There’s something about driving through the Göttingen Forest that invites reflection. Perhaps it’s the quiet, shaded roads winding between the ancient trees, or the way the sunlight flickers through the leaves and plays on the dashboard. It was here, amidst the lush green of Lower Saxony, that I spent a full day with the new Kia EV3, a car that promises to make electric motoring more accessible, practical, and even a little fun.
In an age when many electric vehicles feel like oversized science experiments, all excess power, weight, and price, the EV3 is refreshingly grounded. Kia pitches it as the “right-size” EV, a compact SUV with sensible range, strong usability, and a price that won’t send your accountant running. After a long day weaving through forest roads, taking fast autobahn stints, and meandering into Göttingen city centre, I can tell you that this is one of those rare cars that largely delivers what it promises.
But let’s start at the beginning.
First Impressions: Compact but Confident
It was a crisp morning when I collected the EV3 at Kia’s regional press centre near Rosdorf, just south of Göttingen. The test car, finished in a striking Aurora Black Pearl and riding on 19-inch wheels, looked sharp. The styling follows Kia’s new design language, with angular headlights, a clamshell bonnet, and a profile that cleverly balances robust SUV cues with urban friendliness.
It’s a compact SUV, just over 4.3 metres long, but thanks to its EV-specific platform, the wheelbase stretches out to a healthy 2680 mm, promising decent interior space. The proportions are good; it looks planted and slightly sporty without shouting about its electric nature.
Sliding into the driver’s seat revealed a cabin that is both modern and well-finished. The twin-screen layout is familiar Kia territory: a 12.3-inch digital cluster paired with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, plus an extra 5-inch climate control display. Materials felt solid, with tasteful use of eco-friendly textiles and soft-touch plastics. As I adjusted the seat and set off toward the Göttingen Forest, I couldn’t help but feel optimistic about what lay ahead.
Technical Specifications of the Kia EV3
For correct and reliable info, we pull technical details directly from Kia’s website.
| Specification | Value |
| Motor | Synchronous electric motor |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Power | 150 kW (204 hp) |
| Torque | 283 Nm |
| Transmission | Single-speed |
| Battery Capacity (net) | 81.4 kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 563 km |
| Test Range | 393 km |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 170 km/h |
| AC Charging | 10.5 kW |
| DC Fast Charging | 128 kW |
| Charging Time (10–80%, DC) | 31 minutes |
| Length x Width x Height | 4310 x 1850 x 1570 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2680 mm |
| Curb Weight | 1884 kg |
| Brakes | Disc front/rear |
| Luggage Volume | 460–1251 litres |
| Price (Germany) | from €41,390 (test car €51,170) |
Cruising Through the Forest: Real-World Range Revealed
As I entered the winding roads of the Göttingen Forest, it became clear that the EV3 is happiest at moderate speeds. Kia quotes an official WLTP range of 563 km, but as is often the case, reality is more nuanced.
On my drive, with temperatures around 8°C, 19-inch wheels, and a route that included a fast autobahn section, the EV3 consumed about 24.2 kWh/100 km, giving a real-world range closer to 393 km. Not quite the brochure number, but perfectly usable for daily driving and short road trips.
Interestingly, during more relaxed driving through the forest, think 60–80 km/h, gently undulating roads, the consumption dropped to a far more respectable 17 kWh/100 km, pushing range up toward 450 km. This is a key point: drive the EV3 as it’s meant to be driven, smooth, efficient, and it rewards you with strong range and serene progress.
Driving Dynamics: More Balanced Than You’d Expect
One thing that surprised me was how well-balanced the EV3 felt on the road. With 204 hp and 283 Nm of torque, it’s no rocket ship, but acceleration is perfectly brisk. The official 0–100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds felt spot-on. In the tighter corners of the forest, the car displayed good body control, though the 1.9-tonne weight was occasionally evident through some mild body roll.
