2025 Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 arrived with a big label attached to it: Car of the Year. That kind of badge automatically creates sky‑high expectations, especially for a brand that has made such an impressive leap in the electric space over the past few years. The EV6 and EV9 set the benchmark, so the EV3 seemed poised to do the same in the compact segment.

Only… during our test there was a small voice in the back of our minds whispering: “is this it?”. Not because the car is bad, far from it, but because it just does not quite deliver what we expected.

Interior: 50 Shades of… grey

Our test car was an Earth trim, and in terms of interior colour scheme it could easily feature in a Scandinavian design magazine. Everything is grey. The seats, the door panels, the centre console, the dashboard, all in similar tones. Nothing wrong with that in principle: the cabin looks tidy, the materials feel solid, the finish is well executed and Kia once again shows it can feel premium without charging premium prices.

But it is all very… grey. We missed a playful accent, a warm colour, a material that brings some life into the cabin. The EV3 feels a bit like a living room that has been decorated just a touch too minimalistic: clean, stylish, elegant, but lacking character. And that stands in contrast to Kia’s more daring exterior design.

Exterior: distinctive, but in a good way

From the outside, the EV3 looks surprisingly fresh. Sharp lines, a bold LED signature, futuristic proportions. This is a car you recognise instantly. Not because it screams for attention, but because it has a clear identity.

The design language clearly echoes the EV9, but in a smaller, more accessible package. Modern, playful, and visually striking… exactly the opposite of the interior.

A living room on wheels

Kia claims the EV3 should feel like a moving living room, and honestly, that is not just marketing talk. The seats look like they came straight out of your home, wide and soft and inviting. Despite the muted colours, the cabin feels warm and welcoming.

Then there is the sliding centre console. On paper a cool idea. In practice… well, you cannot actually put anything on it. A phone slides off, a tablet does not stay in place, even a simple snack refuses to sit still. So what is it for? Maps? A sandwich while charging? We tried, but it never became useful. Original, yes. Practical, no.

Ergonomics: pretty, but not logical

Where Kia usually excels in intuitive controls, the EV3 feels a bit lost. The screens are excellent, but the menu structure is not. Settings are spread across odd submenus, icons are not always clear and some functions take minutes to locate.

The biggest offender? The climate controls. Instead of placing them front and centre, Kia hides them behind the steering wheel. While driving, you can barely see the temperature buttons, let alone operate them without distraction. It is a small frustration that returned throughout the entire test.

Driving: comfortable, but the efficiency…

On the road, the EV3 feels light, pleasant and very approachable. Comfort is good, the suspension smooths out imperfections nicely and the car feels solid. But truly efficient? Not quite.

We tried everything. Eco mode, gentle throttle, strict speed limits. The consumption would not drop below 16 kWh/100 km. And that matters, because it means you will not reach the quoted range. No matter how carefully you drive, the numbers remain optimistic.

Not disastrous, but definitely something to consider if you plan to use the EV3 as a daily commuter.

Safety systems: a bit too alert

Modern EVs are packed with driver assists, but in the EV3 they can feel overprotective. Look briefly in your side mirror and the system sometimes assumes you are distracted. Drift slightly near a line and you get an immediate warning. In busy city traffic or on twisty roads it distracts more often than it helps.

Practicality: yes, but with limits

The front seats are great and space is good. The rear seats… less so. At 1.86 m I could just about sit there, but comfort is not its strongest point. The boot is fine, but remember this is a compact crossover. Do not expect miracles.

Conclusion: a good car, but not a perfect one

The Kia EV3 is a well‑rounded product. Comfortable, nicely designed, well built and with a hint of premium feel, especially for its price bracket. But it is not a car that fully meets the towering expectations set by its Car of the Year title.

The interior is high‑quality but dull. The ergonomics are confusing. The efficiency is mediocre. And some ideas, like the sliding console, are more creative than functional.

It is a very pleasant electric crossover, but not a revolution. A car that does many things well, but rarely excels.

And maybe that is fine. But for a Car of the Year, we expected just a little more.