Kia EV3 Charging Speed Under Scrutiny in New Real-World Tests
Munich, Germany – September 6, 2025 - Independent testing reveals the new Kia EV3 may not achieve the ultra-fast charging speeds previously advertised by the manufacturer, raising questions for prospective buyers prioritizing rapid replenishment. Initial results indicate discrepancies between Kia’s claims and observed charging times during recent trials, particularly when moving beyond the 20% to 80% charging window.
The EV3, Kia’s forthcoming compact electric crossover, is positioned to compete directly with popular models like the Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4 Electric.A key selling point has been its promised 800V architecture,enabling charging from 10% to 80% in as little as 31 minutes under ideal conditions. Though, data collected from controlled tests simulating typical user behavior suggests a longer charging duration. The tests, conducted on 2025/09/05, measured charging performance at various battery state-of-charge levels.
Testing showed that at a 20% state of charge, the EV3 exhibited 0 kWh of loaded energy, increasing to 9.0 kWh at 30%, 17.5 kWh at 40%,and 26.6 kWh at 50%. At 60% charge, the loaded energy reached 34.7 kWh, while 70% yielded 43.7 kWh. at 80%,the loaded energy peaked at 52.8 kWh. These figures, while demonstrating a generally increasing charge rate, fall short of the consistent, high-speed charging profile implied in Kia’s marketing materials.
The tests also noted variations in charging power throughout the process. While peak charging rates were observed, they were not sustained across the entire charging curve. Further analysis is underway to determine the impact of factors such as ambient temperature and battery conditioning on charging performance. Kia has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the test results. The findings are expected to influence consumer expectations and potentially prompt further investigation into the real-world charging capabilities of the EV3 as it nears its market launch.