Kia EV3 inches closer to its US launch

Kia's electric SUV, the EV3, is close to going on sale in the US after production began at the company's plant in Mexico in early August. It's a smaller, more affordable version of the Kia EV9, expected to arrive later this year in five trims: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT.

The base Light trim uses a 58.3 kWh battery with an estimated range of up to 220 miles. A larger 81.4 kWh battery, available on the other four trims, offers up to 320 miles of range in front-wheel-drive versions. All-wheel drive is standard on the GT-Line and GT and optional on the Wind and Land. Fast charging can take the smaller battery from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes, and the larger one in about 31 minutes. Every version has a NACS charging port, the connector type used by Tesla's network and now becoming standard across the industry. Inside, the EV3 gets a new dashboard layout with nearly 30 inches of combined screen space, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and optional extras like a head-up display and upgraded sound system.

Kia hasn't announced pricing yet, but the 2027 EV3 is expected to start around $35,000, which would make it one of the cheaper electric vehicles sold in the US. For homeowners weighing an EV alongside home charging or solar plans, this adds another lower-cost option with real driving range and fast-charging capability, arriving as many short-term EV leases from recent years are coming to an end.