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.
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.
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.
Note that the details in this guide are from information provided to global media. While some Canadian dealers have stated they expect to receive the EV3, Kia Canada has not yet formally confirmed this nor detailed exactly which features and variants would 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. 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. A more performance-oriented EV3 GT has also been confirmed, which we expect to be the top of the line and is rumoured to have upwards of 300 horsepower.
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. This makes it similar in size to the gas-powered Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona subcompact SUVs, as well as the Volkswagen ID.3. It’s also slightly larger than the discontinued Chevrolet Bolt but smaller than the Tesla Model 3 and Audi Q3.
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 and other Kia models such as the Seltos and Sorento 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
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 also underpins Hyundai-badged EVs such as the Ioniq 5. The base model’s Standard 58.3 kWh battery has an expected range of 436 kilometre under European WLTP testing methods. The Long Range 81.4 kWh battery has an estimated WLTP range of 605 kilometres. Both figures are better than the EV3’s closest competition, the Volvo EX30. Canadian testing regimens are more rigorous, so expect official range estimates for our market to be slightly lower. The EV3’s batteries will include a revised chemistry that improves energy density by 22%.
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 used in the EV3’s bigger siblings, the EV6 and EV9. The trade-off is this will help the EV3’s affordability. A new Driving Range Guide feature calculates real-world range estimates based on the driver’s behaviour and habits.
In front-wheel drive (FWD) format, either iterant is expected to offer 201 horsepower and 208 pound-feet of torque from a single 150 kW electric motor. This setup will allow 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 and GT versions are expected to come with more power from dual motors with an all-wheel-drive powertrain, with the former going from 0 to 100 km/h in under seven seconds and the latter in under six. 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. As with other Kia EVs, the degree of regenerative braking can be adjusted via steering wheel-mounted paddles.
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 have a new car price in Canada in the $45,000 to $60,000 range, with the highest end being occupied by the AWD EV3 GT. This would permit the EV3 to qualify for the remaining EV purchase rebates.
The 2026 Kia EV3 launched first in Korea in July 2024, while the European-market version launches in the second half of 2025. We expect the Kia EV3 to arrive in North America sometime in mid to late 2025 as a 2026 model.