Kia has unveiled its new EV4, a compact electric vehicle poised to compete directly with the Tesla Model 3, which has seen declining sales despite a recent refresh. The EV4, showcased at Kia Day in Spain, will be available in both fastback sedan and hatchback body styles, with a starting price around $35,000.
The EV4 shares its powertrain architecture with the previously announced EV3, utilizing a 400-volt electrical system for cost efficiency, rather than the 800-volt system found in Kia’s higher-end EV6 and EV9 models. Initially, a single 201 horsepower front-wheel drive motor will be offered, with dual-motor all-wheel drive and performance-oriented GT versions planned for future release.
Two battery options will be available: a 58.3 kWh pack and an 81.4 kWh pack. The smaller battery provides quicker acceleration, with a 0-62 mph time of 7.4 seconds for both body styles. However, the sedan offers a slightly longer range of 267 miles, compared to the hatchback’s 255 miles.
Opting for the larger 81.4 kWh battery increases the range significantly, with the hatchback achieving 367 miles and the sedan reaching 391 miles. The trade-off is a slight increase in the 0-62 mph time, adding 0.3 seconds. Charging times range from 29 minutes for the smaller battery to 31 minutes for the larger one, both representing a slower charging rate compared to Kia’s 800-volt models.
The EV4’s interior features a 30-inch triple display dashboard, offering entertainment options such as streaming services, games, and karaoke. The sedan, with its longer body, provides a larger cargo capacity of 490 liters, compared to the hatchback’s 435 liters.
Kia plans to launch the EV4 in Korea in March, followed by a European rollout in the latter half of the year. The US market will receive the sedan version, manufactured domestically, in 2025.
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