The Kia EV3 GT isn’t just another badge exercise. It’s where things actually start to get serious.
We’ve seen the big guns before. The EV6 GT saloon. The massive EV9 SUV. Those are flagships. You see them occasionally. They cost a fortune. They sit at the top of the food chain. But the EV3 GT changes the game entirely. It drags Kia’s performance sub-brand out of the luxury stratosphere and drops it squarely into the sub-£50,000 bracket. This is the most accessible entry point. The one that matters for the mass market.
So what are you actually buying for that money?
Look at the visuals. Acid-green accents slash through the design. Neatly repainted LED bumpers and skirts frame the bodywork. A set of Pirelli P-Zero tires grips the tarmac. It looks the part. But the real story is under the skin.
The battery is an 81.4kWh unit. It’s borrowed directly from the mainline EV3 Long Range model. That gives you a claimed range of 311 miles. Charging tops out at a modest 128kW, so it won’t win any speed records at the plug. But it’s reliable. It’s proven.
The powertrain is a dual-motor setup. The front motor puts out 194bhp. That’s 100bhp more than the rear motor. Together they deliver 288bhp total.
Is that enough power for two tonnes of metal? Yes. Surprisingly so. You hit 62mph in 5.7 seconds. That’s quick. Not hypercar quick. But quick enough to make commuting interesting.
The “Undemanding” Performance Philosophy
How does it drive? This is where Kia draws a line in the sand.
There’s been R&D crossover with Hyundai’s N division, obviously. But the DNA is different. Hyundai wants adrenaline. They want track-day aggression. They want you to sweat.
Kia wants something else. They want undemanding performance. The GT models are tuned to offer a bit more bite than the base cars. A little extra spark in the overtaking lane. But nothing so aggressive that it wears thin after three weeks.
“Those looking for an electric replacement for their Toyota GYaris should therefore steer clear.”
I tested it on a track. A corner-starved route around Namyang. The dampers have three modes. The settings are relatively relaxed. The car has a heavyset demeanour. It feels planted. Stable.
It’s a GT car by nature and name. Grand Tourer. Not Hot Hatch.
If you want sharp reflexes. If you want a car that talks back. If you miss the rawness of your old combustion engine, this isn’t for you. But if you want an electric hot hatch that feels sporty without being exhausting, the EV3 GT sits in a sweet spot. It’s accessible performance. For the first time, it’s affordable too.
