The Kia EV3, the brand’s compact electric SUV, sold 514 units in the US in September, its first full month on the market. That is a small number next to the more than 16,000 Sportage SUVs Kia sold in the same month. Still, InsideEVs reports that Kia expects the roughly $30,000 EV3 to become its best-selling EV in the country.
EV3 price and range in the US
The 2027 model reached dealers in mid-August. The entry Light trim with front-wheel drive starts at $29,890 before a $1,495 destination fee. The top GT trim with all-wheel drive costs $45,890.
| Trim | Price (before destination) |
|---|---|
| Light (FWD) | $29,890 |
| Wind (FWD) | $34,990 |
| Land (FWD) | $38,490 |
| GT-Line (AWD) | $43,490 |
| GT (AWD) | $45,890 |
EPA-estimated range depends on the battery. The 58.3 kWh pack is rated at 221 miles. The 81.4 kWh pack reaches up to 321 miles with front-wheel drive and up to 280 miles with AWD. The front-drive motor makes 201 hp, the AWD versions total 261 hp, and the GT goes up to 288 hp.
Charging and features
On the smaller battery, DC fast charging from 10% to 80% takes 29 minutes, according to Kia. North American cars have a built-in NACS port, so they can use Tesla Superchargers. Standard gear includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, i-Pedal 3.0 one-pedal driving and vehicle-to-load (V2L), which lets the battery power outside devices.
How it compares
In the US, the EV3 shares the $30,000 class with the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf. Electrek says the EV3 offers more range and more power than both and is the only one of the three with AWD. InsideEVs notes that the Bolt and Leaf have struggled in a tougher EV market.
There is a reason for caution. Electrek points out that small SUVs are less popular in the US, so the EV3’s results in Europe and the UK may not carry over. In its first full year there it was the UK’s third most popular EV and 10th in Europe.
What to watch
The V2L feature echoes what Tesla does with the Model 3 and Model Y powering a home in a blackout, and new brands keep arriving, like Geely in Canada.
September’s 514 sales follow just six in August, when deliveries were barely starting, so the trend is up. If you are weighing an EV purchase, our guide on whether electric cars are worth it covers what to check first.
