Kia’s sporty 346-mile EV3 GT-Line will cost less than £40k...

Pricing for Kia’s mini crossover, the EV3, is here and its GT-Line and GT-Line S versions – both of which sport the bigger 81.4kWh battery, offering 347 miles - cost from £39,495.

The entry-level EV3 is priced from £32,995, and although it isn’t quite the sub-£30k price originally expected, it is cheaper than its main rival, the Volvo EX30 which begins at £33,795.

Matching the trim structure of the EV6 and EV9, there are three grades: Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S. The entry-level ‘Air’ trim is offered with two sizes of battery pack: 58.3kWh, officially capable of up to 267 miles and 81.4kWh, giving a longer 372-mile range. Either give you front-wheel-drive and a 201bhp single-motor powertrain, with up to 208lb ft torque.

The standard spec includes 17in alloys, LED headlights, matte black wheel arches and side sills and body-coloured handles. All trims come in Sunset Orange as standard, which looks great alongside the blue-accented ‘Air’ body styling, gloss roof rails, a rear spoiler and a 25-litre front boot. You’ll need to add £625 to each price if you’re wanting your paintwork a little less bold though.

There’s plenty of tech kit in the cabin too. Three screens control climate, navigation and driver displays, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto (but of course), remote updates for the Kia Connect telematics package for seven years, heated front seats and steering wheel, a reversing camera, keyless entry and Isofix points for child seats.

There’s also a comprehensive package of driver assistance and safety features including forward collision warning, cruise control, blindspot warning, a rear occupant alert, a safe exit warning, a warning that you might have left your hairdryer on, or your front door unlocked... you get the gist.

The GT-Line trim not only gives you the bigger 81.4kWh 347 mile-range battery, but also has 19in wheels, alloy pedals, and automatic flush door handles, while all the matte black exterior trim gets a glossy finish instead. There’s privacy glass in the rear windows and automatically retracting door handles.

The cabin upholstery goes two-tone and tech upgrades mean a wireless phone charger, electric lumbar support and a digital key.

The EV3’s top-of-the-range GT-Line S adds even more tech, having been chewed up and spat out by a branch of your local electrical store. There’s an electric tailgate, a fancy eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio suite, heated rear seats, as well as a customisable head-up display and front sunroof.

Not only are the GT-Line S’s front seats heated and vented, they are also ‘relaxation seats’. Further research tells us these are ones that, like the in EV6 and EV9, recline like a La-Z-Boy lounge chair. If you were hoping for a massage, too, we hate to disappoint. In better news, there's a sliding panel for your passenger's whisky and soda, plus you can purchase an optional heat pump for £900. Cosy.

That additional ten grand from the base-price model also gets you a 360-degree parking camera that'll help you park and avoid a ding, so no more kissing kerbs and bollards for you.

Arguably, the GT-Line S’s biggest pull is going to be its vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. The charging port cable converts so three-pin household devices can draw down on car’s battery to power devices on-the-move, camping equipment, or even stuff at home in an emergency. Neat.