by Kia’s Rapid Development
In just a few years, Kia has transformed from a brand trying to find its design style and lacking electric models into a manufacturer with some of the most distinctive cars on the market and four electric vehicles in its lineup, with more novelties on the way. The latest novelty is the Volkswagen Golf-sized EV4, and recent photos from Kia clearly demonstrate why Volkswagen, Tesla, and other major automakers should be worried.
Kia’s Most Important EV Is Finally Getting The Sporty Edge It Needs
Details for the European and American Markets
Kia showed the European version of the EV4 in February of this year and provided more detailed information about the sedan, which will be produced and sold in the USA, in April. However, the American version will only appear at the beginning of 2026, so attention is now focused again on the European EV4, which will go on sale this autumn in two formats: a hatchback produced in Slovakia and a Fastback sedan produced in Korea.
Single Motor at the Start
Both versions currently have only one powertrain option. Versions with two motors are planned, but for now, buyers are limited to a single 201 hp motor that drives the front wheels and accelerates the EV4 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds. This time is specified for the car with the base 58.3 kWh battery. If you choose the heavier 81.4 kWh battery, which is the only one available for Fastback sedans in the UK, acceleration takes 7.7 seconds.
Range and Efficiency
The obvious advantage of the larger battery is the increased range. The hatchback with the small battery can travel about 410 km, and the sedan – 430 km. Versions with the 81.4 kWh battery for the hatchback and sedan have a range of 612 km and 630 km, respectively. Interestingly, according to Kia, the more aerodynamically shaped sedan is more efficient than the hatchback with the small battery, but with the large battery, the situation is reversed.
Charging Speed
Like the related EV3 crossover, the EV4 models did not receive the advanced 800-volt architecture found in the EV6 or EV9. Instead, they use 400-volt equipment, which significantly slows down charging. Charging the large battery from 10% to 80% takes about 31 minutes, which is almost twice as long as for the EV6.
Space and Practicality
Both models have the same wheelbase – 2820 mm, but the sedan, which is 300 mm longer, offers a more useful luggage compartment with a volume of 490 liters, while the hatchback holds 435 liters. Unfortunately, the sedan, like its competitor the Tesla Model 3, has a traditional, less practical trunk, not a liftback.
Design and Interior
For passengers, both EV4s will feel almost identical. Both have the same combination of a digital instrument panel and a touchscreen for the multimedia system. GT Line models feature sport seats and a three-spoke steering wheel instead of a two-spoke one. Externally, the difference between the base hatchback version and the GT Line version seems minor, despite the base model’s smaller wheels and less aggressive bumpers.
Competitive Advantages
The unusual design of the Fastback sedan may deter some buyers from the Tesla Model 3, but Europe is a continent of hatchback enthusiasts, and Tesla has no answer to the EV4 in this body style, which will undoubtedly cause trouble for Volkswagen and its ID.3. How serious this competition will be will become clear when prices are announced in the coming weeks and when the car can be tested.
The arrival of the EV4 marks another stage in Kia’s electric vehicle strategy aimed at covering different market segments. The focus on the European market with a hatchback and a sedan demonstrates the company’s flexibility and understanding of regional preferences. Technical specifications such as range are competitive, but the choice of a 400-volt architecture may be a topic of discussion among those accustomed to the fast charging of more expensive models. The success of the EV4 will largely depend on the final pricing policy, as price is often the decisive factor in this segment.
