Used Kia EV3 2025-present review

The Kia EV3 is a bit like a cleverly designed flat in a city. It doesn’t occupy a huge footprint, but smart packaging and clever technology mean it delivers many of the features and conveniences you’d normally expect from a larger electric SUV.

It’s an impressive all-round package and it’s a very compelling new car, having won our Best Small Electric SUV Award at the 2026 What Car? Awards. However, in this review, we’ll be focusing on how it stacks up as a used buy, which involves looking at areas such as used pricing, reliability and running costs. We’ll also compare it in those areas against its rivals, including the Hyundai Kona Electric, Smart #1 and Volvo EX30.

Motors and batteries: There are two versions of the EV3: Standard Range and Long Range. Both are powered by a 201bhp motor that drives the front wheels (there's no four-wheel-drive option). The Standard Range has a 58kWh (usable) capacity battery and the Long Range a 78kWh unit.

In the Standard Range, 0-62mph takes 7.5sec officially, while the heavier Long Range (with its bigger battery) can do the same sprint in 7.7sec. Those are good figures, being faster than the Jeep Avenger Electric, but the #1 and EX30 are quicker still.

As for the all important range, the Standard Range can officially manage 270 miles, which is farther than the Renault 4 (250 miles). Meanwhile, the Long Range can do up to 375 miles (depending on trim level). That’s really good, being farther than the Kona Electric Long Range (319 miles), #1 Premium (273 miles) and EX30 Extended Range (295 miles).

Ride and handling: The EV3 is a very comfortable small electric SUV. The suspension absorbs bumps really well in town and on the motorway, which allows for a really pleasant driving experience. It's roughly on a par with the larger Skoda Elroq for ride comfort, but it copes better with road imperfections than the #1 and EX30.

Through corners, the EV3 exhibits more body lean than the #1, Elroq and EX30. It isn’t especially agile, but a twisty rural road isn’t really where it feels most at home. Instead, it’s best suited to more open, flowing roads, where it settles into a calm, comfortable and easygoing drive.

Interior and practicality: The driving position in the EV3 places you higher up than in most rivals, including the #1, Elroq and Kona Electric. It certainly feels like an SUV, as opposed to a raised hatchback.

As for getting comfortable, the EV3's driver’s seat and steering wheel offer plenty of adjustment. Our only minor grumble is that entry-level Air models don't have adjustable lumbar support – although lower back support is adequate without this. Some drivers might find the small climate control panel beside the infotainment screen is blocked by the steering wheel, too.

Forward visibility is generally good. While the thick rear pillars do limit the view backwards, all cars come with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard to help when manoeuvring. Range-topping GT-Line S models get a 360-degree reversing camera to help even more.

All EV3s come with a 12.3in infotainment system and 12.3in digital driver’s display, as well as a small 5.3in screen wedged between the two for the climate controls. Helpfully, there are dedicated physical climate controls below the main screen, which are easier to operate than the touchscreen-based systems in the #1 and Elroq.

The infotainment system itself is pretty intuitive. It features sharp graphics, a quick response and a simple layout, being easier to use than the system in the #1. Even so, the Google-based system in the Renault 4 is better still.

Interior quality, for the most part, is very good. There’s some soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and doors, and while hard plastics are used in places, they do feel robust. Overall, the #1 feels more plush inside.

Thanks to the wide and tall interior, there’s plenty of room for two six-footers in the front of the EV3. It’s pretty good in the back seats, too, where there's more space than the EX30 and R4. The larger Elroq, which is from the class above, is a touch more spacious in the back.

In the boot, there’s 460 litres of space. That’s more than you get in the #1, Avenger Electric and EX30, but it’s roughly the same size as the Kona Electric’s. In fact, both the EV3 and Kona Electric both managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below the load cover.

All EV3s have a height-adjustable boot floor, plus 25 litres of extra storage under the bonnet, which is a handy spot for stowing the charging cable. If you need to carry long items, the seats split in a 60/40 configuration, which is similar to most small electric SUVs.

Trims and equipment: There are three trim levels for the EV3: Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S. The entry-level Air trim is very well equipped, offering heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic LED headlights, automatic air conditioning, keyless entry and start and adaptive cruise control as standard.

