Kia EV3 AWD and hot GT variants confirmed for Australia

Kia’s smallest and most attainable electric vehicle – the EV3 compact SUV – has just launched in Australia with a four-strong model lineup, but the Korean brand’s local arm has now confirmed dual-motor all-wheel drive and high-performance GT versions are also on the way.

Speaking with media at the Australian launch of the 2025 Kia EV3, general manager for product planning at Kia Australia, Roland Rivero, confirmed the as-yet-unrevealed EV3 AWD and the EV3 GT AWD will come here, but “not this year”.

“[Kia] Global already let it slip in Korea – yes, there is a GT AWD to come. Very much a performance oriented version. There will also be a twin-motor all-wheel drive variant, so watch this space,” Mr Rivero said.

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Off the back of the international launch in Seoul last year, CarExpert caught wind of preliminary details of the upcoming dual-motor variants – though Kia wouldn’t confirm any of the more specific details.

CarExpert understands both the EV3 AWD and EV3 GT will utilise the larger 81.4kWh Long Range battery pack, with the GT hero potentially aiming for a total power output of around 250kW. Kia officially says the vehicle “still under development and may undergo changes”.

The high-performance variant is understood to be targeting a sub-6.0-second 0-100km/h acceleration time, which is a little slower than the sub-4.0-second times quoted by the larger EV6 GT and EV9 GT models. Perhaps some of the “changes” to be come will be an even more potent drivetrain.

Twin-motor versions of the EV3 are expected to be revealed at some point later this year, with an Australian launch expected in 2026 based on Mr Rivero’s comments. Later in a one-on-one interview, Mr Rivero indicated Australians can expect GT-Line AWD and GT AWD models to bolster the upper end of the small electric SUV range.

The 2025 Kia EV3 lineup arrives in Australia with two battery sizes and a sole single-motor drivetrain, producing 150kW and 283Nm. WLTP range for the Standard Range is a claimed 436km, extending to up to 604km for the Long Range.

Pricing starts from $47,600 before on-road costs or $48,990 drive-away (excluding WA), making the EV3 the most affordable electric vehicle from the Korean carmaker yet. Its next most attainable EV is the larger EV5, which is priced from $56,770 drive-away.

Kia Australia expects to sell around 400 EV3s per month in its debut year in the Australian market, translating to annual volume around the 4800-unit mark.

That would eclipse Kia’s entire 2024 run of EV sales with just one model line, and snap at the heels of the popular BYD Atto 3 EV (5751 units in 2024).

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