Kia EV3 GT-Line AWD Wins Western Automotive Journalists’ Best Electric Vehicle Award

Kia EV3 GT-Line AWD named Best Electric Vehicle by Western Automotive Journalists, Digi Mart USA News (San Francisco, California): The new Kia EV3 with GT-Line trim and all-wheel drive (AWD) was named Best Electric Vehicle by the Western Automotive Journalists (WAJ), a regional organization based in San Francisco, California, in its annual “Best of the Bay 2026” awards.

The fully electric crossover impressed the WAJ jury after two days of testing on a route through the scenic roads of Sonoma County, California.

“This latest recognition from the Western Automotive Journalists underscores Kia’s commitment to offering electric vehicles that combine innovative design, everyday practicality and an exciting driving experience,” said Eric Watson, vice president of sales operations at Kia America, upon receiving the award.

Watson added that the EV3 “brings these qualities together in a compact package, demonstrating our continued focus on making electric mobility affordable and appealing to all customers.”

Best of the Bay is an annual awards program organized by the WAJ, a nonprofit association of automotive journalists in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Automotive journalists and content creators evaluate participating vehicles across several categories, including Best Electric Vehicle, Best Car, Best Compact SUV, Best Luxury SUV, Best Supercar and Best Overall.

“Everyone who drove the EV3 was extremely satisfied,” said Charlie Vogelheim, president of WAJ, who added that they “were delighted with the attractive design and excellent interior layout.”

The 2027 EV3 GT-Line AWD stood out among its larger competitors, and the judges praised its numerous features.

One WAJ jury member noted its “crisp, distinctive design, a large number of features and clever layout,” adding that “driving it is a real pleasure,” while another described the EV3 as “fun to drive, well built and practical.”

The new EV3 GT-Line AWD, produced in Pesquería, Nuevo León, has an initial suggested retail price of 43,490 dollars in the U.S. market, offers an estimated electric range of 280 miles (450.6 kilometers), and can charge from 10 to 80% of its capacity with 150 kW DC fast charging in approximately 31 minutes.