At P 1,898,000, the Kia EV3 finds itself occupying the same segment populated by Chinese brands; brands which seem to put more care to launching nonsensical models as opposed to properly engineering them. With the EV3, it’s the opposite. It all starts with a solid foundation, in this case, the E-GMP platform, and engineers built their way up from that. As a result, it manages to combine the characteristics of a much larger SUV, while still keeping the dartiness and maneuverability of a small crossover.

With the exception of some brief sharpness when going over nasty bumps or cracks, the EV3 delivers a plush, grown-up feel around town. It also does so without the feeling of floatiness. As stop-and-go traffic turns to the demand of the expressway, the steering maintains its nice, consistent feel with plenty of straight-line stability from the chassis to match. With the tall, eco-biased tires, it struggles a bit through the twisty stuff (despite the all-around independent suspension), but it remains predictable and planted nonetheless. Refinement is also impressive across the board with top levels of NVH.

Outfitted with a 204 horsepower electric motor, the EV3 can conjure up mental images of it smoking the dragstrip. And with an official 7.5-second 0 to 100 km/h time, that can be a possibility. In reality, however, its performance is more about providing silent, effortless thrust wherever, whenever it’s needed. Kia reckons it’ll go 511 kilometers on a single charge, albeit on the optimistic NEDC standard. Using the WLTP scale, it drops down to 436 kilometers. Regardless of the chosen standard, it’s hard to match these figures with Manila’s daily traffic. A week’s worth of driving returned 374 kilometers (6.8 km/kWh average). At best, it does squeeze out 440 kilometers (8.06 km/kWh). Either way, we like Kia’s inclusion of a “Max” and “Min” range calculation in the instrument readout. Minimum is the worst-case scenario if you drive like a maniac, while Max is the furthest reaches the battery can go if you drive in a zen-like state. It’s a simple idea, but a really helpful one especially if you tend to suffer from acute bouts of range anxiety.

Taking cues from its larger siblings, there aren’t any major missteps when it comes to the EV3’s packaging. The boxy silhouette is put to good use with large door openings and spacious seating fore or aft. The front quarters are surprisingly wide allowing a pair of broad adults to sit side-by-side without their shoulders even close to rubbing. Meanwhile, the rear floor is also completely flat so everyone gets proper knee room. If anything, the EV3 could benefit from more storage compartments. While we applaud the generous glovebox and uncovered floor bin (with the ingenious tuckaway cup holders), the sliding table armrest could have been utilized better as a lidded compartment. As it is, there’s nowhere to put away small items like house keys away from prying eyes.

The EV3’s weakness in cubby holes is offset by its generous trunks—yes, there are two of them. Despite being a front-wheel drive crossover, Kia has managed to outfit a small 25-liter frunk. On top of that, there’s a deep rear cargo area too. The height adjustable trunk floor adds either height (perfect for groceries) or transforms into a flat, continuous hold with the rear seats folded (perfect for luggage). Either way, there’s a handy compartment beneath that fits the tire repair kit and even the portable charger cable. The tonneau cover is also easy enough to roll and affix, but mind you, there’s no power tailgate.

Another noticeable way the EV3 takes inspiration from its larger EV siblings is in its interface. The pair of 12.3-inch screens and 5.3-inch climate control screen is already a familiar sight to Kia owners. All the important driving information is communicated in a clear and concise manner. There are different modes to choose from, but they only change the color and alter the layout ever so slightly. The center screen, on the other hand, is clear and high-res. It’s also easy to navigate with its flat menu structure. Plus, it loads up quickly and keeps a row of physical shortcuts, including a volume roller. The most questionable choice here is with the climate control panel. Not only is it partly obscured by the steering wheel, but because of its placement, it’s hard for anyone but the driver to operate.

The driving position and feel is another high point for the EV3. The driving position is lofty, offering excellent view all around save for the rear due to the letterbox-sized rear window. In addition, because of the placement of steering wheel and pedal box, it’s uncompromisingly ergonomic; akin actually to a larger SUV or car. There are also plenty of adjustment available too for the squircle steering wheel and driver’s seat. Generally, the materials are alright with plush materials used on the top dash and rock-hard plastics used everywhere else. At least the color scheme serves as a distraction. The seats are in a matching two-tone too. They’re firm, but do offer ample support even for long stints in stop-and-go traffic.

For all of its aforementioned strengths, the best part of the EV3 remains its value-for-money proposition. Costing the same as a Chinese EV crossover, this one comes full loaded with automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a powered driver’s seat, dual zone climate control, two wireless chargers, and a full set of ADAS equipment. Honestly, you won’t be left wanting anything more.

With Kia coming up with great product after great product, they’ve pretty much lost the element of surprise at this point. But when it comes to being called best of the best, they’ve managed to come close a couple of times. The Kia EV3 is the first, in our book, to take that top step. If Chinese EVs thought they’d sweep in and gulp up the crossover segment overnight, they probably didn’t count on the EV3. Without a doubt, it’s a brilliant crossover and it has crushed the competition. Keenly priced, easy to drive, and right-sized for the daily drive, this one has it all.