Key Highlights – Kia EV3 Sells Big
📈 Sales Milestone: 75,000 units sold globally in first year
🇰🇷 Korea Growth: Up 137% year-over-year, 19,000 units sold locally
💰 Price: Estimated $35,000 MSRP for U.S. market
🔋 Range: 300+ miles EPA-estimated; 81.4-kWh battery
⚙️ Performance: 201 hp, 7.5s 0–60 mph, 800-volt fast charging
🏭 U.S. Launch: Arriving in 2026; built on Kia’s next-gen EV platform
Kia EV3: Global Success Story Heads to America
The diminutive Kia EV3 only debuted in Korea a year ago but having rolled out in the UK, Europe, and Australia, this all-electric crossover has truly made a name for itself, becoming the favorite new EV the world over.
The EV3 first appeared at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November of 2023 and launched in the South Korean market in May 2024. Then it was named the 2025 World Car of the Year, following its brother the EV9’s win from the previous year.
Big news for Kia is that, so far, the EV3 has sold over 75,000 units worldwide and it hasn’t even appeared in America yet, but it will hit our shores in 2026 with an estimated starting MSRP at around $35,000.
In South Korea alone, Kia sold nearly 19,000 EV3s through September, an increase of 137 percent from the same period in 2024. But that’s not all. Kia launched its all-new EV4 in late March which has sold over 7,000 units in Korea alone.
With new EV models including the EV4, EV5, and PV5 coming soon, Kia is on track to set the electric vehicle market on fire here in the states. In fact, the automaker is having its third straight record-breaking sales year.
Power and Performance
Both the standard and long-range versions of the EV3 come with a single electric motor for front wheel drive. It boasts 201 horsepower and 209 pound-feet of torque, offering a smooth ride and plenty of power for urban driving.
Fresh for 2026, the crossover has a new-generation one-pedal driving feature with selectable levels of regenerative braking that are changed through steering wheel-mounted paddles.
It will also come with eDVTC electric dynamic torque vectoring control as standard. Kia is planning a more powerful GT model with extra horsepower for fiercer performance. The standard model for the U.S. market is predicted to have a zero to 60 mph time of around 7.5 seconds.
Compare with another performance EV crossover: The 2026 BMW iX xDrive60: Road Trip Champion
Kia tells us that with the car’s larger 81.4-killowatt battery pack, range for the American model is EPA-estimated to be over 300 miles on a charge. The EV3’s 800-volt architecture will allow it to charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes on Level 3 DC Fast charging.
On the Inside
The cabin of the EV3 is a comfortable and even charming place to be. Kia says it is inspired by nature with soothing Subtle Grey, Warm Grey, and Blue colors surrounding you. Recycled fabric is used on the seats, headliner, armrests and carpet while all the plastic parts are made from recycled plastic.
Two 12.3-inch touchscreens handle the digital gauges and infotainment chores. This is also the first Kia to use AI assistant, a self-taught butler of sorts that runs tabs on over-the-air updates.
Standard driver assist features include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. Higher trim levels include adaptive cruise control and Kia’s hands-free driving mode.
The Wrap-up
With excellent sales around the world, a price of $35K MSRP, 300 miles of EPA-estimated range and all the standard EV flourishes, the EV3 may take America by storm next year. It may be an excellent competitor for the VW ID.4 and even lure some SUV owners away from their gas-only crossovers.
⚡ EV Market & Innovation Updates
- Ford’s New $30K Electric Pickup Will Launch on Universal EV Platform
Ford rethinks EV production with its simplified Universal EV architecture and cost-saving battery design.
Read More ➜ - EV Battery Recycling Is Growing
Federal funding, new tech, and major facility expansions are helping the U.S. scale up EV battery recycling.
Read More ➜ - Global EV Sales Keep Growing
EV and hybrid sales rose 15% in August 2025, with more than 1.7 million units sold worldwide.
Read More ➜
