2025 Kia EV3: Playing Second Fiddle to the EV5

The 2025 Kia EV3 may be the brand’s smallest and most affordable electric vehicle, but it won’t be Kia’s best-selling EV in Australia—at least not yet. Despite high expectations, supply constraints and market prioritisation mean the EV3 will take second place behind the larger EV5 in Kia’s electric lineup.

EV3 vs. EV5: Kia’s “Tag Team” EV Strategy

Kia Australia is forecasting 4000-5000 annual sales for the EV3, compared to 5000-6000 for the EV5. Chief Operating Officer Dennis Piccoli confirmed the EV3’s success hinges on supply availability, with higher-priority markets like Korea and Europe limiting Australian allocations.

“The car’s launched pretty well and been very well received in Korea and Europe as well, so at this stage, the volume plan is around 4000-plus, 4-5000 [units] per annum,” Piccoli said.

“We’ll see how it goes – that volume is predicated on what we can get in terms of supply.”

Despite this, Kia’s marketing boss Dean Norbiato insists the EV3 and EV5 will complement rather than compete with each other. The EV3 is targeted at empty nesters and small families, while the EV5 is aimed at multi-kid families, fleets, and small businesses.

“It’s more of a tag team than a tug of war,” Norbiato said.

Why the EV3 Matters for Kia Australia

With Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) tightening emissions regulations, Kia must balance its internal combustion engine (ICE) lineup with strong EV sales. The EV3 plays a crucial role in offsetting emissions from high-polluting models like the upcoming Tasman ute and Kia’s diesel SUVs.

“EV3’s very important for us, and we need to sell a nice number with NVES looming and coming our way,” said Kia Australia’s product planning general manager Roland Rivero.

“We have every intent of still continuing a very broad range of product in the Kia stable, and EV3 has to play an important part in allowing the ICE products to still be sold.”

Kia’s 2025 Sales Target: A Strong EV Push

Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith expects 90,000 sales in 2025, with EVs making up around 10,000 units. The EV3 and EV5 will be key to hitting this target, ensuring Kia meets emissions regulations without sacrificing its popular diesel and petrol models.

How Much Does the Kia EV3 Cost?

The 2025 Kia EV3 is built on Kia’s e-GMP platform and is priced from $47,600 plus on-road costs, topping out at $63,950. The EV5, built on the N3 eK platform, ranges from $56,770 to $71,770.

Final Thoughts

While the EV3 may not be Kia’s best-selling EV, it remains a critical piece of the brand’s future in Australia. If supply improves, Kia could see stronger numbers—especially as NVES pressures push more buyers toward electric vehicles.

At Tynan Kia, we’re excited to see how the EV3 and EV5 shape Kia’s electric future. Whether you’re looking for a compact EV for urban driving or a larger SUV for the family, we’ve got you covered. Visit us today to learn more! ⚡🚗

Ensure you search the Tynan stock through our link here.

Credit: CarSales.com.au