Fresh from its triumphs in the UK and World Car of the Year Awards, Kia’s EV3 electric crossover heads north of the border for Al Suttie to test out.

 Kia EV3 Air 81.4kWh FWD

List price (BiK): £35,940 (2%)   CO2: 0g/km   Economy: 375 miles   Test efficiency: 287 miles

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Monday

Following a brief spell in a Kia EV3, it’s great to have one for a longer spell following its victory as UK Car of the Year earlier in 2025. With the small EV SUV market becoming ever more crowded, and talented, it takes something a bit special to stand out and the Kia clearly has the chops. It also has the looks, which I find appealing in a boxily simple style.

Tuesday

The boxy looks of the EV3 translate into plenty of cabin space and it has a generous boot – 460 litres in normal configuration plus a 25-litre ‘frunk’ that’s perfect for storing charge cables. This is a hobby horse of mine as I hate cables flopping about in the boot, either loose or packed into a bag. It’s an area of EV car design that has yet to be properly resolved – how about a cable on a retractable roll like the one on a vacuum cleaner?

Wednesday

Kia claims up to 375 miles on a full charge for this Air 81.4kWh FWD model. In ideal conditions, I have little doubt that would be on the button, but the mix of weather this week means it’s not going to happen. Chilly morning starts require the heating to be cranked up and heated seats switched on. Then, when the sun breaks through, it’s on with the air con and a cool blast through the vents. The result is range of around 90 miles less but still plenty for my needs.

Thursday

Kia has been turning out some of the most stylish cabins of any car sector in recent times, and the EV3 does nothing to undermine that. The sweep of digital dash and infotainment is clean and classy, and there are proper physical buttons to operate the heating – hurrah! It’s also easy and relatively painless to disable irritating driving features such as lane assist and speed warnings.

Friday

A couple of stints in other EVs recently left me wondering if the suspension had been replaced by rocks, but in the EV3 you enjoy a supple ride. It makes the crossover Kia a car you instantly warm to without necessarily knowing why – several passengers have commented on its comfort. It also happens to handle very well and, unlike the vast majority of EVs, has good steering feel and weight.

Saturday

A rare Saturday morning off football duties, so I hurl my bike in the back of the Kia and head for the hills. It swallows bike and kit with ease, and the route to the mountains is a doozy – all sweeping country roads. A very early start gifts the road to me alone, which shows just how handy and agile the EV3 is. It’s not hot hatch nimble, but it’s not far off and is genuinely fun to drive regardless of what powers the wheels.

Sunday

With the Kia due to be collected tomorrow morning, I’m racking my brains for something to balance all the praise. Frankly, there’s nothing to dislike about the EV3 and almost everything to feel good about. It’s fun to drive, has a decent range, quick to charge, comfortable, roomy, and it’s even priced at sensible levels. It’s got all the kit you need in this entry-point Air trim, too, which makes it a cracking fleet choice.