MAKATI CITY, Philippines — Kia Philippines expanded its local electric lineup with the September 21 rollout of the EV3, pricing the subcompact model at P1.898 million (roughly $30,400) to take aim directly at rival battery-powered options. The Ayala-backed distributor introduced the nameplate in a solitary GL trim, slotted beneath the larger EV5 and EV9 flagships. Early buyers receive a promotional 30,000-peso reduction along with a complimentary home wall-box charger and five years of free scheduled maintenance. Built on a dedicated 400-volt configuration of the Electric-Global Modular Platform, the EV3 employs nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry. In the Philippine market, it utilizes a 58.3-kilowatt-hour battery yielding up to 511 kilometers of driving distance under NEDC testing, translating to roughly 430 kilometers on the WLTP cycle. Global markets also receive an 81.4-kWh Long Range variant capable of traveling up to 605 kilometers between plugs. Juicing up via an 11-kilowatt alternating-current connection takes five hours and 20 minutes to jump from 10 to 80 percent, while direct-current fast charging achieves that benchmark in 29 minutes. Integrated bi-directional vehicle-to-load capability lets the high-voltage system run external appliances and electronics. Propulsion flows exclusively to the front axle through a permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 204 horsepower and 283 newton-meters of pulling force, yielding a zero-to-100 km/h acceleration run in 7.5 seconds and a governed maximum velocity of 170 km/h. The Kia EV3 for the Philippine market. (Photo from Kia PH) Beneath the hood sits a weather-sealed 25-liter secondary compartment designed for charging leads, complementing the 460-liter rear hold that expands to 1,251 liters once the back bench collapses. Dimensionally, the sport utility spans 4,300 millimeters in total length, 1,850 millimeters across, and 1,560 millimeters tall, resting over a 2,680-millimeter wheelbase with an unladen mass of approximately 1,800 kilograms. Interior accommodation handles five passengers across two rows, utilizing a flat floor that dispenses with a central transmission tunnel. Between the forward buckets rests an extendable sliding console table tailored for parked work or meals, surrounded by upholstery made largely from recycled PET plastics and bio-polyurethanes. The driver faces a panoramic layout encompassing nearly 30 inches across three segments: a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, a 5.3-inch climate interface, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen supporting wireless smartphone synchronization. Aesthetically, the vehicle mimics the upright silhouette of its stablemates. Appointments include a revamped digital tiger face grille flanked by vertical signature illumination, flush pop-out handles, 17-inch alloy wheels, and an integrated roof rack. Industry watchers note the entry occupies a fierce niche, competing squarely against China’s BYD Atto 3 while undercutting incoming Japanese contenders like Suzuki’s e Vitara. Kia also relies heavily on ACMobility’s accelerating national charging infrastructure rollout to reassure prospective adopters. Ownership coverage bundles a five-year, 160,000-kilometer general warranty alongside eight years of protection for the high-voltage battery.