Audi A2 e-tron vs Kia EV3 in Portugal: Which Compact Electric Car to Buy?
Published: 22/09/2026
Audi A2 e-tron vs Kia EV3: same size, two different ideas
646 km of WLTP range on one side, a 460-litre boot on the other. Put the Audi A2 e-tron vs Kia EV3 side by side for a buyer in Portugal and one thing becomes clear quickly: they're almost the same size, but they were built for different people. The Audi is an aerodynamic hatchback obsessed with efficiency. The Kia is a compact SUV that puts space first.
There's also a very practical gap. The EV3 has been on sale since 2024, while the A2 e-tron only starts reaching German customers in December 2026. So if you're weighing up the Audi A2 e-tron or the Kia EV3, you're also deciding whether it's worth waiting. This comparison uses figures published by the manufacturers and the European motoring press — and flags clearly where Portuguese numbers are still missing.
The side-by-side table
On the outside, the differences come down to centimetres. The A2 is 2 cm longer, 6 cm narrower and 1 cm lower, but its wheelbase is noticeably longer: 2.77 m against 2.68 m.
| Audi A2 e-tron | Kia EV3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform / drive | MEB+ / rear-wheel drive | E-GMP / front-wheel drive (GT: all-wheel drive) |
| Length / width / height | 4,320 / 1,790 / 1,550 mm | 4,300 / 1,850 / 1,560 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,770 mm | 2,680 mm |
| Batteries (usable) | 50 kWh LFP / 58 kWh LFP / 79 kWh NMC | 55 kWh NMC / 78 kWh NMC |
| WLTP range | 423 / 515 / up to 646 km | about 436 / 605 km |
| Power | 125 / 140 / 170 / 240 kW | 150 kW (GT: 292 hp) |
| 0-100 km/h | 8.8 s to 5.5-5.7 s | 7.5-7.7 s (GT: 5.7 s) |
| DC charging (peak) | about 105 / 143 / 183 kW | 100 kW / 135-150 kW |
| DC 10-80% | 24 to 29 min | 29 min / 31 min |
| AC charging | 11 kW (22 kW optional) | 11 kW |
| Boot / maximum | 396 / 1,336 L | 460 / 1,251 L |
| Frunk | 13 L | 25 L |
| V2L / V2H | Yes / Yes (DE, AT, CH only) | Yes, 3.6 kW / No |
| Warranty | not announced | 7 years / 150,000 km |
| Price in Germany | from €38,200 | from €35,990 (launch) |
| Availability | deliveries from Dec 2026 | on sale since 2024 |
The Kia figures refer to the Standard Range (58.3 kWh gross) and Long Range (81.4 kWh gross) versions respectively.
Range and charging: Kia EV3 vs Audi A2 e-tron
Which has more range
The Audi wins, and not because it carries a much bigger battery. With 79 kWh usable it manages up to 646 km WLTP; the Kia EV3 Long Range, with 78 kWh usable, claims 605 km. That's 41 km more from virtually the same amount of energy.
Aerodynamics explain it. A drag coefficient of 0.24 and a low, tapering profile give the A2 WLTP consumption from 12.8 kWh/100 km, against 14.9 kWh/100 km for the EV3 Long Range. In Electrifying.com's figures, the Audi does 5.1 miles per kWh and the Kia 4.8.
Entry-level versions flip the result. The A2 with its 50 kWh LFP battery tops out at 423 km, while the EV3 Standard Range reaches about 436 km on 55 kWh usable. A small gap, but in the Kia's favour.
For real-world driving, EV Database estimates around 455 km combined for the EV3 Long Range and 420 km on the motorway in mild weather. That covers Lisbon to Porto without stopping, though a run from Porto down to the Algarve will need a break.
Which charges faster
The Audi has the edge here too. The 79 kWh version peaks at 183 kW and goes from 10-80% in under 30 minutes; the 50 kWh car does the same in 24 minutes. Kia quotes 31 minutes for the EV3 Long Range.
Sources disagree on the Kia's peak power: Electrifying.com says 150 kW, while EV Database measured a 135 kW maximum. Whichever is right, it's below the Audi's 183 kW. At a fast charger on MOBI.E, Portugal's national public charging network, that works out to a few minutes per stop — relevant if you do a lot of motorway miles, much less so if you charge at home.
Both use a 400 V architecture and charge at 11 kW on AC. The A2 offers 22 kW as an option.
Space and boot: the Kia's territory
If boot space is your priority, this is easy. The EV3 offers 460 litres behind the rear seats, 64 litres more than the A2's 396. Up front, the Kia's frunk holds 25 litres; the Audi's just 13, enough for "one muddy boot or one bottle of wine", as Electrifying.com puts it. Charging cables won't fit without being squashed.
There's a twist, though: fold the seats and the Audi comes out ahead, with 1,336 litres against 1,251. If you occasionally carry long items, the A2 may be more useful than its headline number suggests.
The Audi makes up some ground with clever storage — a hidden underfloor compartment, a cable management system and three usable rear seats, if narrow ones. Even so, Electrifying.com's verdict is blunt: if space matters above all else, the EV3 is the only choice of the two.
