Kia Opened Pre-Orders for Its 2027 EV3, to Be Produced in Mexico

Kia has officially opened pre-orders for the highly anticipated EV3 in Mexico as the automaker prepares to begin production of the compact electric SUV for North American markets. The EV3 will be built in Mexico and is expected to arrive in U.S. dealerships later this year as a 2027 model.

The announcement comes as Kia deepens its commitment to electric vehicle manufacturing in the region. During Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily “Mañanera del Pueblo” press conference, Kia Mexico Managing Director Horacio Chávez revealed that the company plans to invest approximately $649 million to support electric vehicle production operations in the country.

Following the completion of initial prototype production in March and debut at the New York Auto Show, Kia has now launched customer reservations for the EV3, one of the brand’s most important new electric models. In Mexico, the EV3 will be offered in Standard Range EX and Extended Range SXL configurations. The Standard Range model features a 58.3-kWh battery pack and is rated for up to 436 kilometers (270 miles) of WLTP driving range. The Extended Range version uses a larger 81.4-kWh battery, increasing estimated range to as much as 605 kilometers (375 miles) under the WLTP test cycle.

Pre-orders are currently available through Mercado Libre, where the EV3 SXL carries a starting price of 767,700 pesos, equivalent to roughly $44,000.

In the United States, Kia plans to offer the 2027 EV3 in five trim levels: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT. The entry-level Light model will utilize the same 58.3-kWh battery found in the Mexican-market EX variant and is expected to deliver approximately 220 miles of EPA-estimated range.

Higher trims, including Wind, Land, GT-Line, and GT, will feature the larger 81.4-kWh battery pack. Front-wheel-drive versions are expected to achieve up to 320 miles of EPA-estimated range. All-wheel drive will be available as an option on Wind and Land models, while GT-Line and GT variants will include AWD as standard equipment.

Built on Kia’s 400-volt E-GMP platform, the EV3 offers competitive charging performance. Models equipped with the 58.3-kWh battery can charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 29 minutes, while vehicles with the larger 81.4-kWh battery require about 31 minutes under optimal fast-charging conditions. The EV3 will also come equipped with a native North American Charging Standard (NACS) port.

Kia is expected to launch the EV3 in the United States before the end of 2026. While official U.S. pricing has not yet been announced, industry expectations place the starting price at around $35,000, positioning the EV3 among the most affordable electric SUVs available in the American market.