Kia EV3 Spied With Toned Down Concept Looks, Due as 2025 Model in North America

Set to sit at the base of the company's EV high-riding lineup in North America, with the even smaller EV2 joining it in Europe, the Kia EV3 was previewed by a concept last year. More recently, the model has entered the testing and fine-tuning phase, with our vigilant spy photographers scooping a few prototypes doing their thing in the cold in Sweden.

We're not surprised to see it has similar proportions to the show car. Its design was toned down for production, as it has a new face with a different lighting signature, less swollen wheel arches, bigger side mirrors, a taller roof that doesn't arch as much towards the rear, visible door handles, and slightly longer front and rear overhangs, so it will also offer superior storage over the study.

Our spies managed to nab a pair of testers. One of them had a gray finish, and the other was presented in dark blue beneath the fake skin. They also rode on different sets of alloys; honestly, we like the latter's better, but the former's are not bad either, and we can see that the ones equipping the concept served as inspiration here. Chances are, together with the dedicated tires, both sets will help improve the car's range, as we are talking about an EV, after all.

Kia's upcoming EV3 is expected to utilize the E-GMP platform and might get the 400-volt tech to keep the pricing in check. We're not sure what powertrains the Korean company chose for it, but we think the most affordable variants will feature a single-motor setup. The range-topping EV3 GT, which will join the family, should launch with dual motors and an impressive output that will be unleashed at a hard tap of the right pedal.

It wasn't only the exterior that we get to see in these spy shots, but also the cabin. The overall styling is minimalist, and we see the large dual-screen sitting behind a single pane of glass, as well as numerous physical buttons. Kia chose to put the gear selector on the steering column, thus freeing the center console and making it look sleeker.

Due to the dedicated platform and what should be superior packaging, the Kia EV9 will likely take the upper ground over the similarly-sized Peugeot e-2008, Opel/Vauxhall Mokka-e, Ford Puma Gen-E, and other subcompact electric crossovers in the Old Continent. Rumors say it might be due early next year, and we think it will launch in the United States for the 2025 model year.