‘Perfect choice for Kiwis’
Kia says its EV3 is set to be the “perfect choice” for Kiwis wanting a fully electric, medium-size SUV capable of around 600km on a single charge.
The new model has arrived in New Zealand and is available Kia dealerships nationwide.
“It has debuted to outstanding reviews around the globe, including winning numerous awards and accolades, most notably world car of the year,” says managing director of Kia NZ, Todd McDonald.
“It follows our flagship EV9, not just in terms of awards won, but also incorporating the same striking styling, featuring similar advancements in technology and connectivity, bringing cutting-edge innovation to a wider audience than ever and setting new standards in the segment.
“It boasts a bold, progressive exterior and an innovative, practical interior that maximises space, functionality and comfort
“Impressively, it is also tuned for Australian and New Zealand conditions after a team of engineers conducted more than 20,000km of local testing.
“Their efforts have delivered a vehicle which feels right at home in our environment thanks to a unique combination of hardware and shock-absorber settings, meaning the new EV3 really is the ultimate urban SUV.”
At the heart of the Long Range models is the key to its “untold functionality”, a large 81.4kWh lithium-ion battery.
In the case of the EV3 Light Long Range, the new model is capable of an all-electric range of up to 605km om the WLTP – the largest range of any Kia currently available for sale. The Light Short Range utilises a smaller 58.3kWh capacity and offers a range of 436km.
All variants are equipped with a 150kW/283Nm electric motor, which integrates with an inverter and reduction gearbox to form a single unit mounted at the front of the vehicle.
All EV3s offer two vehicle-to-load outlets as standard enabling electric devices to draw on the power supplied by the car’s battery. They can be replenished at a 350kW DC fast-charger from 10-80 per cent in an average of 30 minutes.
Depending on the model selected, three different styles of alloy wheels are available, in either 17-inch (Light) or 19-inch (Earth and GT-Line). All wheels are designed to promote smooth airflow over the vehicle’s sides, further enhancing overall efficiency.
The interior is similarly futuristic in its simplicity, the cabin itself is an example of luxurious minimalism.
The EV3 continues to leverage the packaging benefits of the E-GMP platform to optimise interior space within a compact exterior, benefitting legroom, shoulder room and headroom.
Taking pride of place on the dashboard in all variants is a large and intuitive-to-learn panoramic display screen, which comes in at 29.6 inches.
Additionally, both the EV3 Earth and GT-Line feature a full colour 12-inch head-up display, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, which are also ventilated on the GT-Line.
Luggage capacity is 460 litres, which extends to 1,251l with the seats down. A 25-litre frunk is perfect for storing the charging cable or smaller items which need to be readily accessible.
A Kia Confidence package, a feature of all EV3s, delivers enhanced peace of mind and consists of a seven-year or 150,000km manufacturing warranty, eight-year or 160,000km battery warranty and five-year roadside assistance.
Pricing starts at $55,520 for the Light SR with a range of 436km and tops out with the GT-Line with its 563km from $75,220.
