First Drive: Kia EV 3

Hyundai holds a substantial stake in Kia - this has been the case for over 30 years - meaning that the bigger Korean manufacturer gets first options when it comes to new models, even if both companies operate independently.

This helps to explain why Hyundai has been able to launch a very competitively-priced electric car here (€18,995) in the shape of its new Inster, while Kia will have to wait until next year before launching its own version - the Kia EV2.

In the meantime, Kia has launched the EV 3, which puts it in the frame for relative affordability on the Irish market at a time when EV prices are beginning to moderate, at least compared to where they were a couple of years ago.

The entry-level version of the EV starts at €36,790 - soon to be just pipped by the new Skoda Elroq (more anon), which will be launched here at a starting price of €35,795.

Thanks to the innovative and appealing styling of both the Kia EV 6 and the EV 9, the company still had enough fresh creativity to bring to the EV 3 while offering the same interior space as its current Sportage model.

It's a very smart design, with an aerodynamic shape and a gently sloping roof, sharp creases and lines and the overall look of a car that’s unlikely to age very quickly.

The entry-level model - the Earth 2 - comes with a choice of battery capacities of 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh. The latter will obviously provide longer range - a claimed one of 605 km’s and while the former has a claimed range of 436 km’s. The usual caveats apply to manufacturers’ claimed ranges, especially under near perfect conditions.

Kia does, however, have a good record on ranges and I remember distinctly how well the EV performed in particularly cold conditions earlier this year.

The motor is a 201 horsepower unit. I notice that the entry-level Earth 2 does not have a heat pump as standard (this helps substantially during colder weather conditions) and this is only available from the Earth 3 (€42,840) version up. The Earth 3 is only available with the bigger battery option.

You do get a head-up (above dashboard) display though.

Initial impressions are that while the exterior is appealing, the interior is more so. This is a spacious car, with plenty of room for four - although it will take five, it has only two rear ISOFIX anchorage points for child seats.

It is also a very quiet car and offers many of the benefits of electric cars in offering a very pleasant driving experience. The heritage of the bigger Kia EV’s is also obvious. You have 30" of digital screen space across the dash, with a 12.8" infotainment screen that has crisp graphics and is very responsive. There are even physical buttons to control certain functions, which are welcome additions.

I did notice that the 2 version did not have quite the quality of interior finish the versions above it have - the cloth upholstery is drab - but, given the price point and the lift that the digital screens give the interior this seems like a fair trade off.

The boot is a generous 460 litres, which can be increased to a fairly whopping 1250 litres with the rear seats folded.

Charging times are quoted as a 10% to 80% capacity of between 29 and 31 minutes - on a fast charger obviously.

The EV 3 isn’t short on standard safety equipment either, with even the entry-level model having a decent list of features.