The 2026 Kia EV3 is a smaller and more affordable type of electric car, set to rival EVs like the Volvo EX30 electric SUV and even its own stablemate, the Kia Niro EV.
With the potential for a 500-kilometre-plus real-world range and a starting price below $45,000 Canadian, the EV3 subcompact crossover is being touted in some circles as the EV North Americans have been waiting for. Here’s everything we know so far about the 2026 Kia EV3. Be sure to bookmark this page: we’ll update it as we receive more information.
When the first round of mass-production electric vehicles hit the market, they were designed to be small and efficient to make the most of the limited range they had at the time. Since then, a newer crop of larger, longer-range EVs has hit the market and has nudged EV demand over into the mainstream. Fast forward to today, and a new round of electric vehicles is being prepared for market with diminutive footprints and ranges that go beyond their larger counterparts. Key among that new crop is the 2026 Kia EV3.
Note that the details in this guide are from information provided to global media. Kia Canada is not yet able to confirm exactly which features and elements will be integrated into Canadian models.
2026 Kia EV3 in Canada: What we know so far
- 2026 Kia EV3 styling
- 2026 Kia EV3 interior design and practicality
- 2026 Kia EV3 engines, motors and drive
- 2026 Kia EV3 price and release date
2026 Kia EV3 styling
There’s a clear family resemblance here: the Kia EV3 looks like the much larger Kia EV9 has been hit with a shrink ray. It features very similar angular front and rear lighting signatures and a boxy look that’s on trend with modern SUVs, emphasized by wheel designs featuring squared-off details. However, there’s still an emphasis on aerodynamics with flush front door handles and rear handles that are integrated into the window frames. Kia says it has achieved a drag coefficient of 0.263 on the EV3. A floating roof line and roof rails complete the modern SUV look.
An EV3 GT-line version has been announced that will feature a more rugged appearance, which we expect to be the top of the line-up. The GT-Line features contrasting front lower body trim, an integrated lower bumper with what Kia calls a “triangle wing” configuration, and more black-clad areas.
The EV3 measures up at 4,300 millimetres in length, 1,850 mm in width, 1,560 mm in height, and 2,680 mm in wheelbase.
A total of nine exterior colours will be offered globally, two of which are entirely new for the EV3: Aventurine Green and Terracotta. It’s not clear whether Kia Canada will choose to bring all of those colour options to our market as of this writing.
2026 Kia EV3 interior design and practicality
While the 2026 Kia EV3 is intended to be small, the brand says it’s designed to comfortably seat five occupants. The interior comes across in photographs as bright and airy. Global interior colour options will include Subtle Grey, Warm Grey, and Blue. Interestingly, an all-black interior will be exclusive to the GT-line trim. Kia says some interior configurations include sustainably sourced materials such as recycled fabric and recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics.
NBA fans will have the option to personalize their EV3’s dashboards and infotainment systems with team-inspired display themes. While it’s not yet clear whether Canada will receive this option or if the Toronto Raptors will be one of the available themes, we do need to admit that a We the North aesthetic in an EV3 would be kind of neat.
Like other Kia EVs, the centre console is set up in a floating configuration with plenty of space below for items such as purses or backpacks. A sliding table for laptops or tablets can be extended when the vehicle is stopped.
The technology setup here is very similar to that of the EV9 with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 5-inch climate control panel, and another 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. A 12-inch head-up display will also be available, as will the V2L (Vehicle to Load) technology seen in other EVs that allows small appliances like laptops or coffee makers to be plugged in and receive power directly from the vehicle’s battery.
Kia is launching a new AI Assistant with the EV3, though this feature won’t be available in North America right away. It’s expected to launch in South Korea first and later in Europe before expanding into other markets.
For storage, the 2026 Kia EV3 offers a 25-litre frunk as well as a 460-litre capacity at the rear. And although that means it’s significantly smaller than the petrol/hybrid-powered Kia Sportage, the rearward cargo hold also integrates a two-tier luggage board, which adds more than 14 cm of load height flexibility.
Hyundai Group’s Remote Smart Park Assist and Digital Key 2.0 augment other advanced driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, highway driving assist, and reverse parking collision avoidance assist.
2026 Kia EV3 engines, motors and drive
As of this writing, Kia is claiming an expected best-in-class driving range of 600 kilometres for the 2026 Kia EV3. However, this calculation is based on the European WLTP protocol. Canadian testing regimens are more rigorous, so expect official range estimates for our market to land in the neighbourhood of 450 to 500 km. Kia says the EV3 will recover charge from 10 to 80% at a Level 3 charger in 31 mins using a 400 volt architecture. That is a bit slower than the more expensive 800-volt charging systems that the EV3’s bigger siblings – the EV6 and EV9 – use. The trade-off is that this will help the EV3’s affordability.
The EV3 will be built on Korean manufacturer Hyundai Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (the E-GMP platform) using Kia’s fourth-generation battery technology – which ealso underpins Hyundai-badged EVs such as the Ioniq 5. Globally, there will be a Standard base model with a 58.3 kWh battery and a Long Range model with an 81.4kWh battery. It is not yet clear as of this writing whether both versions will be sold in Canada. Either iterant is expected to offer 201 horsepower and 208 pound-feet of torque from a single 150 kW electric motor mounted at the front axle for front-wheel drive (FWD). In this setup, the EV3 will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds with a maximum top speed of 170 km/h. The GT-line version, which may not be available at launch, is expected to come with more power from dual motors with an all-wheel-drive powertrain. Kia’s eDTVC (Electric Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control) will be available.
Kia’s new i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking technology, which allows for true one-pedal driving, will debut on the 2026 Kia EV3.
2026 Kia EV3 price and release date
Pricing for the 2026 Kia EV3 in the United States is expected to range from $35,000 to $50,000. Once exchange rates and higher shipping costs are factored in, we anticipate the 2026 Kia EV3 will be priced in Canada in the $45,000 to $60,000 range, with the highest end being occupied by the AWD EV3 GT-line. This would permit the EV3 to qualify for federal EV purchase rebates as well as provincial and territorial incentive programs where they exist.
The 2026 Kia EV3 launched first in Korea in July 2024, while the European-market launched in the second half of 2025. We expect the Kia EV3 to arrive in North America sometime in mid-2025 as a 2026 model.
