The 2027 Kia EV3 has officially landed in North America. Making its debut at the 2027 New York Auto Show, it slots below the EV6 and features a more upright profile, giving it a mini EV9 look. The vertical headlights and taillights highlight the EV3’s status as the smaller sibling. Five trims will be available at launch: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and the full-on GT performance model. That’s right, Kia has brought the hottest model to North America!
For a sportier look, the GT-Line and GT trims add distinct styling details that give the 2027 Kia EV3 a sportier presence. The latter also includes unique 19-inch wheels, neon green accents, and green brake calipers. Looking for the blackout look, the Nightfall package adds black badges, wheels, accents, roof rails, and dark gray interior details.
Speaking of the interior, think of it as a shrunken-down take on the EV9. It features the same dual 12.3-inch displays and a small 5-inch climate display. Kia’s latest infotainment system features over-the-air update capability, personalized themes, and an AI-based assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. In addition, the EV3 also has an available 12-inch head-up display, an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, wireless charging, and a surround-view camera system.
On the driver assistance front, the EV3 comes with a full suite of active safety features. Certain trims also include Highway Driving Assist 2, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist.
2027 Kia EV3: Versatility In a Compact Package
The EV3 GT-Line adds plenty of sporty flair thanks to metal pedals, a 3-spoke steering wheel, and off-white two-tone seats. Meanwhile, the EV3 GT adds sport bucket front seats and neon green accents throughout the cabin. In typical Kia fashion, the EV3 comes with plenty of creature comforts. Available features include ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, and a smart power liftgate. Dual-zone climate control and rear air vents come standard.
For added versatility, the EV3’s cabin features plenty of clever storage solutions, including an open space between the driver and front passenger. The rear seats also recline 39 degrees and can split and fold 60/40, while a dual-level cargo floor comes standard. With all seats up, Kia says the EV3 has 26.1 cubic feet of cargo space. That increases to 56.5 cubic feet with the back seats folded. Although a frunk is included, it barely holds a cubic foot of your stuff.
Powerfully Compact
The 2027 Kia EV3 has two different battery options. On the Light trim, it features a 58.3-kWh pack, while the rest of the lineup has an 81.4-kWh battery. With the smaller pack, Kia estimates a driving range of 220 miles, while the larger one is good for 320 miles on FWD models. Available V2L functionality allows the EV3 to power other electronic devices, while available vehicle-to-home (V2H) allows the car to power homes through a compatible bi-directional charging system.
In terms of power output, the EV3 GT has the most at 288 hp, an increase of 27 over the standard EV3 AWD. Expect FWD models to have around 201 hp with the bigger battery. Available features like Virtual Gear Shift and Active Sound Design help to add engagement behind the wheel. The EV3 GT also includes sport-tuned suspension and steering. Additionally, Kia’s i-Pedal 3.0 one-pedal driving system now works in reverse and reverts to the last setting you used.
Kia also improved NVH during chassis development and added sound-absorbing materials to improve quietness. The use of lightweight materials, aerodynamic wheels, a full body undercover, and an integrated active air flap on the front bumper reduced the drag coefficient to an impressive 0.27.
As for charging, the smaller 58.3-kWh battery can go from 10 to 80 percent in 29 minutes under ideal conditions, while the larger 81.4-kWh unit does the same in 31 minutes. However, Kia did not disclose the peak DC charging rates. Like the rest of Kia’s EV lineup, an NACS port comes standard. Plug and charge also comes standard and works with compatible charging stations after doing the payment setup and registration through Kia Charge Pass on the Kia Access app.
The 2027 Kia EV3 goes on sale in late 2026.
Source: Kia
