The new Kia EV4 has made its debut at the South Korean automaker’s recent EV Day, which also saw the PV5 and Concept EV2 sharing the stage in Tarragona, Spain. Shown ahead of its full reveal and previewed by a concept last year, the EV4 is the brand’s new electric vehicle (EV) that will be offered in sedan and hatchback body styles.
Contrary to prior reports, the EV4 doesn’t get the 800V version of the E-GMP platform. Instead, it is built on a 400V electrical architecture similar to the EV3 and EV5, with powertrain options being pretty much identical to the former.
The Base variant comes with a 58.3-kWh battery that is good for 430 km of range following the WLTP standard. It is joined by a Long Range option with an increased energy capacity of 81.4 kWh, which bumps the range to 630 km.
These figures apply to the sedan version of the EV4, with the hatchback offering 410 km (Base) or 590 km (Long Range). A 10-80% state of charge is reached in as little as 29 minutes for the Base variant, while the Long Range needs 31 minutes.
There’s also AC charging support up to 11 kW, with a full charge from 10-100% taking five hours and 20 minutes (Base) or seven hours and 15 minutes (Long Range). The EV4 also comes with 3.6 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) and 10 kW vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems.
Regardless of the battery, the EV4 comes standard with a front electric motor rated at 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW), which enables a 0-100 km/h time of either 7.4 (Base) or 7.7 seconds (Long Range) – the top speed is 170 km/h for both variants.
Driving-related systems include the customisable i-Pedal 3.0 that works across all levels of the EV’s adaptive Smart Regenerative Braking function, including in reverse. You also get a wide range of ADAS such as Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2, Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist 2, Lane Following Assist 2, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and Remote Parking Assist Entry. A 12-inch windshield-projected head-up display is also offered as an option.
Kia will also offer the Driving Package F+ (‘Drive Wise’) advanced driver-assistance system that detects hazardous situations through a combination of cameras and radars, assisting the driver in safe driving and maneuvering. Along with an optimised body structure, the target is a full five-star Euro NCAP rating.
Design-wise, the EV4 stays rather true to the concept that previewed it, with the sedan having a fastback longtail silhouette. The brand’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy is clear to see here, with notable cues being the ‘EV Tiger Face’, gently creased surfaces, vertical ‘Star Map’ lighting signature, flush door handles, contrasting body panels and a two-piece rear spoiler.
With the GT-Line package, the front and rear bumpers are made to look more aggressive with wing-shaped elements, accompanied by triangular-motif 19-inch wheels (17-inch standard). The hatchback is identified by its shorter rear end and black C-pillars that extend into the roof.
The version its longtail-less rump (hatchback) offers 435 litres of boot space, while the sedan has 490 litres available. In terms of dimensions, both body styles of the EV4 measure 1,860 mm wide and come with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm. The sedan has a length of 4,730 mm while it is 4,430 mm for the hatchback, with the former being a lower overall height of 1,480 mm (versus 1,485 mm).
Moving inside, the EV4’s cabin is clearly inspired by the other EVs in the line-up with its simple dashboard design that is home to nearly 30 inches of screen real estate. This is split across a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.
With the EV4, Kia aims to deliver a lounge-like experience with front relaxation seats and ambient lighting to set the mood. There’s also something called Theatre Mode that optimises settings for the 30-inch display and eight-speaker sound system (a Harman Kardon version is optional) so you can better enjoy content from the Vehicle Smart TV. This includes YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, games and even karaoke, with software updates widening the available entertainment options.
The EV4 sedan will be produced from mid-March at Kia’s Autoland Gwangmyeong EVO Plant in South Korea, which opened its doors last year as a dedicated EV plant. Meanwhile, the hatchback version will only be produced in Slovakia from the second half of the year, primarily to support sales in Europe where it will be exclusively offered – sales will start when production started in these markets. The United States will get the EV4 later.