The front-wheel drive layout means that when pushed hard, you do get some understeer, but in normal driving, the EV3 feels agile and predictable. The steering is well-weighted and consistent, and the car’s relatively tight turning circle (11.0 m) made navigating narrow forest tracks and Göttingen’s old-town streets a breeze.
I was particularly impressed by the braking performance. Cold or warm, the EV3’s brakes delivered strong, consistent stopping power, with a measured 34.8 m from 100 km/h. The i-Pedal system, which allows for strong regen braking down to a stop, worked beautifully, enabling true one-pedal driving through twisty descents in the forest. It even integrates navigation data, automatically adjusting regen before curves and intersections, a subtle but very clever touch.
The Cabin Experience: Quiet, Comfortable, and Clever
After a couple of hours exploring the forest, I parked near the Hainberg hills to take a closer look at the interior. Kia has clearly paid attention to comfort and ergonomics. The front seats are supportive, with excellent thigh and lumbar support. Rear space is very good for the class, with ample legroom even for taller adults.
The boot is practical, offering 460 litres with the rear seats up, and up to 1251 litres with them folded. There’s also a handy 28-litre frunk under the bonnet, ideal for storing charging cables and smaller items.
Cabin refinement is very good. On the A7 autobahn north of Göttingen, at 130 km/h, cabin noise remained well-controlled at 67 dB(A),not luxury-sedan silent, but certainly more refined than many ICE rivals in this segment.
Kia’s Harman Kardon audio system sounded rich and well-tuned, and the infotainment system was largely intuitive. However, I did encounter a few quirks. Voice control understood commands well but didn’t always execute them properly, asking for a different radio station led to… silence. Likewise, the touch buttons under the main screen were a bit fiddly and lacked tactile feedback.
Charging: Good Enough, But Could Be Better
The charging experience is one area where the EV3 lags slightly behind the best in class. At home, it supports 10.5 kW AC, which is fine for overnight charging. On a DC fast charger, it peaks at 128 kW, enabling a 10–80% charge in about 31 minutes. Not bad,but rivals like the VW ID.3 GTX and Smart #1 offer faster rates (up to 180 kW), shaving valuable minutes off charging stops.
That said, Kia has implemented excellent charging software. The navigation system automatically finds chargers, preconditions the battery when needed, and even shows estimated wait times at busy stations. During my stop at an IONITY station near Diemarden, the system worked flawlessly, guiding me to the charger and managing the session smoothly.
Safety and Assistance: Impressive for the Class
Kia has equipped the EV3 with a generous suite of driver assistance systems. On my test car, the forward collision warning with evasive assist, blind spot monitoring with camera projection, and adaptive cruise control all worked seamlessly.
One standout feature is the blind spot view monitor, which projects a live video feed of adjacent lanes onto the instrument cluster, a feature usually found on much more expensive cars. It costs an extra €1,290 but is worth every cent.
The Verdict: A Very Well-Rounded Package
By the time I returned the EV3 to Rosdorf in the early evening, after covering nearly 250 km of mixed driving, I had a clear sense of the car’s character.
The Kia EV3 is not about blowing your socks off with performance or headline range numbers. Instead, it offers a balanced, user-friendly electric driving experience that works brilliantly in real-world conditions.
Its strengths are many: solid driving dynamics, excellent comfort, usable range, good charging software, and a highly practical cabin. Weaknesses? Slightly slower DC charging than some rivals, some minor infotainment quirks, and a real-world range that doesn’t quite match the WLTP promise.
But taken as a whole, the EV3 is an honest, likeable car, one that I suspect will be a very popular choice for families and commuters alike.
How long does the Kia EV3 take to charge?
At a DC fast charger, it can charge from 10% to 80% in around 31 minutes. At home, it supports up to 10.5 kW AC, which will fully charge the battery overnight.
What is the real-world range of the Kia EV3?
In my test, the EV3 achieved around 393 km in mixed driving. With more efficient driving, up to 450 km is possible.
Is the Kia EV3 good for long trips?
Yes, though its DC charging speed isn’t the fastest. Plan charging stops carefully, and it’s perfectly usable for longer journeys.
