Kia EV Day 2025: EV3 test drive and more

EV3 first drive

The hero of the day was the new EV3, which I got to drive for an hour. The EV3 is a baby SUV, with the same boxy design ethos that appears across the Kia EV range. It was a real speed-dating experience, but the EV3 left a lasting impression.

Kia is marketing this as a ‘baby EV9’, with the intention of giving a similar, if more compact, experience in the cabin. I had a week with the EV9 last year and can confirm the EV3 has a similar feel.

I’m 6′9″ and was surprised I fitted easily behind the wheel. Plus, there was plenty of headroom and space for my legs. Passengers wouldn’t have appreciated sitting behind me though. If you regularly carry passengers in the back, you’d probably want a bigger car – and Kia would be quick to point out it could provide that.

The EV3 model provided for my test drive was the Light LR (long range). This is the second-cheapest model in the range at $62,220, with a claimed range of 605km. The interior was nice, if a bit spartan.

You’d need to pay an extra $7,000 for the plusher Earth model, while the premium GT-Line LR tops out at $75,220. The cheapest model is the Light SR (standard range) at $55,520, with a range of 436km.

It was the typical easy EV driving experience, while the suspension dealt effortlessly with the generally rubbish East Auckland roads I traversed. The car felt compact both on the road and while parking.

I couldn’t give a proper verdict without having the EV3 for longer than an hour to see how handy it might be to live with. However, I was very impressed. I record voice memos as I review cars, which often make for very boring replays, but I don’t generally say anything like “this is a special vehicle that should sell in high numbers”. Yet, that’s exactly what I said this time around. History may prove me wrong, but the EV3 provided a great experience behind the wheel. I’m sure it’ll be Kia NZ’s biggest selling EV over the next few years.

EV4 revealed in New Zealand

Kia had one example of the new EV4 on display. It was parked on a plinth, to keep the motoring journos at bay, so I couldn’t drive it, unfortunately.

What I could see though was a car that looks like it comes from the future. It’s an attractive, if maybe the least practical, option from the Kia range. It’s a sedan rather than an SUV – a body style that car manufacturers have slowly retreated from. So, it’ll be interesting to see how the general public receives this model once it goes on sale later this year, pricing still to be confirmed.

EV 5 GT-Line and EV6 Gt-Line quick snapshots

I also took the opportunity to take out the EV5, EV6 for a spin. I only had 30 minutes in each, so again, it’s hardly enough time to drum up a proper review, or take photos it turns out. But you can still draw some conclusions.

First was the EV6, and what hit me straight away is the dash and infotainment screen feel like yesterday’s technology. The thing is, it isn’t even that old. It just highlights how far Kia has jumped with the new EV3, EV5 and EV9 – times are moving rapidly indeed. The EV6 has been given a facelift to improve on an already well-designed external package.

The EV6 has comfy seats, and I appreciated the amount of room inside. It handles well and has plenty of power to boot. When driving it in sport mode, you really know about it. Exact pricing of the facelifted EV6 is still to be announced.

The EV5 Gt-Line ($85,450) was very nice inside. It has a big, panoramic roof that really elevates the sense of space. The fact that this model is the next size down from the EV9 was also a good thing. It didn’t feel as big or intimidating to drive. It also felt like more of a driver’s car compared with the EV9. The general feeling I got from the handling was more sports car than SUV. In other words, it’s not plush, I felt more bumps than I did in the EV3 over the same roads.

I don’t know how Kia has done it, but I’ve got to give it due props for its seat design. The EV5 GT-Line is a comfy place to park your rear end.

If you gave me an ultimatum and made me buy one of the cars I drove on the day, I’d take the EV5 GT-Line for the comfort, and the practicality and ease of slotting into my current lifestyle that a medium SUV provides.

In terms of design, the EV6 takes the cake: I can gaze at that car for a long time.

But the most practical value-for-money decision would be to buy the EV3. With its somehow roomy interior despite its compact size, and easy driving, it covers everything you need and nothing you don’t. I don’t think you’d regret it.