Kia EV3 Review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Kia Ireland are on to a winner with the new EV3 launched last November. It's the carmaker’s smallest electric car, for which they claim 'groundbreaking design and an industry-leading electric drivetrain’. Kia are currently in fifth place in SIMI’s passenger car sales charts with 3,711 units already sold this year - a 9.15pc rise over the whole of 2024. The Sportage SUV remains Kia’s top seller here, but the all-electric EV6 and seven-seater flagship EV9 are also proving very popular with Irish buyers. 

The EV3 is slightly shorter in length than the Sportage but with the same wheelbase which means it has good space front and rear. The car borrows features from the EV9 such as the LED light signatures that feature the latest ultra-slim and vertically aligned Daytime Running Lights which emphasise a new interpretation of Kia’s Tiger Face design. The car’s confident stance is immediately apparent with the wide clean-surface bonnet, the side profile show the car’s spectacular silhouette, SUV cladding, gloss black features and floating roofline that seamlessly transitions into a hatchback-style tailgate. There are muscular lines and shapes, bold wheel arches and flush front and integrated rear door handles that pop out to open doors. The rear lamp design seamlessly integrates with the rear glass, while the power operated tailgate maintains the wide and sleek look. 

The two-tone interior is one of peace and calm. My driver’s seat had two memory settings and power adjustments that included lumbar support which all contributed to providing gentle support all the way up my back. Front seats and the two outer rear ones, as well as the steering wheel, can be heated. A power-adjustable sunroof covers the front part of the roof and can tilt open. I found the low height of the dash and the high driving position provided great visibility out front and when approaching junctions but the thickness of the window pillars can slightly hinder your view. The power on/off switch is on the gear shifter off the steering wheel column and a brake switch is on the driver’s side of the dash. 

A highlight for me was the floating 30-inch widescreen display with an intuitive design. Both central console and instrument cluster screens merge together with a black background and colourful graphics. The central screen deals with climate, navigation and your entertainment requirements including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are physical buttons for volume and temperature controls. A Head Up Display includes a blind spot monitor that alerts via red arcs when a vehicle is approaching from behind on either side; there are also blind spot warnings on the side mirrors. Paddles on the steering wheel allow one-pedal driving which means you can lower the car’s speed to a stop by gradually lifting your foot off the accelerator pedal which is great for city driving. 

The specification includes a wireless phone charger and a Type C USB port up front. Two more USBs are integrated into the sides of the front seats for rear passengers to charge their devices. As the EV3 was designed as an electric car, a flat floor here provides more foot space. 

All EV3s come with front and rear parking sensors as well as a very good rear view camera as standard. A neat feature is how a tray can slide out from the central armrest for use as a lap top work area when the car is stopped. It means there’s no storage area below the armrest. Kia get around this by providing a big open storage area close to the floor to hold larger items. Boot space is a decent 460 litres, and you can adjust the floor level. There’s no spare, just a tyre sealant kit. Cable space is provided in a 25 litre frunk under the front bonnet. 

Three trims are Earth 2, Earth 3 and GT-Line (the latter spec of my review car) Two different range variants are offered, the Standard model exclusively with a 58.3kWh battery with a 436km range, while the Long Range variant with up to 605km range is fitted with an 81.4kWh battery. Both models use a 150kW/283Nm electric motor that powers the front wheels and allows a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds and a maximum speed of 170km/h. When I collected my car for my test drive days, the battery was charged to 99pc with 463kms of indicated range available. Kia claims a breakthrough in thermal management technology gives EV3 battery efficiency and charging time an edge over rivals, even in harsh conditions. 

The car can charge from 10pc to 80pc in around 30 minutes using a fast charger - a bit longer for the more powerful battery. You can just drive up to a charging point as the charger is located front right side. Standard spec includes 17-inch alloy wheels, screens, LED headlights, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless phone charging and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Earth 3 features 19-inch alloys, vegan leather seats, power adjustable front seats and blind-spot collision avoidance. The range topping GT-Line adds special styling, power adjustable power tailgate and Vehicle-2-Load (V2L) to power external devices like laptops, small fridges, coffee machines or hairdryers. 

This family car was very quiet on the road with no wind noise and proved a very comfortable ride for all onboard. It was nippy with immediate torque from the off. However, I found the continuous beeps for the lane departure warning system to be obtrusive so turned it off. 

As of March 2025, the EV3 has not been assessed by Euro NCAP but a maximum 5-star safety rating is likely given all the top notch safety features onboard. EV3 comes with Kia’s seven year warranty. The entry level Earth 2 with 58.3 kWh battery is from €36,790 (after grants), my GT Line with the 82.4kWh battery is from €47,190.

 

Ford is looking for Ireland's best tradespeople

Do you have a favourite skilled tradesperson whom you believe is deserving of a new van? writes Brian Byrne. If so, Ford wants you to nominate them.

Five selected from the nominations received will be provided with be provided with a 12-month loan of a branded Ford Transit, and a spot in an exclusive ‘Transit Team Directory’. 

The competition is for the unsung heroes who build, fix, and maintain our communities, from plumbers to electricians, carpenters to painters.

