August 12, 2026 - Kia EV3 Priced From $31,385 In US

This is the Telemetry Transportation Daily for August 12, 2026, and I'm Sam Abuelsamid, Vice President of Market Research for Telemetry. 

Kia's new entry-level electric vehicle for the US market is finally coming very soon in the form of the EV3. The EV3 has been on sale globally for nearly two years, but the Trump administration's policy reversals on EVs caused a rethinking of the brand's strategy for the U.S. This included the cancellation of the EV4 compact sedan that was supposed to launch in late 2025 and the delay of the EV3 small crossover. The Trump tariff regime caused Kia to shift production from South Korea to Mexico.

The base EV3 Light with a 58.3-kWh battery and front-wheel drive will start at $31,385, including the $1,495 destination charge and provide an estimated 221 miles of range on a charge. Stepping up to the Wind trim with the extended-range battery and an impressive 321 miles of range adds $5,100 to the price, while all-wheel drive adds $3,700 and reduces the range to a still respectable 280 miles. At the top of the range is the GT with 288 horsepower, 345 lb-ft of torque, and virtual shifting and active sound design similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. The EV3 GT totals $47,385, including delivery. 

The EV3 is a surprisingly roomy small crossover with a fully usable back seat for adults. It's based on a 400-volt version of the e-GMP platform that underpins other Hyundai Motor Group EVs. Unlike the 800-volt variants, DC fast charging won't be as quick, but Kia doesn't list a specific peak charging power. The automaker claims the smaller battery will charge from 10-80% in 29 minutes, while the larger battery will take 31 minutes, so peak charging is probably about 150 kW. Unlike the 800-volt models, the EV3 should be able to achieve its full potential charging speed when using Tesla Superchargers and match the overall charging time of cars like the Model 3 and Y. Like other Kia EVs, the EV3 has an SAE J3400/NACS charging port, and it comes bundled with adapters to use CCS or J1772 chargers. 

For most drivers, the EV3 will provide a great, affordable EV option, with even the base model under $30,000 providing more than enough range as a daily commuter. The longe-range Wind in the $36,000 range will even make a decent road trip vehicle. Hopefully we'll get to drive and review it soon, but this should prove a popular option in an environment of high gas prices. 

Thanks for listening.