Tesla Model 3/Y Watch Out: Kia EV3 and EV4 Concepts Unveiled as Affordable Alternatives

In case you’re wondering, yes, those pricing estimates are official, with Kia announcing plans to price its EV line-up from $30,000 to $80,000. This price range would include not just the existing EV6 and EV9, but also future B and C-segment models, meaning also the likes of the EV5, EV4 and EV3.

Pricing for the latter three will range from $35,000 to $50,000, which should accelerate EV adoption in emerging markets.

“As a sustainable mobility solutions provider, Kia’s transition to electric vehicles is a must, not an option. By developing advanced EV technology, bold design, and intuitive services, and applying them to our entire EV line-up, our ultimate aim is to provide Kia’s unique value to as many people as possible. The acceleration towards electrification begins now,” stated company President and CEO, Ho Sung Song.

Kia Concept EV3

The EV3 is basically Kia’s idea of a compact crossover utility vehicle, a sort of mini EV9, if you will. Visually, the idea was to inspire pure joy with this design, combining this type of emotional response with logical packaging.

As you can see, the exterior of the EV3 concept (or Concept EV3, whatever), is highly modern, bordering on futuristic, while also looking “cute,” in the same way that a Volvo EX30 looks cute. So, in a way, the design philosophy is the same. Carmakers have already figured out that people expect EVs to be styled differently than traditional crossovers with internal combustion engines.

This is a double-edged sword, to be fair, but for the time being at least, expect to see increasingly more electric vehicles looking like they just came out of a Black Mirror episode.

Inside, the EV3 concept is meant to promote emotional wellbeing with its soft mood lighting, clean shapes and surfaces, ergonomic seats and, of course, its environmentally friendly materials. There are a total of four customer experience-enhancing modes supported by the tables inside – Focus, Social, Refreshing and Storage.

Meanwhile, the folding bench-like rear seat can be folded upward, which in turn can allow for storing bulky bags or things such as bicycles and electric scooters.

When can we expect to see the EV3 on the road in the United States? Sometime next year at the earliest, although the EV4 (and we’re about to talk about it), should take a little longer to reach production-ready form.

Kia Concept EV4

Apparently, this is an EV sedan, as suggested by its four-door notchback design with a seemingly horizontal trunk lid opening. But like we pointed out in this recent editorial about fastbacks, you shouldn’t expect sedans to look like sedans anymore. The EV4 concept is a perfect example of that.

Visually, it’s a lot more dynamic-looking than the EV3, but then again this is a different type of vehicle, a possible Tesla Model 3 rival. We like its wide stance, as well as the Polestar 5-like headlight positioning. It’s tough to be original nowadays when we’ve seen just about every single possible light cluster configuration imaginable.

Inside, you get a clean horizontal layout where the air conditioning panel can be stored in the center console when not in use. It’s a clever design, we’ll give them that.

Naturally, once in production form, neither the EV3 nor the EV4 will look 100% as they do right now as concept cars. Then again, the differences are likely to be minimal, seeing as how EVs are expected to appear as futuristic as possible nowadays, both inside and out.

Generative AI

In the first half of 2024, Kia will launch its appropriately named ‘Kia App’, featuring an AI chatbot capable of providing quick responses to pertinent questions. Furthermore, the carmaker will embrace generative AI technology in order to revolutionize the in-vehicle experience.

This will allow customers to access services such as schedule management, electric vehicle route optimization, travel planning, entertainment, and emergency support simply by having a conversation with the generative AI assistant.

This technology will first debut in the 2024 EV3 crossover, with subsequent integration into the EV4 and EV5. The system will, of course, receive over-the-air updates from then on, and we genuinely expect to see some pretty amazing things on this front – such as the ability to harness virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality technology inside these vehicles.

Should Tesla really worry?

At some point, they have to. Kia has set an annual sales target of one million electric vehicles by 2026, which should increase to 1.6 million units per year by the end of the decade.

Meanwhile, Tesla sold 1.3 million cars last year, so it’s evident that they cannot afford to leave the range “as is” and must continue to develop new models for various new segments, while also updating their existing vehicles at a quicker pace than before.

You know who should be really worried though? The likes of Ford, seeing as how their electric car portfolio is limited to say the least, and none of their electrification plans seem as bold as what Kia has in store.