The Concept EV3 is shown to the public at the Kia EV Day event for the first time. Its square form makes it look like the bigger EV5 and EV9. Even though nothing is official yet, Kia will almost certainly state that the EV3 will be sold in the US. The Concept EV3 and Concept EV4 cars from Kia are the company’s next step in selling electric cars in various price ranges and market segments. Since most of what we’ve seen so far has been on the bigger side of window stickers, here’s what Kia has in mind for when it starts to make them smaller. We mean it when we say “shrink those dimensions down,” so pay attention to what we say. The EV3 takes a lot of ideas from the EV5, which got its ideas from the bigger EV9. The 5s and 7s have sharper lines but have been rounded off. This helps to counteract how design languages can feel old-fashioned when different generations use them. Not only does the EV5 have cool four-spoke wheels, but it also has some intelligent differences from the EV9. The EV3 does the same. With this new line of tough-looking EVs, Kia is undoubtedly sure of its design. The Kia was able to fit a lot of excellent design features into a small body. The trim around the cut-off wheel wells gives the car an edge, and the vital body panels go well with it. The “floating” C-pillar design at the back makes the taillights stand out. They almost reach the wheels because they follow the shape of the body. The rising bumper trim on the trunk keeps up the rough look. This should all seem subdued compared to concept cars because the EV3 should go from being an idea to being made quickly. Thankfully, the interior brings back some old-fashioned thoughts about the big picture. Like the Magic Seat on the first Honda Fit, the back bench folds up to make room for a bike or scooter. Kia’s vehicle-to-load charging lets you charge your scooter or bike while you’re out and about. A side table of mycelium derived from fungi is placed between the front seats. This furniture type is becoming increasingly popular in interior design as companies look for materials that are better for the environment. The rest of the interior seems light and airy because the seats are thin, and two screens rise from the dashboard. The EV3 and Concept EV4 have the strangest temperature control systems ever made. Instead of vents, a bunch of small jets move around on their own to change the flow of air. The whole lower part of the house is lit up because it makes sense. Kia didn’t want to discuss the engine because it was just an idea. Since the concept looks like it can be made immediately and Kia wants to make a significant dent in the EV market by the decade’s end, we don’t have to wait long. No question, we’ll soon find out what the EV3 will be powered by and whether it will be sent to the US.
