Kia EV3 Earth (2025) with 58.3 kWh: World Car of the Year in the test
The Kia EV3 is off to a good start. True to the catchy Pokémon catch phrase: "Catch them all," the compact electric car not only won the 2025 Red Dot Award for Best Product Design and the 2024 Golden Steering Wheel, but was also recently named "World Car of the Year 2025."
The EV3 thus prevailed against strong competition from the BMW X3 and Hyundai Inster . Registrations in Germany are also steadily on the rise. In the first quarter of 2025, 1,716 units were released onto local roads. The car seems to strike a chord. But can the Kia EV3 impress not only with the long-range variant but also with the standard-range version and 58.3 kWh battery?
Somehow, the EV3, with its compact, bulky design, appears larger than it actually is. Furthermore, the clean surface, without protruding door handles, makes it appear significantly longer. The narrowing windows towards the rear, with the strip extending over the D-pillar to the roof spoiler, also elongate the South Korean car.
A quick glance at the specs... no, it's still 4.31 meters long. And at 2.68 meters, the wheelbase is appropriate, ensuring short overhangs. Otherwise, the SUV relies on familiar and popular features: the robust-looking hard plastic wheel arches, for example, or the range-optimized rims. With the sleek light signatures and the delicate strip at the front, it all feels very modern.
The Kia EV3 doesn't boast about its performance figures, even if its 150 kW (204 hp) still elicits a "wow!" from those less familiar with e-mobility in this class – followed by a "I don't really need that much power!" And yes, it's true. What the EV3 offers here is more than sufficient for all eventualities. Enough power to comfortably cruise along or perform a quick overtaking maneuver.
The alternatives to the Kia EV3:
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