VW ID.3 vs Kia EV3: hatch or small SUV, and the running cost

Each car has its cost per 100 km printed on this page, at the calculator's defaults. Look at the gap between them. It's the VW at 14.1 kWh/100 km against the Kia at 14.9 kWh/100 km, both WLTP. Add 25% and that's 1 kWh apart per 100 km. At a blended €0.32/kWh (€0.28 at home, €0.55 public, 15% public), the Kia costs €0.32 more per 100 km, about €37 a year at 11,400 km.

Small money. Now the list prices: €33,995 for the VW ID.3 Neo Trend and €36,190 for the Kia EV3 Air, both German prices, checked 2 November 2026. Other countries differ, and grants and dealer offers aren't included. At €37 a year, energy will never close a gap like that in either direction. So the running cost doesn't pick a winner. Try your own tariff if you doubt it.

A footnote on those consumption figures. VW's range for this car is 13.9 to 14.1 kWh/100 km and the sheet stores the worst. Kia's 14.9 kWh/100 km is its best, on 17 inch wheels, and 15.8 kWh/100 km on 19s.

Same length, different shape

The hatch is 4,265 mm, the SUV 4,300 mm. Your garage won't notice the difference in length, but measure the height if there's a low door. ADAC lists the Kia at 1,560 mm and Carwow Germany lists the VW at 1,568 mm, so the hatch is the taller car.

The boot is the clearest gap. VW says 383 l. Kia says 460 l by the VDA method with the underfloor counted, and ADAC measured 420 litres by its own method. Carwow Germany lists the ID.3's boot as a minus against the smaller ID. Polo.

Towing is a plain split. VW's technical table shows no tow rating for this car, and Carwow Germany lists that as a minus. The Kia is rated for 500 kg, with a towbar at €850 on ADAC's sheet. If you've got a bike rack on a towbar in mind, ask VW first.

Range and charging

Rated range is close: VW gives 413 km to 418 km, Kia 436 km. The Kia gets there with a bigger pack, 58.3 kWh against 50 kWh.

The measured side is lopsided. ADAC tested the Kia in Earth trim and found 17.1 kWh/100 km with charging losses included, and about 380 km. I could read no measured test of the 50 kWh VW. EV Database estimates 315 km for it and 325 km for the Kia, and those are estimates. Carwow Germany drove the 79 kWh ID.3 Neo and saw 14.4 kWh/100 km in town and 20 at up to 130 km/h on the motorway. That's a different car, so don't borrow the range.

On my sum, if the 50 kWh car used that same 20 kWh/100 km, 50 kWh would last about 250 km, so a hypothetical 300 km motorway run means one stop. ADAC's Air sheet has Kia's WLTP motorway phase at 19.5 kWh/100 km, which scales the Kia to about 333 km. It might just do that run on a mild day.

On a fast charger, the VW is quicker: 24 min for 10-80% against 29 min. Those are maker figures, and ADAC measured the same 29 minutes for the Kia. Work it through and they add energy at about the same rate, since 70% of the Kia's bigger pack needs the extra time. At home both are about the same: VW lists 5 hours 30 minutes for 0-100% at 11 kW, Kia 5 hours 20 for 10-100%.

Chemistry and warranty

VW's table lists Li-Fe-P cells for the 50 kWh pack, and mobile.de's test agrees. Electrifying says NMC, which I'd take as a slip. ADAC's sheet and Kia's list say NMC for the Kia.

Kia's price list promises 7 years on the car and 8 on the battery. The VW pages I read don't state a term, so ask.

Who gets which

Buy the VW if you never tow, the boot's fine, and you'd rather keep the price difference.

Buy the Kia if a family's luggage goes in the back, or a small trailer sometimes goes behind. Remember the heat pump is a €1,100 pack on Air. My Kia EV3 review has the other catches, and my guide to EV against petrol per 100 km has the wider sum.