Kia’s affordable urban crossover is finally coming to the U.S. to battle it out with the new Chevy Bolt EV.
The affordable Kia EV3 is coming to the United States as a 2027 model.
The U.S.-bound subcompact electric crossover debuted today at the New York International Auto Show.
Sales will begin in late 2026, with the EV3 offering vehicle-to-load as standard and up to 320 miles of range in large-battery guise.
The Kia EV3 subcompact electric crossover is finally coming to the United States. The U.S.-spec 2027 Kia EV3 made an appearance at this year’s New York International Auto Show, and sales will begin in late 2026, the automaker said.
The four-door EV has been on sale in other markets for roughly two years, where it has made a name for itself due to its great value proposition, but its American launch comes amid murky times for electric cars. Kia discontinued the sporty EV6 GT in the U.S. and has put plans to bring the EV4 sedan to America on hold as well. Despite the tough environment, Kia evidently thinks the lower-cost EV3 can make an impression and go toe-to-toe with the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf.
2027 Kia EV3
If range is your main concern, then Kia’s EV3 is bound to strike a chord, thanks to its maximum manufacturer-estimated driving range of 320 miles. Mind you, that’s only valid for models equipped with front-wheel drive and the the 81.4-kilowatt-hour battery—a big ol’ pack for such a petite vehicle. The more affordable entry-level trim’s 58.3-kWh pack enables a Kia-estimated 220 miles of range.
By comparison, the 2027 Chevy Bolt is EPA-rated at 262 miles, while the 2026 Nissan Leaf tops out at 303 miles. It’s worth noting that the Bolt and Leaf have just one battery on offer, and they’re both available with front-wheel drive only, whereas the Kia EV3 has two battery options and can also be specced with dual-motor all-wheel drive.
The EV3 should deliver a new, relatively affordable choice at a time when the U.S. EV market still very much skews toward premium pricing. But one big question remains: How much will it cost in America? Kia said it will announce pricing closer to when the car goes on sale.
The Bolt and Leaf are the most affordable new EVs on the market, with prices starting from roughly $27,000 and $30,000 before destination fees, respectively. When Kia first unveiled the EV3 in 2024, it targeted a starting price of around $35,000. But that was when the $7,500 EV tax credit still existed and before Trump’s tariffs threw a wrench in the auto industry.
At the very least, we can be confident that the EV3 will cost less than the larger EV6, which starts at $42,900. And for that 220-mile base model to really be competitive with the Bolt and Leaf, it should cost a whole lot less than that.
2027 Kia EV3
At the right price, the EV3 seems compelling. When it lands at dealerships toward the end of the year, Kia’s smallest new EV in America will come standard with LED projector headlights, 17-inch wheels, two 12.3-inch displays, a 5-inch climate display, dual-zone climate control, an open-center console, a large glass panoramic roof, and reclining rear seats. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also baked in, with Kia’s latest ccNC infotainment system enabling over-the-air software updates.
Based on a 400-volt version of Hyundai and Kia’s E-GMP electric architecture, the U.S.-spec EV3 gets a Tesla-style NACS on the front passenger side and Plug & Charge. The standard-range 58.3 kWh battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in 29 minutes, while the long-range 81.4 kWh pack needs 31 minutes for the same top-up. That’s slower than the roughly 20 minutes you’d see in one of Hyundai and Kia’s 800-volt EVs (like the Ioniq 5 or EV9), but it’s not bad either, especially for an entry-level car.
2027 Kia EV3
Vehicle-to-load (V2L), which allows owners to export energy from the high-voltage battery to power appliances, electronics, or tools, is standard. Furthermore, vehicle-to-home (V2H) is available as an option, enabling owners to power their home from the car’s battery, as long as there is a compatible Wallbox bidirectional home charger installed.
Size-wise, the EV3 has similar exterior dimensions to the new Chevy Bolt and Volvo EX30. Inside, Kia’s small crossover offers 26.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the trunk, with an additional 0.9 cu ft available in the front trunk.
The 2027 Kia EV3 will be available in five trim levels. The base Light can only be paired with the small battery and a single front-mounted electric motor that makes 201 horsepower. Then, there is the Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT, all of which are paired exclusively with the long-range battery. Here, the front motor is the same as on the entry-level version, but there’s also the option for an all-wheel drive setup that adds a rear motor and ups the total output to 261 hp—except for the sporty GT trim, which has 288 hp.
The Kia EV3 GT also gets sport-tuned suspension and steering, sport bucket front seats, and neon green accents on the seatbelts, steering wheel, and interior trim. The Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) and Active Sound Design (ASD) systems that we’ve enjoyed on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N are available as cost-extra options.
2027 Kia EV3
2027 Kia EV3
2027 Kia EV3
2027 Kia EV3
2027 Kia EV3
2027 Kia EV3
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