Battery sizes: 55kWh–78kWh
Max charge rate: 102–135kW
WLTP range: 255–388 miles 
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Introduction and model history
Here’s a question we thought we’d never ask – can we have too much of a good thing? When Kia first wowed us with the EV6 and then the EV9, we welcomed them with open arms. The more the merrier, we said.
But now we’ve got an EV2, EV3 and an EV5 in showrooms, and that’s not the end of Kia’s EV invasion. Oh no. In addition to the cars already mentioned, we also get two versions of the EV4 – Kia’s attempt to electrify the traditional compact family hatchback market.
I'd say that it isn't a looker, the EV4. Even in the hatchback version I find the droopy nose a bit odd, so I'm with Ginny in that I much prefer the styling of the EV3 and EV5. But it is a really solid electric family car, the EV4, and it stacks up very well even next to its many, many rivals.
Battery, range and charging
Both the EV4 hatchback and the EV4 fastback (which gets a saloon-style boot and, er, challenging styling) are offered with two battery options: 55 or 78kWh usable (or 58.3 and 81.4kWh gross, if you're wondering).
Which, if you’re a Kia expert, you’ll know are the same size packs offered in the EV3. But the EV4 is more aerodynamic than the EV3, making it more efficient and giving it a slightly longer range of up to 388 miles (624km) for the hatch, or 380 miles (612km) for the fastback version.
Real-world range is good in the EV4, and – as with all Kias – I love that the range readout tends to be pretty accurate. If it says that you’ve got 200 miles of range left, you really have got 200 miles of range left. And it gives you an estimate for the range you’ll get if you decide to drive quite, um, vigorously. Or if you decide to ease off and maximise efficiency. Which is all very useful.
I found that the real-world range in the 78kWh EV4 was pretty decent, even on the big wheels of the GT-Line S. It’ll do around 240 miles (386km) in very cold motorway driving, or warmer temperatures and more moderate driving will see that creep up to around 340 miles (547km).
The EV4 GT (pictured below) sacrifices bit of range, but not as much as you might think, so you'll only lose around 10 to 20 miles off the real-world range for the sake of that extra performance and all-wheel-drive goodness.
Charging speeds are up to 135kW on the big battery or just over 100kW on the smaller battery model, so the EV4 will charge from 10–80% in around 30 minutes regardless of which model you choose. It also comes with battery preconditioning, which means that you’ll get as close to that peak as possible if you have your destination set as a rapid charger.
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Interior, design and technology
The EV4 is available with two body styles: hatch and saloon. The hatch version is 4.4 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall. Which puts it bang in the middle of the hatchback class. It’s almost identical in size to a Vauxhall Astra, Renault Megane E-Tech or VW ID.3.
At the front, Kia hasn’t strayed too far from the look it’s given the EV3 and EV5. Its smoother and more angled, to make it more aerodynamic. The rear is where is gets interesting – on both models. The hatchback’s upright pillar is really unusual and features a trim line that extends over the roof the other side. There’s also an unusually deep roof spoiler that extends the roof line and again helps with the aerodynamics.
The EV4 fastback (Kia's name for the saloon)? Well, that’s where things get a little strange. If I was being uncharitable, I’d say it looks like it was designed by two different people who never spoke to each other.
And this is no optical illusion – the saloon really is quite a bit longer than the hatch. The extended rear end adds 300mm to the length of the EV4 hatchback, which makes it a bigger car than the more expensive EV6.
Inside, Kia has focused on space and usability. The minimalist dashboard incorporates a huge, panoramic display, combining a 12.3in driver and infotainment screens with a 5.3in climate control panel. A rotating armrest, sliding centre console and ambient lighting add to the premium feel.
It really does feel classy in here, with a nice blend of materials and sensible layout that includes physical aircon buttons and touch-sensitive shortcut buttons to make it easy to hop between functions on the screen. It's a much better infotainment system than the one in the MG4 or VW ID.3, I'd say that.
There's also over-the-air software updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satnav with charger search function and you can make your smartphone the key to your car (if you want to!).
Practicality and boot space
Passenger space and comfort in the EV4 is really impressive. Up front, I love the seats that – on higher specs – offer electric seat adjustment and are really supportive and comfy. I particularly like the headrests that are made of a mesh material and are really soft and comfy to rest your head against. I know, it's a small thing but then the little details can make a big difference.
There's loads of rear leg and headroom in the EV4 hatchback and fastback. Even tall adults will be comfortable, although I'd add here that the test car I spent my time in didn't have a panoramic roof, which might eat into the headroom a bit.
Rear visibility is a weak point, though. That sharply raked rear window only leave a letterbox view out of the back, so it's a good thing that you get parking sensors and a camera on every EV4.
