Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Kia's new EV starts cheap but quickly gets expensiveThere's a new affordable EV on the market and it may just be the pick of what remains a small group. Revealed in April, the 2027 Kia EV3 is the Korean automaker's smallest EV in the U.S., but it's got most of the technology and design flair found in larger Kia models. Now, we know what it costs, and the good news is that the EV3 is even cheaper than anticipated. We expected the new EV3 to start at around $35,000, but it starts at under $30,000 for the base trim, emerging as an immediate threat to the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf. Here's a full breakdown of the EV3's pricing.Kia EV3 Joins The Sub-$30,000 EV Club2027 Kia EV3KiaThe 2027 Kia EV3 starts at $29,890 for the Light trim, joining the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt as an EV you can buy new for under $30,000. That price excludes a destination charge of $1,385, but it's still significantly cheaper than expected. Here's pricing for the entire EV3 lineup.TrimBase PriceLight$29,890Wind$34,990Land$38,490GT-Line$43,490GT$45,890The price rises quickly after the base trim and there's a gap of over $15,000 between the cheapest model and top-spec GT. On the Wind and Land, you can add all-wheel drive for $3,700 and $3,200, respectively. The GT-Line and GT get AWD equipped as standard. 2027 Kia EV3KiaBy comparison, the Nissan Leaf starts at $29,990, making it $100 more expensive to start. The Bolt remains the cheapest new EV at $27,600. But pricing is only one part of the equation—what do you actually get from the entry-level EV3 and is it a better deal than these rivals?Kia EV3 Vs. Nissan Leaf Vs. Chevrolet Bolt2027 Chevrolet Bolt vs 2026 Nissan LEAFCole AttishaView the 1 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementBased on performance, range, and efficiency, the cheapest Leaf and Bolt outperform the EV3, but the Kia leads in charging speed.Kia EV3 LightNissan Leaf S+Chevrolet Bolt LTPowertrainSingle-motor FWDSingle-motor FWDSingle-motor FWDHorsepower201 hp214 hp210 hpTorque209 lb-ft261 lb-ft169 lb-ft0-60 mph7.1 seconds6.9 seconds6.7 secondsBattery58.3 kWh75 kWh65 kWhMaximum DC charging speed350 kW150 kW150 kWRange221 miles303 miles262 milesMPGe rating (combined)115 MPGe121 MPGe120 MPGePerformance is similar for all three models; the Leaf and Bolt's figures are based on Car and Driver testing, while Kia claims 7.1 seconds for the EV3's 0-60 run. The EV3 Light has the shortest range of the group (due primarily to its smaller battery) and is slightly less efficient than its rivals, but it boasts the fastest charging speeds.2027 Kia EV3KiaThe EV3's packaging is the best of the group, though. It has significantly more rear legroom than the Leaf and a much bigger trunk than the Bolt. The EV3 comes with standard features like dual-zone automatic climate control, dual 12.3-inch displays, adaptive cruise control, and a SynTex-wrapped steering wheel. This specification roughly matches what you can get in rivals at a similar price.Of course, the EV3 gets much more power and equipment as you progress through the trim levels. The top model makes 288 hp and a range of up to 321 miles is available with the Wind variant. Final Thoughts2027 Kia EV3KiaOn paper, the base Kia EV3 doesn't surpass the Leaf or Bolt, which offer more range and slightly better performance. But, based on our initial impressions of the EV3, the Kia has the most showroom appeal of the group. That could be the factor that most favors the Kia over its trusted but more conservative rivals. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the low starting price is commendable, nicer EV3 trims quickly enter a price bracket occupied by larger, more powerful EVs like the Tesla Model Y and Toyota bZ, where it becomes harder to justify. But at under the $35k mark, it's a welcome addition to the budget EV segment.Related: America's Smallest Electric Kia Will Be Built In MexicoThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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