheels, is 501 km for the long-range model and 350 km for the standard model. When charged using a fast charger of 350 kW, it takes 31 minutes for the long-range model and 29 minutes for the standard model to charge from 10% to 80% battery.
(* Based on in-house testing standards)
To achieve the target driving range, Kia has optimized the airflow of the EV3 by applying ▲ 17-inch aerodynamic wheels ▲ wheel gap reducers ▲ bumper-integrated active air flaps ▲ side sill undercovers ▲ and 3D curved shape front and rear undercovers.
The front motor installed in the EV3 generates a maximum output of 150 kW and torque of 283 Nm. The combined efficiency is 5.4 km/kWh for the long-range model and 5.2 km/kWh for the standard model, each evaluated with 17-inch wheels and certified by the Ministry of Industry.
Moreover, the ‘i-Pedal 3.0’ functionality allows acceleration, deceleration, and stopping simply by using the accelerator pedal, activating at all stages of regenerative braking, making it Hyundai Motor Group’s first implementation, enhancing driving convenience and passenger comfort.
Additionally, features tailored for customer satisfaction include indoor/outdoor V2L capability to supply power in various situations, charging status indicators, and nighttime lighting added to the charging port positioned on the right front fender.
The ‘Kia AI Assistant,’ the first of its kind for Kia EVs, provides support for travel, vehicle use, and knowledge search, enabling seamless and intuitive two-way communication between the vehicle and customers based on natural language.
Furthermore, EV3 customers can access the Kia Connect Store to purchase offerings such as ▲ ‘Streaming Plus’ for high-quality music and video streaming ▲ ‘Arcade Games’ ▲ and ‘Display Themes’ for each NBA team, enabling vibrant infotainment experiences through the 12.3-inch infotainment display and Harman Kardon premium sound system.
In addition, the EV3 is equipped with features like ▲ wireless software updates for continuous updates on key vehicle functions ▲ built-in camera 2 ▲ Digital Key 2 ▲ wireless phone connectivity (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), ensuring the latest connectivity specifications.
Kia has secured collision safety performance for the EV3 through features such as ▲ a 9-airbag system ▲ expanded use of ultra-high-strength hot-stamping parts ▲ optimization of front structural components of the body ▲ and reinforcement of major materials and structures on the side of the body.
Moreover, it is the first in its class to implement ‘Steering Wheel Grip Detection,’ which recognizes grip state simply by touching the steering wheel, along with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like ▲ Highway Driving Assist 2 ▲ Lane Keeping Assist 2 ▲ Remote Smart Parking Assist ▲ and Rear Parking Collision Avoidance Assist, ensuring safe and convenient driving and parking for customers.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr