Inside UK's best-selling EV as major brand confirms sales soar by mid-year

The electric vehicle (EV) model that has shifted the most retail units in the UK so far this year has been revealed, and it's not a Tesla.

In May this year, Elon Musk's company sold 2,016 vehicles in the UK, compared with 3,152 during the same month in 2024, meaning its market share was 36 per cent lower. But, in a record-breaking year so far for Kia, its EV3 model has emerged as the manufacturer's star performer, finishing the first half of 2025 as the UK's most popular retail EV with 6,293 registrations.

The Kia EV3 is a compact electric SUV that combines strong performance, modern technology and a stylish interior. It comes with two battery options — a standard 58.3 kWh pack, with a range of up to 270 miles, and a larger 81.4 kWh long-range version, which can travel up to 375 miles between charges. Both options are powered by a single electric motor delivering 201 bhp and 283 Nm of torque, allowing acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in approximately 7.5 seconds.

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Inside, the EV3 features a thoughtfully designed, sleek, minimalist cabin made from high-quality, eco-conscious, vegan-friendly materials. The spacious interior comfortably seats five, with a flat floor providing extra legroom and practical storage throughout, including a 460-litre boot — placing it ahead of several rivals in its class in terms of luggage capacity.

The dashboard showcases twin 12.3-inch digital displays and a smaller 5.3-inch touchscreen for climate controls. There's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Harman Kardon sound system and fast DC charging support up to 128 kW.

The EV3's success was further recognised in March, when it received the 2025 UK Car of the Year award, following the EV9's win in 2024. And then the following month it went one better — the EV3 also won the prestigious 2025 World Car of the Year, again mirroring the EV9's achievement from the previous year.

So far in 2025, Kia has achieved a number of historic milestones in the UK automotive market. The Korean brand broke its half-year sales record with 62,005 new cars registered in the first six months of the year — for perspective, Kia registered 53,614 cars in the whole of 2011. This achievement cements Kia's position as the third-best-selling car brand in the UK so far this year.

The company's performance has been remarkable, with new sales records set in January through March, the first quarter (Q1), second quarter (Q2) and first half of the year (H1). EVs have played a pivotal role in this success, with over 31,643 electrified models sold during this period, accounting for more than half of Kia's total sales and representing a year-on-year increase of over 7 per cent.

The Kia Sportage is the UK’s second favourite car of any make or model with 23,012 registrations year-to-date. The Kia Picanto also contributed significantly, recording a 35 per cent year-on-year increase in registrations to reach 7,607 units.

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January set the pace for the year, with Kia recording its best-ever start to a calendar year by selling 10,813 units and achieving a 7.8 per cent market share, placing it second overall across both retail and fleet sales. The Sportage SUV led the charge, topping UK sales charts in January and maintaining its position as the country’s best-selling SUV.

Kia closed June as the fourth best-selling brand with 10,043 units registered and a 5.2 per cent market share for the month. The EV3 continued to be the brand's fastest-selling EV, contributing to record-breaking results for both June and Q2 in EV registrations.

The Korean manufacturer's performance and achievements in the first half of 2025 reflect a compelling combination of innovative products and strong dealer support, positioning Kia for continued success in the UK market.

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