Kia: Extravagance for the average family
The EV3 is not only causing a stir with its design, it also aims to convince skeptical families of the benefits of e-mobility.
There are very different reasons for the skepticism towards e-cars. Too expensive, short range, dubious resale value, long charging times - depending on the life situation, very different demands are placed on a car.
One argument you often hear is that there are no affordable electric cars that are suitable as a sole vehicle for the family. Either the electric cars are cheap but tiny, or they are large with a long range but cost a fortune. Kia now wants to solve this problem with the EV3: The SUV, which is only 4.30 meters long, offers a long range, a good amount of space for five people including a decent trunk (460 to 1251 liters) and should be affordable for many families. Sounds too good to be true? We went for a test drive.
Surprisingly spacious
You may or may not like the extravagant design of the Kia EV3 - but it certainly makes the Korean car stand out from the crowd in a refreshing way. You sit very comfortably in both rows of seats, and the engineers have made full use of the specific advantages of an electric platform. The cockpit is equipped with all kinds of digital gadgets and is easy to operate, while the materials in the interior, which contain a high proportion of recycled materials, have a clean finish. Depending on the variant, the equipment ranges from extensive to downright luxurious.
On the road, the EV3 is a pleasant companion, rolls comfortably and can be steered precisely through bends. The front-wheel drive vehicle is only available with one engine variant (150 kW/204 hp), but with two battery sizes (58.3 or 81.4 kWh). The larger one lasts for 605 WLTP kilometers, the smaller one for 436 kilometers. Charging takes place at 101 and 128 kW respectively - not particularly fast, but sufficient for a charging time of 10 to 80 percent in around half an hour.
So is the EV3 suitable as a solo car? For the average Swiss family, the answer is yes, absolutely. Whether you can afford it from 36,950 or 42,250 francs is a question for everyone to answer for themselves.
