The Kia EV4 offers more space and longer range than most rivals, but its price could be a sticking point.
Kia is enjoying the strongest period in its history. Looking specifically at its all-electric line-up, it is genuinely hard to identify a mainstream manufacturer doing a better job.
The latest addition to the South Korean brand’s electric family is the EV4. Built in Europe, it has almost everything in its favour to become a success.
It uses the EV3 as its starting point, but brings a longer wheelbase and more rear-seat room. It comes as a five-door hatchback, while a four-door, three-box Fastback variant is also offered for buyers already tired of SUVs and crossovers.
As for pricing, just €1,500 separates the entry-level EV3 from the basic EV4. In theory, then, the decision should largely come down to the body style. Or perhaps not?
I spent several days with this model, which has only just arrived on the Portuguese market, to establish its strengths and weaknesses against its “younger brother”, the EV3.
A divisive Kia EV4 design
It would be difficult to find a Kia EV model with styling that everyone agrees on. The angular surfaces, black wheel-arch cladding and sharply cut light signature will not appeal to all tastes. On the other hand, nobody is likely to mistake an EV4 for any other electric car.
Which matters more: widely accepted but anonymous styling, or a polarising look with a strong identity? I lean towards the latter. That is precisely why I like what Kia has done here. The Fastback version is “a different matter altogether”, as the saying goes…
There is more to the EV4’s styling than character, though. Its low roofline, active front air intake and particularly “sharp” bonnet help it achieve a drag coefficient (Cx) of just 0.27.
A positive interior impression
As has become customary in South Korean brand’s models, the cabin combines a minimalist but welcoming atmosphere with modern design and materials that feel pleasant to the touch.
Its 12.3-inch infotainment display is not the most enjoyable system to use, but it is among the simplest. Better still, physical controls are also available for many of the key functions.
Behind the steering wheel, the 12.3-inch instrument cluster complements the main screen well, presenting driving-related information in a clear and straightforward way.
Physical steering-wheel controls allow the driver to switch between the various pages, while the wheel itself is comfortable to hold. However, its thick rim obscures much of the small climate-control display positioned between the instruments and infotainment screen.
This issue affects the rest of Kia’s EV range too and, unfortunately, remains something the manufacturer has yet to address.
More rear-seat space
The biggest difference compared with the EV3 is found in the rear seats, as the EV4 provides more knee room. The 140 mm increase in wheelbase is noticeable, making the EV4 one of the segment benchmarks in this respect.
Even so, I would have liked the rear seats to slide forwards when all that passenger space is not required. That is because the boot falls slightly short of expectations.
It is true that it offers 435 litres of luggage capacity, or 1415 litres with the rear seats folded, but this is less than the EV3’s 460 litres. That is the trade-off for the lower roof and more steeply inclined rear pillar.
On top of that, the Kia EV3 has a front boot beneath its bonnet, adding another 25 litres of capacity. It may not sound like much, but it further increases its advantage over the EV4.
Long electric range
Unlike the EV6 and EV9, the EV4 does not use an 800 V electrical architecture, instead relying on the more conventional 400 V system. It can therefore charge at up to 128 kW in direct current (DC), or 101 kW in the smaller-battery version, and at up to 11 kW in alternating current (AC).
These are far from class-leading figures, but they are not restrictive either. Its range, however, is among the best in the segment. Available with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh batteries, the Kia EV4 claims up to 440 km and 594 km respectively.
The version I tested had the larger battery and, frankly, I never experienced any range anxiety. Alongside the generous battery capacity, its relatively low energy consumption allows it to get close to Kia’s claimed range figures.
During mixed driving, combining motorway journeys with more urban routes and always remaining within legal speed limits, I recorded an average consumption of only 13.9 kWh/km, an outstanding figure for a car of this type.
The electric powertrain’s efficiency, and consequently its long range, is this electric car’s greatest strength. It also feels more settled and less firm than the EV3. Nevertheless, on rougher roads and with the 19-inch wheels fitted to the test car, the suspension could be slightly softer.
In every other situation, the EV4 proves consistently balanced, comfortable and, above all, willing. In a market increasingly populated by electric cars with several hundred horsepower, the EV4’s 204 hp will not impress anyone. Yet it is entirely adequate for everyday use.
If you disagree, you will probably need to look at a different kind of model with sporting pedigree. This Kia EV4 could hardly be further removed from that sort of car.
It delivers assured acceleration, taking just 7.7s in the 0 to 100 km/h sprint, but that is where it ends. The controls are very light in feel and entirely focused on comfort, as is the chassis behaviour. And that suits it well.
How much does the Kia EV4 cost?
The new Kia EV4 is now available to order in Portugal, with prices starting at €41,500 for the smaller-battery version and €46,000 for the longer-range model.
In either case, price is one of this model’s main drawbacks, as it was with the EV3. It is worth noting, however, that Kia currently has a launch offer reducing prices across the range by €3,800. There is no need to rush, though, as these Kia campaigns tend to remain in place for some time.
As mentioned earlier, the difference compared with an equivalent Kia EV3 is very small. The choice will therefore mainly depend on two key factors: rear-seat space and exterior styling.
Whichever model you choose, component sharing between the two is almost total. The EV3 is one of the best electric cars in its segment, and the EV4 follows in its footsteps.
So, if design is not an issue, you could be looking at your next electric car. There are worse problems to have.
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