Kia EV3 review

No major missteps here either. The EV3 is boxy, and puts that to good use with large door openings, spacious seating (there’s room for a six-foot adult behind a same-sized driver or passenger with headroom and kneeroom to spare) though the middle bench seat is rather narrow. Still, the floor is flat with no transmission tunnel legacy, so sliding in and out is a doddle.

Used to the dark grey Wolfsburg ambience of a VW crossover interior? Non-plussed by the cheapo-Scandi effect Volkswagen went for in the ID cars? You’ll be more at home in the EV3, which does the lighter hues better, even though some of the lower plastics are rock-hard and whatever you place in the wireless charging bay, cupholders, jutting cubby and door bins tends to rattle. Stuff like the needlessly bulbous key, for instance.

How’s the tech?

Familiar from a swathe of Kias and Hyundais, and very good on the whole. The instrument screen looks festooned with numbers and data but the main stuff: range, speed and regen is all clearly annotated and you can choose from different layouts in the sub-menus to simplify what you’re being beamed.

Alongside that 12.3-inch screen is a second 12.3-inch display, this time a touchscreen. Kia’s interface isn’t the cheeriest and we question the wisdom of a main menu made entirely of dark tiles featuring grey text and icons. Tricky to find what you’re looking for.

But it’s responsive at least, with no laggy boot time or ‘loading, please wait’ nonsense as found in current VW Group rivals. Beneath it you still get physical rockers for fan speed and temperature, and actual controls for hazards, lights and haptic shortcuts for the main menus which are always on. Oh, and tactile mirror and window switchgear. Helpful. Why would anyone gloss over that?

There is a panel dedicated to climate control fiddling, but it’s mostly obscured behind the steering wheel. Get that set before you head on your way.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard fit, so you’re not wedded to the dreary native sat-nav. It’s also wireless, though USB-C device charging is generously catered for both in the front and rear seats.

Anything else?

The seats even in the base Air are comfortable: perhaps firmer than expected but offering plenty of lateral support. Visibility forward is par, though the speaker-clad A-pillars are thick and the rear window is a high-set letterbox.

Don’t like the 1980s New York taxi-spec steering wheel in the EV3 Air, with its huge central boss? Go for the GT-line to get a sportier item. Not too thick to hold, as per all modern Mercs and BMWs, but oddly square.

You forgot the boot?

Well, boots actually. Despite being front-wheel drive there is a stowage cubby under the bonnet. Hardly a frunk but better than an ID.3 or Cupra Born. Keep the charging cable in there, like an EX30.

The rear cargo area is a deep well (because of the lack of a rear motor) with handy stowage cubbies for small items at the side. The roll-out parcel shelf isn’t as heavy or cumbersome as similar items have been in previous models.