Should you buy a Kia EV4? 

Yes. Kia’s on a bit of a roll when it comes to producing high-quality electric cars – it has launched several in the last couple of years and this EV4 is no exception. It has a fantastic driving range, it steers well, there’s huge amounts of space in the back, a good level of standard equipment and the seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty is the icing on the cake.  

It’s not short of rivals – the Volkswagen ID.3, Vauxhall Astra and Renault Megane E-Tech are but a few – however the EV4 has very few obvious weaknesses to spoil what is a great all-round package. If the finances stack up – which, they should compared with rivals – the EV4 could be the hatchback for you.  

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What’s new? 

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Underneath the EV4, you’ll find much of the underpinnings from the EV3 (which we rate rather highly) including the E-GMP electric car platform shared with the Hyundai Motor Company. That means that the primary changes are related to the bodystyle with the EV4 coming in 85mm lower than the EV3 and therefore showcasing a more traditional hatchback look.  

That also impacts the ergonomics, with the driver’s seat of the EV4 positioned 40mm lower than the EV3. For those that enjoy an elevated viewpoint this won’t be an advantage, however should you like to feel more involved in the driving of the car it’s a small but noticeable benefit. 

The EV4 also gets Kia’s new AI Chat function powered by ChatGPT. This means you can ask the car for restaurant or point of interest recommendations or request a joke. We tried this latter feature and while the quality of the gags varied, they were at least different every time.  

Rest mode and Theatre mode are also new and allow users to turn the EV4 into the perfect sleeping or movie-watching environment (when the car is safely parked, of course). The former uses the climate control and ambient lighting to set the mood and also works well with the optional fold-flat seats on higher spec models. Meanwhile, the latter uses built-in Netlfix, Disney+ and YouTube services to provide entertainment after a long drive. 

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What’s it like inside? 

Unsurprisingly, it’s very similar to the Kia EV3. That means lots of space in the front and back (rear legroom is a real highlight), with a well-sorted and largely user-friendly design presented to the occupants.  

We like the 12.5-inch digital dash display and infotainment screen (the software is responsive and easy-to-use), but the central climate touchscreen is often blocked by the steering wheel limiting its usefulness. However, Kia has provided physical climate control temperature switches (as well as further shortcut buttons above) meaning this is only a minor issue. 

The design of the centre console allows for plenty of storage space (some hidden, some open) and points towards a cabin that is, at heart, highly functional. However, customisable ambient lighting as well as nice touches like artificial leather and super-soft headrests really do well to lift the feeling of quality.  

Bootspace, meanwhile, is generous at 435 litres and beats key rivals such as the VW ID.3 and Vauxhall Astra. However, the Kia EV4 is the only EV in Kia’s line-up not to feature a front boot, or frunk as it’s commonly known.  

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Kia EV4 range, charging and motors 

The EV4 hatchback is available with two battery sizes – the entry level 58.3kWh and a larger 81.4kWh unit. Both power a single motor on the front axle making the EV4 front-wheel drive only. 

Driving range for the 58.3kWh battery is 273 miles, while the 81.4kWh battery can deliver up to 391 miles depending on trim. Total power output is 204hp, with torque rated at 283Nm. Meanwhile, top speed is 105mph while the fastest 0-62mph time belongs to the version with the smaller battery at 7.5 seconds. 

The EV4’s charging max charging speed of 135kW is OK and means a 10-80% charge (from a faster charger) in 29-31 minutes, with an 11kW AC charger managing 10-100% in either 5hrs 20 mins or 7hrs 15 mins depending on battery size.  

For those interested in towing with the EV4, maximum braked trailer weight is rated at 1,000kg. What’s more, vehicle-to-load (V2L) means you can power items using the car’s onboard battery, while vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) allows power to be fed back into the grid or supply the user’s home in certain territories.  

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What’s it like to drive? 

Building on the drive of the Kia EV3, the EV4 makes use of its lower centre of gravity and overall height to deliver a polished and enjoyable driving experience. It’s not the quickest, but there’s enough power for everyday situations and the response from the accelerator pedal is crisp and predictable. 

The ride does a great job at filtering out sharp edges in the road surfaces and only occasionally gets upset by the largest bumps. Refinement, too, is impressive with little road or wind noise coming into the cabin.  

We were also impressed with how much fun the EV4 is to drive should you switch the drive mode selector into Sport. Again, it’s not going to rival a hot-hatch, but it feels keen, eager and plenty agile enough for what is a family EV. What’s more, the standard suite of advanced safety aids means that, although it’s yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, the EV4 should get the same full five-star rating as the EV3. 

What models and trims are available? 

The EV4 hatchback is available in Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S trim levels. In truth, Air (from £35k) may be all that many customers need with standard kit including the triple-screen interior setup, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and heated door mirrors. 

However, should you opt for the mid-spec GT Line trim (from £40k), additional goodies include GT-Line exterior styling, automatic flush door handles, rear privacy glass, two-tone artificial leather upholstery, electric driver’s seat adjustment and lumbar support, customisable ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger and digital key functionality.  

Finally, GT-Line S (from £44k), gets all the above plus a sunroof, adaptive LED headlights, heated outer rear seats, heated and cooled front seats, memory function for the driver’s seating position, electric passenger seat adjustment and lumbar support, premium relaxation seats in the front, an electric boot lid, a three-pin in-car plug socket, vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, a head-up display, eight-speaker Harman Kardon sounds system plus more.  

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What else should I know? 

If you’re after a saloon version of the EV4, Kia has you covered with the EV4 Fastback starting from £41k. It’s significantly more expensive largely because it’s only available with the larger battery and GT-Line spec upwards. The boot is larger on paper but more awkward to load bulky items into, plus rear-seat headroom is tighter than the hatchback. 

Meanwhile, if you like the look of the EV4 but want a little more performance, a dual-motor version is due at some point in the future along with a hot GT model. 

So, how does this new model fit in? Read on for our verdict and ratings for the new Kia EV4 hatchback, what we like and don’t, and to find out what processes we go through to get to these conclusions, read our how we test cars page.