- Kia’s dedicated EV for the compact SUV market receives the prestigious award of ‘Best Car Below €40,000’
- The Golden Steering Wheel Awards are one of the most important prizes in the German automotive industry
- The EV3 has a segment-leading range of up to 605 km and offers the versatility and affordability to be the main car of the household
- Praised for its style, space, tech and value, the EV3 is one of the most efficient EVs on the market
- The EV3 recently won the ‘Car of the Year for 2024’ at the Electrifying.com Awards and the ‘Small SUV/Crossover of the Year’ at the News UK Motor Awards
Despite only being launched this month, the Kia EV3 has won its third major award. This winning streak continues by receiving the coveted ‘Best Car Below €40,000’ title at the 2024 Golden Steering Wheel Awards. The win continues Kia’s impressive track record in these awards, with the EV9, Niro EV, Sorento and XCeed all having received titles in previous years.
Launched in 1976, and presented by AUTO BILD and BILD am SONNTAG, the Golden Steering Wheel Awards combine a public vote with expert reviews and are considered one of the most important prizes in the German automotive industry. With a segment-leading range of up to 605 km and an innovative interior design that optimises space, comfort and accessibility, the EV3 impressed the judges and reviewers, to come out on top in a highly competitive segment.
“It’s an honor to receive this award, as it is a recognition from the general public as well as industry professionals” said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design. “With its unique combination of Design, Useability and Technology, the EV3 is the result of the dedication and commitment of our engineers, strategists and designers at Kia to making sustainable mobility accessible to all.”
A total of 78 vehicles were nominated by two editorial teams in seven categories, before readers selected the finalists. A prominent 18-member jury put the finalists through extensive testing at the DEKRA Lausitzring race circuit, in Schipkau, Germany. DEKRA analysed the driver assistance systems, while the editorial team at Computer Bild evaluated each vehicle’s competence in connectivity.
Robin Hornig, chief editor of AUTO BILD commented: “A golden start for the new Kia EV3! It offers a lot of features and solid ranges at an attractive price – a convincing offer for those who value price and performance. And it’s a safe investment, because Kia offers a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty on the EV3, which covers both the vehicle and the traction battery.”
The recognition for the EV3 at the Golden Steering Awards follows wins at the Electrifying.com Awards, for ‘Car of the Year for 2024’, and at the News UK Motor Awards, for ‘Small SUV/Crossover of the Year’.
The best value electric compact SUV on the market
Kia’s first dedicated electric compact SUV is ready for all European journeys and lifestyles, and sets a new benchmark for design, efficiency and performance in a high-demand market segment.
The Kia EV3 leverages the premium-level technologies of the EV6 and EV9, both multi-award-winning vehicles, while adding new technologies and features, such as Kia CarPay that enables customers to pay for items and services from inside the vehicle. The 605 km range of the EV3 goes up to 773 km when the vehicle is used purely in city driving situations.* The vehicle is supported by Kia Charge, the brand’s network that offers access to more than 800,000 charging points in 28 European countries, and can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just under half an hour.
Among a host of smart technologies, Kia is one of the leading manufacturers to bring Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging to the compact SUV segment, enabling the vehicle to power external devices. The EV3 is also capable of bi-directional charging, including Vehicle-to-Grid, Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Building, which will gradually be introduced to European markets. Over-the-air updates, personalised display themes and features on demand are available via the Kia Connect Store.
Exemplifying Kia’s commitment to sustainability, the EV3 has a new trunk liner made from recycled materials collected as part of the cooperation with The Ocean Cleanup, the international non-profit project with the mission of ridding the oceans of plastic. The high-quality waterproof trunk liner is made with 40% recycled ocean plastic.
As part of the company’s broader vision of becoming a pioneer in sustainable mobility, Kia is aiming to have 20% of the plastics used in our vehicles come from recycled sources by 2030.
The EV3 is now available in Europe. Kia plans to introduce an all-wheel drive (AWD) variant as well as a GT model, expanding the range of choice for customers beyond the current two-wheel drive (2WD) models.
