2025 KIA EV3 Light Review

Kia has yet another new electric vehicle on sale in the form of the EV3. It was recently crowned the World Car of the Year. So what’s all the fuss about?

If there is a brand that doesn’t seem to put a foot wrong lately it is Kia. Not content with doing very well in the ‘traditional’ vehicle space with a solid range of competent and interesting enough models in most segments, it has simply outdone every other brand in the market on the breadth of its EV offerings. And it now has a new, small(ish) offering in the form of the EV3. 

We’ve been driving the Light LR 2WD, the second model up the ladder and probably the one that’ll suit the most buyers. It pairs the long-range battery with a relatively basic trim – not fancy, but not stripped out either – and comes in at $62,990 before any deals. So, what’s it like to live with? Turns out, pretty easy.

Looks compact, feels bigger

At 4.3m long and riding on 17-inch wheels, the EV3 slots neatly into the compact SUV category, but Kia’s done a solid job of stretching the space inside. It genuinely feels bigger than it looks. There’s good visibility, a nice upright seating position, and a dash layout that doesn’t try too hard. The vibe is light, clean and calm.

Materials lean toward the durable and sustainable. Expect some hard plastics but they’re offset by a sense of quality. The twin 12.3-inch screens across the dash join up to form a wide slab of info and control and there’s an extra five-inch touch panel for HVAC settings. 

There is also plenty of storage in the front, with a large tub/tray between the seats and decent sized door pockets. A small design line running through the dash looks like it can hold small items, but really can’t. 

The rear seat space is generous, though not class-leading. Adults will fit but knees may brush the front seatbacks if everyone’s tall. The boot, though, is a decent 460 litres, with a smart double-floor set-up and a bonus 25-litre frunk up front.

Drives better than you’d expect

The real surprise comes once you get moving. With an 81.4kWh NCM battery under the floor and a 150kW/283Nm motor up front, you’d expect the EV3 to feel heavy. But it doesn’t. That battery chemistry pays off with lower weight, and the EV3 feels far more agile than its spec sheet suggests.

Kia’s done some good work here. The car feels light on its feet, with quick steering and tidy body control. The MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension combo helps keep things settled and while it’s no hot hatch, it’s happy on a winding road. Kia’s selective frequency dampers (shared with the EV9) seem to do the job.

Acceleration is smooth rather than punchy (0–100km/h in 7.7 seconds) but it’s quick enough for anything New Zealand traffic can throw at it. There’s a full set of regen modes via steering paddles, including a proper one-pedal setting that works well in stop-start.

Easygoing day-to-day

There’s a simplicity to the EV3 that makes it easy to live with. The column-mounted shifter is intuitive and out of the way. The Kia Connect app means you can pre-condition the cabin, check the charge status or even lock and unlock it remotely. Handy stuff if it’s a shared family vehicle or you simply hate cooking inside after a trip to the beach.

Range? Officially up to 605km WLTP. Real-world? More like 500–550km depending on how and where you’re driving. That’s still seriously useful for a city-sized SUV. And the range estimate in the cluster is one of the more accurate we’ve seen.

Charging is also fuss-free. Plug into a 128kW DC charger and you’ll see 10–80 per cent in around 31 minutes. At home on an 11kW wallbox, expect around seven hours for a full charge, which suits overnight top-ups perfectly.

One niggle (and it’s a personal one) is the start button. It is not in a great position, at the base of the shifter and in a car with this much tech, it seems like the kind of thing that should’ve been phased out by now. Why not just get in and go?

All the right gear

As the “Light” spec name implies, this isn’t the flashiest EV3. You miss out on things like heated seats, power adjustment and some of the advanced aids found in the Earth and GT-Line models. The biggest items we miss are wireless charging and a powered tailgate.

But the basics are all there. Forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise, high beam assist, parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard. So is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, albeit still wired, and four USB-C ports for devices.

It’s worth noting the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability is standard across the range too – both inside (via a three-pin socket in the back) and externally with the included adapter. Whether you’re inflating a paddleboard, boiling a jug or powering tools, it’s handy and becoming a must-have on new EVs.

Not just a stepping stone

Kia wants the EV3 to be more than a “starter EV,” and it mostly succeeds. The build quality is solid, the ride and refinement are excellent and the range is downright greedy. It feels more mature than the average small SUV, yet it’s not trying to be something it’s not. No gimmicks, no weird seats, no intrusive noises. Just a sorted, approachable EV.

If you want more bling or kit, the Earth and GT-Line models are there. But honestly? The Light LR does nearly everything right and you’ll have money left in your pocket. 

Can you get more for less with other brands? Potentially, but buttonless tech rocketships or vehicles from entirely new brands simply aren’t for everyone.

Verdict

The EV3 Light LR isn’t exciting in a headline-grabbing sense but drive it, live with it and you quickly realise it doesn’t need to be. Kia’s quietly nailed the brief here: give people a practical, efficient, easy-to-drive EV that doesn’t overwhelm with tech or drain the wallet. For drivers wanting something compact yet capable, modern but not overcomplicated, this could be the sweet spot of the Kia EV range. And as small SUVs go, EV or otherwise, it sets a high bar.  

EV3 Light LR 2WD
$62,220  /  14.9kWh/100km  /  0g/km
0-100 km/h 7.7s
Motor output  150kW
Max torque  283Nm
Battery  81.4kWh
Range  605km
Drivetrain  Single-speed auto / FWD
Front suspension  Mac strut / swaybar
Rear suspension  Multilink / swaybar
Turning circle  10.4m (2.5 turns)
Front brakes  Ventilated discs (305mm)
Rear brakes  Discs (300mm)
Stability systems  ABS, ESP, TV
Safety  AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB
Tyre size  f/r-215/50R19 
Wheelbase  2680mm
L/W/H  4300 / 1850 / 1560mm
Track  f-1620mm  r-1611mm
Luggage capacity  f-25L  r-460-1251L  
Tow rating  750kg (1000kg braked)
Service intervals 12months/15,000km
Warranty  5yrs / 150,000 km
ANCAP rating  Not yet rated
Weight (claimed)  1930kg