Kia’s electric line-up needs little introduction, seeing as the South Korean marque has made waves across the globe with its simply-named but vastly different range that encompasses SUVs, saloons and hatchbacks.
It all started with the Kia EV6, which sort of mashed saloons, hatchbacks and SUVs into one divisive but ultimately very popular package, and then increased to include one of the world’s first electric seven-seat SUVs in the EV9.
Fast forward a few years and Kia now offers everything from the small (ish) EV3 SUV/crossover, through to a mid-sized EV5 SUV and up to the aforementioned EV9.
There are gaps to be plugged, including the much-hyped EV2 city car and this… the EV4 hatchback.
Riding on the success of Tesla’s Model 3, Kia wanted to produce an EV that could compete in the UK and other Euro territories where the SUV hasn’t completely taken over… yet.
The humble hatchback has traditionally sold well in those countries, but Kia wanted to hedge its bets by offering the EV4 in both hatch and Fastback saloon versions. The latter sports an extended rump with one of the largest load capacities on earth, but it won’t win many beauty pageants.
The hatchback, on the other hand, is a low, lean five-door with sharp exterior lines that are both eye-catching and a little bit bonkers. It’s sure to turn heads and divide opinions on the road.
A winning formula
Kia’s E-GMP platform now underpins its entire range of electric vehicles, which all share similar powertrains and battery technology. The EV4 is closely related to the more upright, boxier EV3, so comes with either a 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh pack.
There’s no 800V electrical charging architecture like that found on the EV6 and EV9, but those are more expensive propositions, so customers have to make do with 400V here.
It’s not exactly a compromise, because the EV4 can be recharged 10-to-80% using a 150kW charger in as little as 29 minutes, which is typical for an EV costing from around £35,000 (around $46,000 / AU$71,000) for the base model.
Spend a little more and the larger battery pack charges in near enough the same time, but is capable of a mightily impressive 388 miles when fully brimmed. This has been made possible by a number of aerodynamic enhancements and keen tuning of the electric powertrain, air conditioning and power electronics for maximum efficiency.
You’ll want to test those maximum range numbers too, because the EV4 is a very comfortable and pleasant place to rack up the mileage. The front seats are cushioned in all of the right places, while the brand’s fabric headrests are some of the best in the business.
In short, this electric hatchback challenges run-of-the-mill SUVs thanks to its bold styling, smooth drive and excellent practicality – and that isn’t an easy thing to do.
More fun than an SUV
It’s very difficult to make a proper electric hatchback these days, purely because the battery packs have to be stashed in the floor and this either raises the ride height or the driving position… or both.
In the EV4, it is the driving position that doesn’t quite nail the brief like an ICE Volkswagen Golf or Seat Leon does, as it still feels a tad too high. But that’s nit-picking, because the drive is still a hoot.
While electric SUVs tend to feel bloated and roll around through corners (unless you buy a Porsche), the EV4 raises a smile at the right corner. It’s no pocket rocket, with power pegged at just 201bhp (pretty tame in today’s world of unhinged electric cars), but it feels plenty swift enough on UK roads.
There is 283Nm of torque on tap, which means it gets off the line briskly, with the official 0-62mph sprint time ranging from 7.5 seconds to 7.9 seconds depending on the size of the battery pack.
But overall, the EV4 is set up to be fantastically comfortable over a variety of road surfaces, soaking up potholes and generally proving quiet and composed in most situations. Put simply, it’s really nice to live with.
Tech gets better
Kia’s infotainment offering has slowly and quietly been improving with the launch of each new EV-badged product and the 12.3in, 12.3in, and 5.3in combined displays in the EV4 are among the smartest from the brand so far.
Crisp and easy to use, these screens play nicely with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but also offer an array of apps that now come built-in. These include things like Netflix, Disney+, games and in-car karaoke, if that’s your vibe.
In fact, there is a dedicated ‘Theatre Mode’ that dims the interior lights and optimizes the central 12.3-inch display for bingeing TV or watching movies via one of those previously mentioned streaming services. When parked up, of course.
The EV4 is also the first car after the EV3 to feature Kia’s new voice assistant, which is powered by ChatGPT and aims to offer a more natural, conversational interaction with the car.
It can take care of key functionality and settings, but it also now helps navigate using Google Points of Interest to give advice on the cheapest places to park or the best things to see and do in the area, for example.
It is the first time this integration has been seen on a Kia and it works well, seeing as Google Points of Interest also feature key information, such as parking, opening hours and the prices of the places we tend to visit.
As you get with a Tesla, Kia also offers as digital key that can live on both Android and Apple smartphones, where the car automatically unlocks on approach. This also works on Apple Watch, for those who can’t even be bothered to drag a phone out of a pocket.
It’s a very accomplished package that’s all wrapped up in some conversation-starting styling and a fantastically comfortable ride.
It is priced keenly, too, beating the more expensive Model 3 in both refinement and uniqueness, while offering more excitement than something like a VW ID 3 or the cheaper MG 4.
Above all else, it’s nice to see an automotive company release something that isn’t a completely generic and utterly soulless electric SUV for once.
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