The Kia EV3 has had one of the longest roll-outs of any vehicle we can remember. It made its debut in early 2024, before winning an award a full year ago. We drove it in May, and even the faster GT model has already been revealed in Europe.But the baby EV9 has finally, officially arrived in the US, making its debut in New York. There are some US-specific differences, like a new charge port and a special appearance package, but otherwise, this is the vehicle CarBuzz has already called "one of the most complete family electric cars around." US Kia Gets NACS, Two Battery Packs Kia We'll get the changes out of the way off the bat. The American-bound 2027 Kia EV3 will get an NACS charge port and will have Plug and Charge capability from launch. Kia will also sell a Nightfall black trim pack that's designed for the US. It gets black wheels and badges and a dark grey interior. Kia calls it "a more serious character."The EV3 is based on the same 400-volt E-GMP platform as the rest of Kia's EV models. There will be two battery options in the US, the 58.3 kWh standard-range offered only in the Light trim, and an 81.4 kWh pack offered in Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT.Getting the small pack means front-wheel drive and 220 miles of range, though Kia didn't give a horsepower figure. In the rest of the world it makes 201 hp, so we'll jot that down for now. The large pack comes with the option of AWD, though front-drivers will get up to 320 miles. Kia didn't give a range number for AWD.Kia AWD models make 261 horsepower, but if you need more, then there will also be an EV3 GT. It's not as beefy as the EV6 GT, but it gets 288 hp. It also offers virtual gear shifts and active sound to make it feel "more spirited."With the smaller pack, an EV3 can charge from 10% to 80% in 29 minutes, while the larger back takes 31. That sounds like the same 102 kW and 128 kW speeds quoted in Europe.E-GMP allows for vehicle-to-load, so you can power stuff like a laptop or coffee maker on the road. It also has vehicle-to-home, which can let you power your house or sell back power to the grid on-demand. This needs extra home hardware, though. No Heated Seats In An EV? Kia The styling looks like a smaller EV9. It has similar star map accent lighting, though the nose is more curved than the big one, letting air pass more easily over the hood. From the rear, they're almost identical, and the side profiles are quite similar. It's the blocky take on Kia's Opposites United design language, and it makes for a good-looking small crossover.On the inside, there are two 12.3-inch screens in a shared bezel. On the drive last year, CarBuzz called the interior space "perfectly adequate" and described the design as "comfortable with lots of functionality." This includes lots of storage space and a clever fold-away laptop table.Dual-zone climate control will come standard, but strangely for an electric, heated seats are optional. Ventilated seats are also an option. In the back, passengers can recline up to 39 degrees and get their own air vents for surprising levels of comfort in this size class.Speaking of which, the EV3 will hold 26.1 cubic feet of stuff behind the rear seats and 56.5 with everything folded. The front holds just under one cubic foot. That's about the same amount as the gas Seltos can haul, which is seven inches longer.The 2027 Kia EV3 should go on sale in the US in late 2026. Kia will announce pricing closer to it hitting dealers.
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