Depending on your range needs, you can have Air trim with either battery size. GT-Line and GT-Line S, on the other hand, are only available with the Long Range battery.

GT-Line adds larger 19in alloy wheels, sportier styling, wireless phone-charging and rear privacy glass. Meanwhile, range-topping GT-Line S comes with the upgraded eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats and a powered tailgate.

"I like how easy it is to adjust the regenerative braking system in the EV3. You simply tap the plus or minus paddles behind the steering wheel to flick between the modes." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

If you're interested in buying a used Kia EV3 or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Used Kia EV3 prices start from around £24,000, which gets you a 2025 Standard Range model in entry-level Air trim. For a Long Range version, expect to pay from around £26,000 for an Air model and £28,000 for a GT-Line. If you're looking for a newer 2026 Standard Range Air, budget at least £28,000. At the top of the range, Long Range GT-Line S models start from around £34,000.

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Charging

The maximum charging speed in the EV3 depends on the size of the battery. The Standard Range can manage up to 100kW, which means a 10-80% charge should take around half an hour. The Long Range can charge at up to 135kW but, because the battery is bigger, a 10-80% charge will take a couple of minutes longer.

Road tax

All versions of the EV3 are subject to the current flat rate fee of road tax, which is £200. Electric cars costing more than £50,000 when new are subject to the £440 luxury car tax surcharge, which lasts for five years from the second year of registration.

Insurance

The EV3 Air sits in insurance group 35, but GT-Line and GT-Line S versions are in group 37. This means it will cost around the same as the EX30 to insure, but the #1, Avenger Electric and Kona Electric are cheaper, because they sit in lower groups.

Servicing

Kia’s three-year service plan for the EV3 costs £389 and covers the first three services. By comparison, Skoda charges £744 for a two-year service plan for the Elroq, which includes two MOTs. Renault’s two-year service plan for the Scenic costs £494.56, although MOTs are not included.

Warranty

From new, every EV3 comes with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. That’s one of the best in the business, being more generous than the three-year, 60,000-mile offerings from Skoda, Volkswagen and Volvo. The main drive battery is covered for eight years.

Safety

The Kia EV3 was awarded the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2025 when equipped with the optional DriveWise Safety Pack, which is a standard feature on all cars in the UK. The car without the pack only scored four stars, but this doesn’t apply to UK models

In terms of safety kit, the EV3 comes very well equipped. All cars have lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot collision avoidance, a driver attention monitoring system and automatic emergency braking (AEB). The AEB system can detect both pedestrians and cyclists. It also looks out for vehicles at junctions.

Reliability

The EV3 has proven to be reliable, according to the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. It topped the electric SUV category, scoring a perfect 100%, with no reported faults over the past year of ownership. As a brand, Kia also performed well.

To find out more about used Kia EV3 reliability, visit our dedicated reliability page.

Motor and battery

The price jump between Standard Range and Long Range isn’t huge, but the gain in range is considerable, so we think it’s worth going for the big battery version if you can. Performance in both versions is similar, too.

Specification

The entry-level Air trim is really well equipped for the money. We don’t think GT-Line trim is worth the extra cost, while GT-Line S pushes the price up considerably.

Our favourite Kia EV3: 81.4kWh Air

The Volvo EX30 is a comfortable and refined small electric SUV that’s brilliant value as a used buy. It typically undercuts the EV3 for both small and big battery versions. The interior looks smart and modern, too, but the touchscreen-based interior controls are frustrating to use on the move.

The Smart #1 is closely related to the EX30. It doesn’t offer the same long-range battery options as the EV3 or EX30, but it still makes a compelling alternative thanks to its high-quality interior, generous standard equipment and surprisingly roomy rear seats. Its main drawback is a relatively small boot.

The Skoda Elroq is a slightly larger option, but used examples with small and mid-range batteries sit in a similar price bracket to the EV3. It’s a standout for ride comfort, with a well-judged balance between comfort and control. Interior space is generous front and rear, making it particularly appealing for families.

The Skoda Enyaq sits above the Elroq in size, but it’s still well worth a look as an EV3 alternative. Since it’s been around for a few years now, early used examples are excellent value, yet it delivers a spacious interior, impressive ride comfort and lots of standard kit. Versions with the big battery can now be found at relatively accessible prices, too.

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If you're interested in buying a used Kia EV3 or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.