EV family continues to breed success for Kia

Korean brand's downsized EV9 offers an attractive compact SUV, writes Tom Sharpe

- Tom Sharpe

Kia must have known it was onto a winner when it set about distilling the ingredients of its giant EV9 into the more accessible EV3 crossover.

Sure enough, a year after the Korean brand's seven-seat, electric flagship secured 2024's World Car of the Year accolade, the feat was repeated by its smaller stablemate.

A week at the wheel suggests that early awards win was an indicator of sales success yet to come as the EV3 takes on Skoda's Elroq and Volvo's EX30.

All EV3s feature the same front-wheel-drive drivetrain, 201bhp power output and 283Nm of torque, and all will accelerate to 62mph in under eight seconds.

Prices start at £33,005 for the entry level 'Air', which features a 58.3kWh battery pack offering a 270-mile driving range.