Kia EV3 Wind FWD Long Range

Why #38

• 321 EPA miles for under $35k with a native NACS port — the new small-EV value bar. Charging is merely average.
• Strongest on value (95) and efficiency (88); weakest on market proof (sales) (29).
• Sits below #37 Toyota bZ Woodland AWD mainly on market proof (sales) (47 vs 29).
• Beats #39 Rivian R1T Dual Large on value (95 vs 41).
• Sales floor applied: 514 US units (under 2,000 in Jan–Sep 2026) costs 5 overall points.

Heads-up: Light FWD (221 mi) starts at $29,890; this row is the long-range Wind FWD.

Score breakdown

Weights: range 20%, value 20%, efficiency/charging/practicality/market 15% each. Arizona columns below are not in the score.

Full specs

Starting MSRP

$34,990

EPA range

321 miEPA ✓

AZ summer est.

265 mi (~100°F)

Efficiency

29 kWh/100 mi (~117 MPGe)

DC fast peak

128 kW

Charge port

NACS · Supercharger access

0–60 mph

—

Drivetrain

FWD

Seats

5

Cargo

26.1 cu ft behind row 2; 56.5 max + 0.9 cu ft frunk

Arizona ownership (energy only)

Arizona 5-year energy cost assumes 12,000 mi/yr, mostly home charging on APS R-EV overnight (11pm–5am weekdays) at $0.0847/kWh (APS R-EV tariff), ~10% charging losses, and compares energy only to a 28 MPG gas car at $3.50/gal. Insurance, maintenance, purchase price and resale are excluded. Arizona summer range = EPA range × 82.5% (Recurrent Auto ~17–18% loss at 100°F; AAA found 8.5% at 95°F). Neither figure enters the overall score. APS tariff · Recurrent · Run your own numbers

US sales

5142026 YTD (through Q3)

Jan–Sep 2026 US estimate vs Jan–Sep 2025, model-level (all trims combined); new model, no 2025 comparison. 2026 demand is down ~30% market-wide after the $7,500 federal credit ended Sept 30, 2025. · KBB/Cox Q3 2026 EV Sales Report (estimates as of 10/13/26)

Sources

• FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — 2027 Kia EV3 Long Range FWD (vehicle id 50649)
• Kia official EV3 page (MSRP/specs)
• KBB/Cox Q3 2026 EV Sales Report (estimates as of 10/13/26)