The K3 takes on the brand’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, which combines seemingly contradictory concepts such as technology and nature. The result is a futuristic appearance, characterized by its fastback-style silhouette, aggressive front end, sharp design cues, and a distinctive LED DRL light pattern.

The front of the Kia K3 retains the traditional Tiger Nose grille, now reinterpreted for a more purposeful look. On the sides, black applications in the wheel arches, along with a double-line beltline that grows from the fender, create a more robust appearance. The fastback-style roof drop adds sophistication, while the clean rear design features a thin line of LED lighting as a decorative element that connects the taillights. The new GT-Line version offers an aggressive appearance with a fascia featuring larger air intakes, 17-inch wheels, and dual exhaust outlets.

The Kia K3’s dimensions of 4,545 mm in length, 1,765 mm in width, 1,475 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,670 mm provide class-leading space for both front and rear passengers. The trunk offers an impressive capacity of 544 liters.

Inside, the all-new Kia K3 offers a modern, pleasant, and comfortable ambiance. Highlights include the integration of the instrument cluster and panoramic infotainment screen into a single unit, a newly designed steering wheel inspired by the EV6, and a minimalist yet modern and functional dashboard with horizontal lines. It offers a central high-resolution touchscreen of up to 10.25-inch with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, as well as the convenience of simultaneously pairing up to two devices via Bluetooth. It also offers USB Type C ports for both front and rear passengers.

As for comfort features, among the most notable are the two-zone touch automatic climate control, digital instrument cluster, and customizable ambient lighting offering up to 64 different colors. Additionally, rear passengers benefit from dedicated and air vents to enhance their comfort experience.

To meet the highest standards for occupant protection, the K3 employs a deeply reinforced structure, with concurrently enhances both driving experience and sophistication. Kia says the vibration and sound insulation levels are comparable to those seen in vehicles of a higher category. Meanwhile, the suspension system has been redesigned to offer an excellent balance between comfort and control.

The K3’s mainstay engine is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 123 horsepower that can be coupled with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The GT-Line trim offers a 2.0-liter engine with power of 152 horsepower matched with a six-speed automatic transmission featuring paddle shifters. For select markets, there’s also a 1.4-liter with 107 horsepower is carried over from the Rio.

With safety being of utmost importance to Kia, the K3 comes with six airbags, ABS, and stability control. A set of ADAS technologies is also available, including notable features like Front Collision Avoidance (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), and Driving Attention Warning (DAW), among others.

Like the current Rio, the Kia K3 will be produced in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It will go on sale starting in the fourth quarter of this year. No word if the Philippines will stand to get the all-new K3, although its distributor, AC Motors did mention that it intends to launch two refreshed and two all-new models by 2024.