Earlier this year, at the 2026 Philippine International Motor Show, Kia confirmed the arrival of the all-new EV3 in the country. Recently, the compact crossover seems to have received homologation from the Department of Energy.
The DOE papers reveal two variants for the 2027 EV3: the GL and the GLS. Listed with an identical battery capacity of 58.30kWh and maximum electric power of 201hp, what can we expect from these two variants?
Both variants are front-wheel drive and have a permanent-magnet synchronous motor. Power output, as mentioned, is at 201hp and 283Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the range expected from the specified battery is around 436km, which can be slightly reduced by the bigger 19-inch wheels found on the GLS variant compared to the 17-inch wheels on the GL.
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Acceleration-wise, the GL achieves a 0-100kph time of 7.5sec while the GLS does the same test in 7.6sec. Probably due to the difference in tire size, braking performance is slightly better on the GLS with a 100-0kph stopping distance of 35.2 meters. Meanwhile, the GL takes 36.5 meters to go from 100kph to a dead stop.
As for charging times, with an AC outlet, the battery can top up from 10% to 100% in around five hours and 20 minutes, while DC fast charging brings the battery from 10% to 80% in just under 30 minutes.
As of writing, Kia hasn’t announced any exact specifications for the local-market EV3 yet. But with these two variants, aside from the larger wheels on the GLS, we can also expect the GLS to have more premium interior finishes compared to the GL.
What do you think of these two variants so far? Do you think Kia should also bring in the more powerful all-wheel-drive GT-Line found in Australia? Let us know in the comments.
