The Kia EV3 Electric Crossover Is Coming To America

The Kia EV3 has finally been revealed and has made quite a splash. It is good-looking, well-equipped, and has a range figure to embarrass larger vehicles. It could be the must-have EV of the year. Kia USA has confirmed to CarBuzz that the EV3 will be offered in the United States but stopped short of sharing the expected pricing and availability.

It’s somewhat surprising that the EV3 is heading to the United States, as the larger EV5 is not in the cards for America. A Kia representative has previously said that the small crossover will not be available for US consumption. This is possible because it is produced in China. Recently, the Biden Administration introduced a 102% tariff on Chinese-built EVs, dashing all hopes of the EV5 ever being sold here.

Could Be Priced As Low As $30,000

While American consumers prefer larger crossovers and SUVs, the EV3 could provide Kia USA with a vital asset: an affordable and desirable electric crossover with decent range and performance. As mentioned, Kia has not announced local pricing but estimates place the vehicle between $30,000 and $50,000. That’s a big gap, but we’re guessing that will depend on the trim and configuration. If the automaker can come in at the $30,000 mark, Kia would have a rival to the new Chevrolet Equinox EV.

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Kia has not mentioned where the EV3 will be produced, but we anticipate it will be built in Korea. As such, it will not qualify for the $7,500 tax credit incentive. However, the automaker has confirmed that it plans to make electric vehicles in the US by 2025, so the EV3 may eventually be constructed locally. If that is the case, and it ends up receiving the $7,500 incentive, we may be looking at a starting price of around $25,000 after discounts.

High-Performance GT Model On The Way

The EV3 is expected to reach North America in late 2025 or early 2026 and will likely debut as a MY2026 model. It will join the Niro, the newly-facelifted EV6, and the EV9 as the newest member of the rapidly growing Kia electric vehicle range. As a reminder, the EV3 will be available in base and GT-Line flavors, and customers can choose from Standard (58.3 kWh battery) and Long Range (81.4 kWh battery). The latter can travel 313 miles on a single charge, based on WLTP estimates. We expect a more realistic EPA figure when the EV3 reaches our shores.

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Kia EV3 Arrives With Funky Styling, Sustainable Interior, And 373-Mile Range

The baby EV5 may be small, but the 201-horsepower EV3 is filled with big car features and luxury.

Both models are powered by a single electric motor that sends 201 horsepower and 209 lb-ft of torque to the road via the front wheels. 0-62 mph is dispatched in 7.5 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 106 mph. Those yearning for more muscle will be pleased to know that a high-performance GT model is planned. Again, details are scant, but there’s a chance the EV3 GT could add another motor to the rear axle, resulting in strong outputs of 402 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque. It will be interesting to see how the EV3 stacks up to the competition, but if these early indicators are anything to go by, it should give the Volvo EX30 and Chevy Equinox a run for their money.