A Sensible Electrical Hatchback For Commuting

Kia was one of many few mainstream manufacturers that genuinely acquired trendy EVs early—particularly with its E-GMP structure, the 800-volt platform that made automobiles just like the EV6 fast to cost and grown-up to drive. I anticipated extra of the identical with its latest EVs.

The brand new EV4 is Kia’s try and deliver the value down by simplifying the components. It sits on the corporate’s new E-GMP ‘Lite’ underpinnings, with front- reasonably than rear-wheel drive, decrease peak charging energy, and a driving expertise that leans far more towards smart than spirited.

After a number of days with it round Bucharest—over bumpy, poorly maintained roads, tram tracks, tight parking maneuvers and the occasional squirt of acceleration—the EV4 made it fairly clear what it’s about. It’s glorious as a relaxed, environment friendly commuter, however as one thing you’d search out simply to drive, it falls a bit quick.

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

In some ways, it looks like a barely smaller, extra conservative EV6. Its greatest downside is that it could possibly be cheaper for what it presents. Whereas I had this automotive, I had a nagging feeling that Kia constructed it right down to a value, and you might see that, particularly in the event you began touching the plastics across the cabin. It simply doesn’t really feel premium sufficient for a automobile that, as examined, prices greater than €50,000 ($58,000) and nonetheless does not have all of the obtainable choices.

But it surely does get loads of different issues proper. 

2026 Kia EV4: Specs And Options

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

The is available in two flavors: hatchback and sedan. The U.S. market was purported to get the four-door EV4, however that is off the desk now due to tariffs. Sorry, people. 

Kia needed to make its EVs extra reasonably priced, so it created a ‘lite’ model of its E-GMP platform working at 400 volts. Altering it from rear- to front-wheel drive and decreasing the voltage have important implications for autos underpinned by this new platform, which may’t compete with automobiles just like the EV6 that Kia has been promoting for years.

It’s nonetheless a great EV, however it simply doesn’t ship the identical easy ‘costly Kia’ vibe you get from an EV6.

In contrast to the EV6, which costs at as much as 240 kilowatts and takes round 20 minutes to go from 10 to 80%, the EV4 peaks at 135 kW and wishes 10 extra minutes. That’s 30% extra time spent ready for the automotive to cost, which is fairly important, even given its constant charging curve and comparatively excessive common energy.

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

Switching to front-wheel drive adjustments how the EV4 places its energy down. The larger EV6 isn’t explicitly a efficiency automotive, however it feels extra planted, extra linked and extra enjoyable once you lean on it.

Speed up onerous within the EV4 with any steering enter, and also you’ll hear the entrance tires scrabble for grip, with a touch of torque steer tugging on the wheel. The EV6 doesn’t try this (even in dual-motor all-wheel-drive guise) as a result of it’s rear-wheel-drive, which is precisely why it feels extra polished even once you’re not attempting to be quick.

This EV4 doesn’t really feel significantly fast for a 200-horsepower EV, and the reason being easy: Kia caps torque at 208 lb-ft (283 Nm). Even when the motor might ship extra twist, the automotive by no means offers you that satisfyingly easy shove you anticipate from a contemporary EV. I bear in mind the Kia Soul EV I drove a number of years in the past with related energy however 291 lb-ft (395 Nm). It felt genuinely punchier than the EV4, and it was far more enjoyable to drive in consequence.

Since the entire house below the hood is taken up by the motor, electronics and cooling, there’s no room for frunk. It wasn’t big within the EV6, however it was there and simply sufficiently big to retailer charging cables and different knick-knacks.

2026 Kia EV4: Driving Impressions

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

Bucharest is a superb testing floor for suspension as a result of it’s a metropolis with infinite variability within the varieties and high quality of its roads—every thing from pristine new tarmac to damaged cobbled roads. The EV4 glides over the worst of it like no different automotive I’ve ever pushed right here, even massive luxurious barges with adaptive air suspension.

I simply can’t recover from how cozy it’s, even with decently sized 19-inch wheels like those on my tester. It felt so good over Bucharest’s poorly maintained roads and uneven tram monitor crossings that I can’t even think about what the bottom automotive with 17-inch wheels should be like. It already rides like a magic carpet.

Consolation ranges stay remarkably excessive even at increased speeds. The EV4 has clearly been designed to offer serene, enjoyable A-to-B transportation and that is the place it excels. The seats are additionally very snug and decently supportive, though the driving place is kind of excessive, so it makes you’re feeling such as you’re driving a crossover, not a low-to-the-ground hatchback.

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

On actually dangerous roads, the delicate suspension can get uncontrolled. This feels just like the dampers aren’t fairly as much as the job and it transmits quite a lot of the physique motion into the passenger compartment, transferring you round in your seat. That is at odds with the way it often feels, however it’s uncommon and it doesn’t mar the general expertise an excessive amount of.

The lengthy wheelbase makes for a really roomy cabin. 4 six-footers can journey in consolation in an EV4 hatch, but when they’re any taller, they could wrestle for headroom. That is primarily because of the high-set seats, which deliver you very near the headliner they usually make the EV4 really feel like a automotive that was designed round a excessive crossover-like seating place first, which isn’t ideally suited for taller individuals.

2026 Kia EV4: Charging

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

I plugged the EV4 in, not anticipating to be impressed, even realizing Kia’s huge expertise in making a few of the world’s fastest-charging EVs. Although it doesn’t cost wherever close to as rapidly as an 800-volt E-GMP automotive, the EV4 remains to be fairly convincing once you plug it in. I charged it from 25% to 80% from a 200 kW charger and it did very nicely.

Lower than a minute after beginning the charging session, the charging energy had climbed to 128 kW and it stayed there till round 40%. Then it began dropping and rising once more, making uncommon peaks within the charging curve, however by the point it hit 80%, it was nonetheless pulling 58 kW. It added 47.7 kWh in 28 minutes, which is fairly good for a automobile with a comparatively massive battery and it virtually matches the producer’s declare.

Charging curve from 25-80%

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

Kia says the EV4 hatch on 17-inch wheels ought to do as much as 391 miles (629 km) WLTP with the 81.4 kWh long-range battery and 273 miles (440 km) with the smaller 58.3 kWh battery. Going for 19-inch wheels like those I had on my tester drops the claimed vary to 362 miles (582 km), which you’ll be able to most likely come very near matching in the event you really attempt to drive effectively and maintain your velocity smart.

With 99% within the battery, the automotive stated it might do 314 miles (505 km), calculated for a median electrical energy consumption of three.7 miles/kWh (16.8 kWh/100 km), which was the common for the one who had the automotive earlier than me. My electrical energy consumption was 3.42 miles/kWh (18.1 kWh/100 km), which means you may nonetheless get round 290 miles even in the event you’re like me and need to sometimes discover the automobile’s efficiency.

2026 Kia EV4: Versus The Competitors

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

The EV4 does quite a lot of issues proper: it’s snug, environment friendly and spacious. But it surely’s additionally a bit uninteresting and disconnected to drive, and in my thoughts, there’s a mismatch between its aggressive design and the way it really drives. It’s not what I anticipated after having pushed different Kia EVs, just like the Soul and EV6, each of which I completely liked on the time.

It’s additionally a bit too costly for what it presents, and elements of the inside really feel a bit too low-cost. Having beforehand pushed a BYD Seal, which is in the identical value bracket, the Chinese language sedan feels correctly luxurious when it comes to perceived high quality, whereas the EV4 simply appears constructed to a value. I needed to love the EV4 extra, however I nonetheless don’t know what to make of it, even weeks after returning it.

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

I’ve excessive expectations for the dual-motor EV4 GT, which is coming with all-wheel drive, over 400 horsepower and hopefully a chassis tuned for a bit extra engagement. It’s additionally getting a fake engine full with faux gear shifting, which might increase the extent of pleasure.

Hopefully, Kia may also match the GT variant with completely different seats that can give a decrease, sportier driving place (and extra headroom).

2026 Kia EV4: Verdict

Photograph by: Andrei Nedelea

Driving the EV4 left me with combined emotions, primarily as a result of the automotive’s priorities are so clear. It’s snug, environment friendly, quiet and really simple to stay with. But once you attempt to drive it just like the styling suggests you may (particularly within the sportier GT Line trim), it’s fairly clear the automotive doesn’t take pleasure in it. There’s a little bit of a mismatch between the indignant praying mantis face and the calm, barely indifferent driving expertise.

It additionally feels costly for the standard of the supplies you see and contact inside. My tester price over €50,000 ($58,000) and nonetheless didn’t have each possibility, and a few of the cabin plastics make it really feel like Kia engineered it right down to a value (a lower cost than what you’re requested to pay).

The EV4 is taking part in in a crowded phase, however perceived high quality issues, and a BYD Seal, which prices across the identical, feels extra convincingly “premium” in supplies and end. It drives higher, too.

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Supply: Andrei Nedelea

What I’m actually ready for is the EV4 GT. All-wheel drive ought to cope with the traction drama, and a correct energy bump plus a stiffened chassis tuned for engagement might utterly change how this automotive feels. The GT’s faux shifting and fake engine noise also needs to be a enjoyable gimmick to liven a spirited drive.

All of that being stated, the EV4 is straightforward to suggest, particularly in the event you don’t care about steering really feel or punchy acceleration. The EV4 is a device, not a toy, and it’s superb at what it does. However for thrills, look elsewhere—or to the EV6. 

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