The Kia EV3 will go on sale soon, with production set to begin in Mexico next week

Kia's compact electric SUV, the EV3, is heading to the US later this year, with production starting next week at a plant in Pesquería, Mexico. The company is investing $649 million over two years to build EVs there, and the EV3 will be the first electric vehicle Kia manufactures and sells in that region before being exported north.

For US buyers, the 2027 EV3 will come in five trims: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT. The base Light trim uses a 58.3 kWh battery for an estimated 220 miles of range. Higher trims can be equipped with a larger 81.4 kWh battery, estimated at up to 320 miles of range in front-wheel-drive versions. All-wheel drive will be optional on the Wind and Land trims and standard on GT-Line and GT. Charging is fast for this class: the smaller battery can go from 10 to 80 percent in about 29 minutes, the larger one in about 31 minutes, using the same NACS plug that Tesla popularized and that other automakers are now adopting.

Kia hasn't announced official US pricing yet, but expects the EV3 to start around $35,000, which would make it one of the more affordable electric vehicles sold in the country. If you're weighing an EV purchase, this is a model worth watching once pricing and full trim details are confirmed later this year, especially since availability and any state or federal incentives can vary depending on where you live.