Broadcaster Baz Ashmawy has teamed up with Ford Ireland to promote the campaign. To nominate a tradesperson to join Ford’s Transit Team, visit @FordIreland on Instagram and comment on the competition post with the name of the tradesperson and their trade. Entrants will compete for public votes. 

VW reveals concept of entry-level EV

This is the concept of Volkswagen's electric car for everyone, the ID. Every1, the production version of which will be the replacement for the Up! mini car, writes Brian Byrne. The company is focusing on the idea of likability as as a key selling point.

The car is just under 3.9 metres long and both externally and with its interior features a minimalist look and finish but which includes clever storage and working shelf ideas.

The ID. Every1 will be larger inside than the bigger Polo and the powertrain of the concept is a 96hp electric motor and a range of at least 250km.

A starting price of around €20,000 is envisaged when the car goes into production in 2027. 

 

Ultimate luxury sports car Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 available to order

Mercedes-Benz in Ireland has introduced arguably the most ultra-luxurious sports car in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. So much so that there is no list price for the Mercedes-Maybach SL 680.

The Maybach part of the name is a tribute to legendary 1900s car designer Wilhelm Maybach, and within the Daimler Group represents the ultimate in comfort and luxury.

The 2-seater convertible is finished sumptuously but is markedly minimalist in its digital dashboard and instruments layout. Power is from a 585hp 4.0 V8 that offers a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.1s. It is AWD as standard.

The Irish distributor says that in view of the high level of specifications and craftsmanship employed in its manufacture, and likely fluctuations in materials and component costs within the production chain – intending buyers of the car will be given a quoted purchase amount at the time of ordering. 

Ford's new Capri now in Irish showrooms

Ford's new electric car, the Capri, is now available to test drive in the brand's Irish dealerships, writes Brian Byrne. It will be joined later in the year by a fully electric version of the Puma.

Longer, wider and taller than the Ford Explorer available since last year, the Capri nameplate leverages a perceived nostalgia amongst older motorists for the affordable sporty family coupe launched in 1968, but in reality is aimed at those seeking a roomy electric SUV of the 21st century.

Pricing is from €45,798 after application of Government subsidies and the Capri has a rated range of 627km and a 0-100km/h capability of 6.4s. There are two grades at launch.

  

BYD SEAL U Super Hybrid review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

The recent arrival of the BYD SEAL U Super Hybrid PHEV marked the Chinese company’s entry into the highly competitive hybrid segment here, unlike the brand's previous all electric models. This is a stylish medium-large five-seater that looks elegant and aerodynamic from all sides. The 19-inch wheels enhance its aesthetics while also reducing drag. 

The beautifully finished interior features a panoramic sliding roof, a floating centre console touchscreen that swivels for either portrait or landscape style and is a central control hub for connectivity and infotainment, with 4G connectivity. It includes Navigation, Spotify and Radio selections on the home screen. I used the Intelligent Voice Assistance ‘Hi BYD’ to turn on, or off, some of the car’s features including the Lane Departure Assist. 

The customisable large driving instrument cluster shows where the power is coming from, your current speed etc, while the head-up display projects critical data onto the windscreen in line of sight. 

The review car's comfortable seats were in a dark leather upholstery and came with ventilation and heating. Integrated headrests are high. My seat had power adjustments and memory function. Front seat heating controls are on a permanent lower part of the dash along with the dual zone climate control, easy to adjust while on the move. 

People in the rear enjoy excellent head and legroom and a flat floor. The centre rear seat lowers as an arm rest with two cupholders and there are two USBs on the rear central console. The high opening tailgate is power operated. Boot capacity of 425 litres isn’t as much as might have been expected but can be expanded to 1,440 litres with rear seats down. 

An excellent reversing camera allowed me view all around my car on the central screen and large side mirrors had blind spot monitors. Drive modes are Normal, Sport and Snowfield as this was an AWD car. BYD’s 'dual mode' PHEV technology is proprietary to the company and comprises a 1.5 hybrid engine and large capacity 'Blade' battery as its main power source, only using the petrol engine when needed. With the battery fully charged the car becomes pure-electric and when the battery is low, the system seamlessly transforms into a hybrid vehicle. You can drive in pure EV mode in the city, hybrid EV mode when battery power falls and the engine automatically switches in to range extension, or HEV parallel mode where the wheels are driven by both the electric motor and the petrol engine for responsive acceleration. 

BYD manufacture their cobalt-free Blade battery themselves. The 18.3kWh unit provides a pure-electric range of up to 80km, this battery comes with DC fast charging capability. To benefit from their PHEV, owners should recharge their vehicles overnight at home. This PHEV delivers a combined range of up to 1,080km and a claimed petrol consumption of 6.4 litres per 100km. My fuel return was a bit more at 7.5 L/100kms. The system works a treat and the car seamlessly changes from electric to petrol when the charge is depleted. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is 5.9 seconds. 

Standard safety features include, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Change Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The car had really excellent night driving lights - powerfully lighting up both sides of country roads and ditches and the road in front for a huge distance. I felt reassured and safe when driving at night. The drive was very quiet on the road with little noise from the engine. 

This car has received a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. There are six main BYD dealers; two in Dublin and one in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford. Entry level prices are from €42,150.