Price: what we know and what's still missing in Portugal
Let's be upfront: neither car has a confirmed Portuguese price in the sources we checked. Audi hasn't announced pricing or a launch date for Portugal. The Kia is already sold here, but you should confirm current prices with a dealer before deciding anything. That's why we use other European markets as a reference point, not as Portuguese showroom prices.
| Market | Audi A2 e-tron | Kia EV3 |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | €38,200 (125 kW, 50 kWh) to €51,200 (240 kW) | €35,990 (Standard) / €41,390 (Long Range), launch prices |
| Ireland | no data | €36,790 to €47,190 (official price list) |
| United Kingdom | from £32,200 | from £33,005 |
In Germany, the entry versions are separated by just over €2,000. The gap widens when you match range with range: the 170 kW A2 with the big battery — the 646 km car — costs €48,900, against €41,390 for the EV3 Long Range. That's roughly €7,500 for 41 km more WLTP range and faster charging.
In Portugal, both benefit from the same EV tax treatment: exemption from ISV (the one-off vehicle purchase tax) and reduced IUC (annual road tax). For companies, VAT is deductible and there's no autonomous taxation as long as the purchase cost stays below the legal €62,500 limit, which any version of these two cars should meet. In short, the list-price difference reaches the buyer almost untouched.
Warranty, availability and driving
Kia offers a 7-year or 150,000 km warranty, a strong argument if you plan to keep the car for a long time. Audi hasn't highlighted anything comparable, and Electrifying.com lists rivals' longer warranties as one of the A2's weak points.
Then there's timing. You can buy an EV3 today. The A2 e-tron reaches its first German customers in December 2026, and there's no date for Portugal yet — arrival in 2027 is the likely scenario, but it isn't confirmed.
On the road, early impressions of the Audi are very positive: quiet, with a comfortable ride and natural steering, feeling "like a mini Audi A6". Every version is rear-wheel drive, and the 240 kW car does 0-100 km/h in 5.5 to 5.7 seconds. Kia answers with front-wheel drive on the 150 kW versions and the EV3 GT with 292 hp and all-wheel drive, something the A2 doesn't offer.
For extra features, the A2 has V2L and V2H, but V2H launches only in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The EV3 has 3.6 kW V2L, handy for powering equipment at a picnic or on a job site, and no V2H. The EV3 Long Range can tow up to 1,000 kg (500 kg for the Standard Range).
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how soon you need a car and what matters most. The Kia EV3 has been on sale since 2024 and can be bought today, while the Audi A2 e-tron only starts deliveries in Germany in December 2026 and has no announced Portuguese price or launch date, with 2027 the likely scenario. Waiting only makes sense if you value the A2's higher efficiency (up to 646 km WLTP and 12.8 kWh/100 km) and premium cabin.
Neither car has a confirmed Portuguese price in the sources we reviewed, so figures should be checked with the brand or a dealer. As a reference, in Germany the A2 e-tron starts at €38,200 and the EV3 launched at €35,990 (Standard Range) and €41,390 (Long Range). In Portugal both are exempt from ISV, and companies can deduct VAT as long as the purchase price stays below the €62,500 limit.
The 79 kWh Audi A2 e-tron peaks at 183 kW and charges from 10 to 80% in around 29 minutes, while the Kia EV3 Long Range peaks at 135-150 kW and takes 31 minutes, according to Kia. In entry versions, the 50 kWh A2 does 10-80% in 24 minutes and the EV3 Standard Range in 29-30 minutes. Both use a 400 V architecture and 11 kW AC charging, with 22 kW optional on the Audi.
With the rear seats up, the Kia EV3 offers 460 litres versus 396 litres in the Audi A2 e-tron, and its 25-litre frunk is nearly double the Audi's 13 litres. With the seats folded, however, the A2 reaches 1,336 litres, ahead of the EV3's 1,251 litres. For everyday family use the Kia is more practical, but the Audi can surprise when carrying occasional long items.
The Kia EV3 comes with a 7-year or 150,000 km warranty that also covers the battery, across all versions. Audi has not announced an extended warranty for the A2 e-tron, and Electrifying.com lists rivals' longer warranties as one of the model's weak points. For buyers planning to keep the car for many years, this is a strong argument in the Kia's favour.
Kia EV3 or Audi A2 e-tron: which to buy
There's no outright winner. It comes down to how you'll use the car:
- You need a car now: Kia EV3. It's available, comes with a 7-year warranty and doesn't make you wait for a Portuguese price that doesn't exist yet.
- Family with a pushchair and luggage: Kia EV3. An extra 64 litres of boot, a frunk that swallows the cables and a wider body.
- Lots of motorway driving: Audi A2 e-tron with the 79 kWh battery. More range, lower consumption and sub-30-minute charging at up to 183 kW.
- You want all-wheel drive or performance: the EV3 GT, with 292 hp and AWD, or the 240 kW A2 if you prefer rear-wheel drive.
- Tight budget: entry versions are close in price in Germany, but the EV3 Standard Range has slightly more range and is already in showrooms.
Should you wait for the Audi A2 e-tron? Only if efficiency and a premium cabin really matter to you and you're in no hurry. The deciding factor will be the price Audi Portugal announces: if it lands close to the German list, the A2 becomes a serious rival; if it climbs much higher, the EV3 remains the more rational buy in our market.