Exquisite Istria In The Kia EV3, UK Car Of The Year 2025

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica-Talbot-Ponsonby drive the Adriatic peninsula in the award-winning Kia EV3.

Car Review: Kia EV3

JT-P – What do you do when your Italian supercar conks out miles from home and refuses to start?

JT – Well, in this case, grab a Kia hire car! It was a massive stroke of luck to find the all-electric EV3 available in Croatia. The reigning Car of the Year in the UK is the smaller sibling to the EV9, an SUV that claimed the same award in 2024.

The EV3 is a key rival to our long-term Volvo EX30. The futuristic styling is worthy of a concept car – except it’s very much for real. This is a multi-purpose family-mover that does everything well.

The Kia EV3 is brilliant value for money too, with prices starting at around £33,000. A 204bhp motor drives the front wheels and can offer up to 375 miles between charges. You could opt for a VW ID.3 or the new Skoda Elroq but neither has quite the eye-catching appeal.

I’ve seen it described as a ‘stormtrooper’! Love the looks.

It’s not the most exciting drive but the Kia EV3 makes up for that by being not too gimmicky. Space is impressive and the cabin is minimalist cool. This is top of the class design – and the Car of the Year judges thought so too.

And because it’s a reliable Kia, we also knew the rest of our trip to Istria would run like clockwork. Starting at Roxanich in breathtaking Motovun.

That’s the Roxanich Winery and Design Hotel, to be precise – probably the finest boutique hotel in the rolling woodland hills of central Istria. While parts of the Istrian peninsula were formerly in Italy, even the Romans must have found it difficult to build a straight road here.

Yes, it’s a majestic area, with Medieval towns atop hills, sweeping vineyards and a complex history. Think Tuscany without the crowds. In fact, I couldn’t believe how few people we saw in this idyllic region.

Roxanich is a modern-looking structure with a more traditional stone façade. Dine alfresco and then dip into the restaurant’s extensive wine list. The winery is cut into the hillside beneath – well worth a tasting if you have the time.

And that’s the trouble in Istria: there’s just too much to do. We took a guided tour of Motovun itself, which is a mecca for foodies because of a visit by legendary chef Anthony Bourdain. Unofficially known as ‘truffle town’, the waft of sausage and pasta cooking fills the cobbled streets in the evening. 

Epic views. For those with a nose for a treat, book a truffle hunting experience at nearby Karlic Estate, where the Karlic family will help you sniff out black gold with their dogs. 

Expect a slap up, truffle-infused lunch afterwards, then walk some of it off with a visit to the neighbouring truffle museum. Istria is also famous for olive oil – something else mastered by the Romans.

And to taste some of the region’s best visit the Ipsa Family Estate. The extra-virgin olive oil is produced on a forested hillside and tastes so sweet you could almost drink it on its own.

Astonishing natural wines too, which undergo a process of extended maceration and are then aged in a wooden barrel. Known as orange wine, it’s very much the in thing – more structured than white wine but as ancient as the Istrian hills.

Despite an abundance of culinary treats in the forested inland hills, many holidaymakers from central Europe travel to Istria just for a break beside the sea. They have 200 miles of coastline to choose from.

The holiday hotspot is at the southern tip of the peninsula. While few Brits seem to know about Pula, it’s buzzing with a cultural melting pot of tourists. Apart from the Colosseum in Rome, the city’s Roman amphitheatre is one of the biggest in the world.

And nowhere near as crowded! This incredible structure is also used for festivals and gigs in the summer – major rock bands come to play here.

Central Pula is a mix of every type of architecture, with cafes and bars spilling onto the streets. Compared to the woodland interior, it’s buzzing. To escape the crowds, book a room at the five-star Grand Hotel Brioni, which has an incredible seafront position on a quiet headland of its own.

A haven of calm set in a pine forest, Brioni has been called Croatia’s best hotel and we can understand why. After a £30 million refit a few years ago, it’s now back to its luxurious best.

As part of the former Yugoslavia, the infamous President Tito often stayed here – together with Hollywood and music A-listers such as ABBA, Sofia Loren and many more. Although they probably didn’t arrive in a Kia…

Easy to see why: the views are to die for. If you can haul yourself away from a seafront sun lounger, head 20 minutes down the coast to Banjole and an amazing seafood restaurant – one that’s worth a flight to Croatia on its own.

Konoba Batelina doesn’t boast a website but is in the Michelin guide and favoured by locals and tourists alike. The boss is chef-fisherman Danilo Skoko, who has fished off the coast here for decades.

And bookings are essential – there was a rush for the door when it opened! Simply cooked, fantastic seafood. Batelina is as authentic as it gets: a true taste of Istrian served by friendly knowledgeable staff.

A restaurant you almost want to keep to yourself. A bit like Istria – go before the rest of Europe finds it!

And if you hire a car, make sure it’s a Kia.

Find out more about the Kia EV3 at kia.com

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.