Boot space is good, too, with 435 litres for the hatchback and the fastback gets 490 litres thanks to its longer rear overhang. It's a usefully bigger boot space than you get in the VW ID.3, Nissan Leaf or Cupra Born, although the Kia's boot lip is a bit higher than some others. The seats fold down in a 60:40 split, but they don't slide or do anything particularly clever.
Motors, performance and handling
Both of the standard EV4 models come with a front-mounted motor producing 201hp, giving the standard model a 0–62mph time of 7.4 seconds, while the long range variant takes 7.7 seconds. However, you can go for the full fat Kia EV4 GT, which is a proper electric hot hatch! It gets 292hp from dual electric motors, for all-wheel drive and a 0–62mph time of 5.6secs. Which is all very exciting, isn’t it?!
I drove the big battery EV4 GT-Line S out at a European Car of the Year event in Denmark, and then spent time with in the UK, too. and thought it was great. It's quite soft riding, with plenty of body movement, but the steering is nicely weighted and gives plenty of confidence, there's lots of grip and it all just feels secure and pleasant.
It's not quite as nice to drive as the Skoda Elroq, and I'd also say that a Renault Megane, Cupra Born and Nissan Leaf drive with a bit more vigour and driver satisfaction, but the EV4 is very fit for purpose, and a really calm way to travel.
Step up to the GT model, which Nicola drove out in Norway, and the EV4 is still a very calm family EV. But then you can change the adaptive sports suspension (which reads the road ahead for better comfort and control), activate the gear shifts and sounds, and just generally have a blast.
It’s very neutral and confident, and the torque vectoring makes it handle very neatly, and this is the sportiest of the Kia GT models. But it’s still mostly notable for being a very calm, confident family EV that you can then also really enjoy on a good road if the fancy takes you. It doesn’t really feel like a hot hatch all the time, unless you want it to!
Brake regen is done via paddles on the steering wheel, which let you toggle through three different levels – and you can choose whether you want the adaptive setting on or off within those modes, so that the car brakes automatically to keep your distance from cars in front. There's also a one-pedal mode, making this one of the most versatile and easy to control regen systems in the class. I know it sounds a bit complicated, but it's easy to use, honest!
Overall, in the standard models the Kia EV4 isn't quite as nimble as some of its counterparts but it's still a really easygoing car that you'll enjoy driving.
Running costs and pricing
As expected, the EV4 fits exactly between the EV3 and EV6 in Kia's pricing structure, with the range starting at under £35,000 for the 55kWh Air model (before the UK plug-in car grant) or the price jumps to just under £38,000 for the big battery Kia EV4 Air that I reckon will be a popular option. That's a very long range for the money, and you get all of that touchscreen infotainment tech, adaptive cruise control, alloy wheels, parking camera, heated front seats, and automatic LED lights.
As expected, the EV4 fits exactly between the EV3 and EV6 in Kia's pricing structure, with the range starting at under £35,000 for the 58.3kWh Air model (that's about £1,000 less than a VW ID.3, by the way), or the price jumps to just under £38,000 for the 81.4kWh Kia EV4 Air that I reckon will be a popular option. That's a very long range for the money, and you get all of that touchscreen infotainment tech, adaptive cruise control, alloy wheels, parking camera, heated front seats, and automatic LED lights.
GT-Line adds wireless phone charging, electric driver's seat adjustment, leatherette upholstery in place of the fabric finish in the Air models, bigger 19-inch alloys and lots of other style upgrades. GT-Line S is only available with the big battery, and it adds heated rear seats, head-up display, Harman Kardon sound system and a blind spot monitor. It does cost nearly £44,000, though, which feels a bit pricey even with the seven year, 100,000 mile warranty thrown in.
The GT is a really tempting prospect if you want all-wheel drive and loads of power in an EV that, in normal use, is also comfy and refined. Sure, the MG4 XPower costs a lot less, but the Kia EV4 GT goes much further to a charge and is more practical, so it's not so hard to justify the price of £49,000. Well, kind of. You can have a Tesla Model 3 for that kind of money, but... maybe you don't want a Tesla.
Verdict
The EV4 marks an interesting development in Kia’s approach to its EV line-up. Instead of simply having models that fit price segments, Kia wants to give buyers a choice of designs.
If you don’t fancy an EV3 because you don’t like SUVs, the EV4 offers you the same tech and range in a more conventional five-door hatch or saloon body. It’s a bold move, given that SUVs continue to dominate the sales charts in Europe. Time will tell if Kia’s move is a masterstroke or a rare misstep.
If I'm honest – despite being a lifelong hatchback fan – I'd have the EV3 over the EV4 as I think it's much cuter to look at, not to mention a bit cheaper and still a very versatile family car. Even so, while I don't personally love the EV4's droopy-nosed looks, it is a comprehensive electric family car that makes a very solid case for itself against rivals like the Nissan Leaf and VW ID.3.
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