By : TEAM TOS
MUMBAI :
Kia’s aggressiveness in the EV space has taken another leap with the introduction of the all-new Kia EV3. The all-electric SUV was revealed to the world recently and it is highly anticipated that it will also enter the Indian market next year. The EV3 is the fourth electric model from the South-Korean automaker after the EV9, EV6 and Niro. Here’s all that you need to know about the Kia EV3…
Kia has made it official that Korea will be the first market globally to get the EV3 in July 2024. The compact electric SUV will then be launched in multiple European markets in the last quarter of 2024 and it will be introduced in Asian markets, including India, in early 2025.
Adorning Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, the EV3 gets Kia’s iconic Tiger Face styling with Star Map signature lighting concept in the form of vertical headlamps and Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). The side profile boasts a long, sloping, sleek roofline which seamlessly integrates into the tailgate. At the rear, the tail-lamps appear to be transitioned into the tailgate glass. The EV3 is offered in nine paint schemes, and two of which have been presented exclusively in the form of Aventurine Green and Terracotta. The EV3 GT Line is equipped with additional design elements such as contrasting lower body trim, sportier lower bumper, vertical and horizontal graphics, and a triangle wing configuration on the lower bumper at the rear. The EV3 will have a boot capacity of 460 litres which is the largest in its segment. Additionally, it also gets a 25-litre frunk.
The 5-seater SUV has been presented with a spacious cabin with an array of modern bells and whistles. There is ample space to store basic stuff in the centre console along with a sliding table. Some of the notable features in the EV3 are Kia Digital Key 2.0, 12-inch Head-up Display (HUD), Multi-adjustable ambient lighting, Front seats with fold-back relaxation mode, Adjustable two-tier luggage board, Cruise control, Harman Kardon audio system, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 5-inch automatic air-conditioning panel and 12.3-inch AVN touchscreen infotainment system. Kia EV3 also features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging which enables the occupants to charge their electronic gadgets like laptops, small fridges, coffee machines and hairdryers. It happens to be the first EV model to feature Kia’s AI Assistant technology.
As for the upholstery, the buyers can choose from a wide range of trim finishes inspired by Air, Earth, and Water elements which include Subtle Grey, Warm Grey and Blue. The GT Line model will be exclusively offered in Onyx Black finish. The door trims and dashboard have been developed with the use of recycled fabric while Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be seen in the creation of seats, headliner, door armrests, garnish, floor mats, and luggage board.
Underpinning Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV3 comes in two variants: Standard and Long Range (LR). The former is fitted with a 58.3 kWh battery, while the latter houses a 81.4 kWh battery pack. The driving range on single charge for the long range variant is 600 km whereas the driving range for the standard variant will be announced at a later stage. Both the variants, despite coming with different battery packs, will have similar power output of 201 bhp and identical peak torque of 283 Nm. The e-SUV will sprint from 0-100kmph in merely 7.5 secs before topping out at 170kmph.
The battery can be charged from 10-80 percent in just 31 minutes due to Kia’s advanced Vehicle Charging Management System. It is also the first model to feature Kia’s new i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking technology with adjustable regenerative braking, enabling one-pedal driving.
Kia EV3 comes equipped with Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) tech along with a host of advanced safety features in form of Electric Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist. The all-electric SUV also gets Kia’s Remote Smart Parking Assist as standard.