Kia’s electric line-up needs little introduction, as the South Korean brand has made waves around the world with its simply named but very different range spanning SUVs, saloons and hatchbacks.
It all started with the Kia EV6, which mixed sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs into a divisive but ultimately hugely popular package, and then grew to include one of the world’s first seven-seat electric SUVs in the EV9.
There are gaps to fill, including the much-hyped EV2 city car and this… the EV4 hatchback.
Building on the success of the Tesla Model 3, Kia wanted to produce an electric vehicle that could compete in the UK and other European territories where the SUV hasn’t completely dominated… yet.
The humble hatchback has traditionally sold well in those countries, but Kia wanted to hedge its bets by offering the EV4 in hatch and fastback sedan versions. The latter sports an extended rear with one of the highest carrying capacities in the world, but it won’t win many beauty contests.
The hatchback, on the other hand, is a low, slim five-door with sharp exterior lines that are both eye-catching and a little crazy. It’s sure to turn heads and divide opinions along the way.
A winning formula
Kia’s E-GMP platform now underpins its entire range of electric vehicles, which share similar powertrains and battery technology. The EV4 is closely related to the more upright and boxy EV3, so it comes with a 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh pack.
There’s no 800V electric charging architecture like that found in the EV6 and EV9, but those are more expensive propositions, so customers have to make do with 400V here.
It’s not exactly a compromise, because the EV4 can be recharged between 10 and 80% with a 150 kW charger in just 29 minutes, which is typical for an electric vehicle that costs around £35,000 (around $46,000 / AU$71,000) for the base model.
Spend a little more and the larger battery will charge in almost the same time, but it’s capable of an incredibly impressive 388 miles when fully charged. This has been made possible by a series of aerodynamic improvements and careful tuning of the electric drivetrain, air conditioning and power electronics to achieve maximum efficiency.
You’ll also want to test those maximum range numbers, because the EV4 is a very comfortable and pleasant place to rack up mileage. The front seats are padded in all the right places, while the brand’s cloth headrests are some of the best in the business.
In short, this electric hatchback challenges ordinary SUVs thanks to its bold styling, smooth ride and excellent practicality, and that’s not easy to achieve.
More fun than an SUV
It’s very difficult to make a proper electric hatchback these days, simply because the battery packs have to be hidden in the floor and this raises the ride height or the driving position… or both.
In the EV4, it’s the driving position that doesn’t live up to expectations the way a Volkswagen Golf or Seat León ICE does, as it still feels a bit high. But that’s nitpicking, because the ride is still a hoot.
While electric SUVs tend to feel bloated and roll around in corners (unless you buy a Porsche), the EV4 brings a smile to the right corner. It’s no pocket rocket, with power pegged at just 201bhp (quite tame in today’s world of crazy electric cars), but it feels plenty quick on UK roads.
There’s 283Nm of torque on tap, meaning it gets off the line quickly, with an official 0-62mph sprint time ranging between 7.5 seconds and 7.9 seconds, depending on battery size.
But overall, the EV4 is set up to be incredibly comfortable on a variety of road surfaces, soaking up bumps and generally proving quiet and composed in most situations. In short, it is very pleasant to live with.
Technology improves
Kia’s infotainment offering has been slowly and quietly improving with the launch of each new EV-badged product, and the EV4’s combined 12.3-, 12.3- and 5.3-inch screens are among the brand’s smartest yet.
Sharp and easy to use, these screens work great with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but also offer a variety of apps that now come built-in. These include things like Netflix, Disney+, gaming, and in-car karaoke, if that’s your vibe.
In fact, there’s a dedicated ‘Theater Mode’ that dims the interior lights and optimizes the 12.3-inch center screen for watching TV or watching movies through one of the aforementioned streaming services. While parked, of course.
The EV4 is also the first car after the EV3 to feature Kia’s new voice assistant, which is powered by ChatGPT and aims to offer a more natural conversational interaction with the car.
It can take care of key features and settings, but now also helps with navigation using Google Points of Interest to provide advice on the cheapest places to park or the best things to see and do in the area, for example.
This is the first time this integration has been seen in a Kia and it works well, as Google Points of Interest also includes key information such as parking, opening hours and prices for places we usually visit.
As with a Tesla, Kia also offers a digital key that can live on both Android and Apple smartphones, where the car automatically unlocks as you approach. This also works on Apple Watch, for those who can’t even be bothered to take a phone out of their pocket.
It’s a very accomplished package that’s all wrapped up in conversation-starting style and an incredibly comfortable ride.
It’s also priced high, beating the more expensive Model 3 in both refinement and uniqueness, while offering more excitement than something like a VW ID 3 or the cheaper MG 4.
Above all, it’s nice to see a car company release something that, for once, isn’t a completely generic, soulless electric SUV.
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