- The Kia EV3 electric subcompact crossover is getting a GT performance flagship
- The new EV3 GT is likely powered by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain
- Peak output may lie close to 300 hp
Engineers from Kia have been spotted testing a prototype for the GT version of the EV3 electric subcompact crossover.
GT is the designation Kia uses for high-performance versions of its electric vehicles, first introduced on the 2023 EV6 GT and recently expanded to the 2026 EV9 GT.
The EV3 GT is expected to arrive late this year or early next. If approved for U.S. sale, it will likely debut for the 2026 model year.
The regular EV3 was unveiled last May, but Kia has yet to confirm whether it will be sold in the U.S. In other markets, sales began late last year.
Kia EV3
We know the prototype in the latest spy shots is for the EV3 GT due to its revised front fascia, embossed “GT” logos on the headrests, and lime green accents in the cabin and on the brake calipers—a signature design trait of Kia’s GT range. The prototype’s wheels appear to be from an updated Hyundai Ioniq 6 due around the same time as the EV3 GT, likely for testing purposes only.
The EV3 rides on Hyundai Motor Group’s flexible E-GMP platform, which also underpins the EV6, EV9, and several Hyundai and Genesis models, though in a lower-cost 400-volt (down from 800 volts) specification. The Standard model features a 58.3-kwh battery, while the Long Range model comes with an 81.4-kwh battery. In both cases, power comes from a single electric motor rated at 201 hp, capable of 0–62 mph acceleration in about 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 105 mph.
The EV3 GT is expected to retain the 81.4-kwh battery but pair it with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain delivering closer to 300 hp.
More details are likely coming soon, as Kia plans to provide an update on its electrification strategy during a special Kia EV Day presentation in Tarragona, Spain, on Feb. 24. The event will also feature the debut of an EV4 sedan and hatchback, and PV5 electric van.