Kia EV4 review

Driving position

If you’re coming from a hatchback, the Kia EV4 will feel very familiar. Unlike the growing range of electric SUVs, the seating position is much lower for a sportier feel.

The open centre console design also makes it feel far airier than petrol-powered hatchbacks.

Steering adjustment is plentiful (and electric in higher trim levels), as is the seat position. Although there’s sufficient height adjustment, it would be nicer to be able to take it lower. The position of the batteries under the cabin floor prevents this.

It’s not an issue, but if you like a lower seating position in a hatchback, you might not quite get what you want.

As is the case with Kia’s other EVs, high-spec GT-Line S cars also get Premium Relaxation front seats with a built-in leg rest for relaxing at charging stops.

Tech and features

Kia EV4 trims

– Air

– GT-Line

– GT-Line S

Kia says the EV4 has a triple-screen layout, but it’s best described as one long screen that sits on top of the dashboard.

There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the wheel to keep an eye on things like efficiency and speed, another 12.3-inch screen for the infotainment, and a 5.3-inch display between the two for climate controls.

In a world where climate controls are going digital (rather than physical dials), a dedicated always-on climate display is a smart move. In practice, it gets hidden by the steering wheel most of the time, so we’re not convinced it’s the solution.

Thankfully, there are some shortcut rockers on the dash to adjust the temperature and fan speed – the main things you need quick access to.

Kia calls the system its ‘connected car Navigational Cockpit’ (ccNC) – the upgrades add a ChatGPT-powered AI assistant for far better speech and command recognition and even a new theatre mode to catch up on Disney+, Netflix and YouTube while you’re charging.

Apart from the headline features, all EV4s also come with front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Standard kit is so good that we’d be quite happy suggesting the entry-level Air spec, but the 360-degree cameras with blind-spot monitor cameras on GT-Line S models are really helpful.

GT-Line and GT-Line S buyers can also use their smartphone wallets or compatible smart watches to lock, unlock and start the car. Welcome to the future, everybody.

Electric motors and power

Kia EV4 performance stats

– Power: 204hp

– 0-62mph: 7.5-7.9 seconds

– Top speed: 105mph

– Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive

Kia currently only offers one electric motor on the EV4, but we think it’s a good middle ground.

With 204hp on tap, it matches many key rivals like the Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4, and it never feels too slow.

While some manufacturers are going with rear-wheel drive for a more dynamic driving experience, Kia is sticking to the more conventional front-wheel-drive configuration.

In some models, like the BYD ATTO 3 (which also has 204hp), and even the lesser-powered Renault Zoe, the front wheels have a tendency of spinning at roundabouts and junctions.

We never found this to be a problem with the Kia EV4, and the traction control didn’t even need to cut in to control the front wheels, which is a big bonus.

Kia hasn’t ruled out more configurations in other markets, including potentially an all-wheel-drive model, but we can’t confirm that these will make it to the UK based on the fact that buyer demand might not be there.

We are promised that a GT model will arrive in 2026, with around 350-ish horsepower. That should make it more powerful than the VW ID.3 GTX.

Handling and ride comfort

Ride comfort is where the Kia EV4 really shines – after driving all three trim levels with different sized alloys, plus the Fastback variant, we’re pleased to confirm this might possibly be the most refined electric hatchback there is.

Kia’s engineers have struck the perfect balance between sharp handling and in-town comfort.

If you’ve ever had the fortune of driving a Ford Fiesta or Focus, you’ll know what we mean about the steering in particular.

Think ‘point and shoot’, and no understeer (where the power proves too much to keep the car on track).

Sound insulation is also exceptional, with very little in terms of wind and tyre noise at any speed.

If you’re doing a lot of miles (and you can with the EV4’s insane efficiency, more on that below), you’ll really love the EV4.

Don’t be put off by the single motor choice, though, because the EV4 will drive exactly as you want it to.

Snow, Eco, Normal, Sport and customisable drive modes tweak things like power delivery, while three levels of regenerative braking (with or without Kia’s i-Pedal one-pedal driving) or no regen at all are also available.

Boot space

Kia EV4 boot space

– Boot space: 435 litres (hatchback), 490 litres (Fastback)

– Incl. Rear seats folded: 1,415 litres (hatchback)

– Front boot (froot): N/A

Again, we’re not quite sure how Kia’s done this, but the EV4 trumps most of its key rivals.

With a 435-litre boot, it has 50 litres more space than the VW ID.3, 72 more than the MG4 and a staggering 117 more than the Volvo EX30.

The key things to note are that there’s no load lip at the entrance of the boot, and that the rear seats fold as near as makes no difference totally flat, so if maximum practicality is what you’re after, you’re in for a treat.

Even the Kia EV4 Fastback is a winner – it might be a saloon (with a fixed rear windscreen), but the boot opening is bigger than you might expect.

Its 490 litres of space is far more than you get in the much more expensive Mercedes CLA EQ (405 litres).

There is a notable omission of a froot (front boot), even though you get one in the EV3, EV6 and EV9.

We’d prefer to have the option of keeping charging cables separate from everything else in the boot, even if data suggest not all drivers use their froot.

Rear seats

We’re not letting off just yet, because yes, the rear seats are just as spacious as the boot.

You’ll have no problem fitting adults in the back because headroom is only 21mm less than the front seats thanks to the pretty flat roof silhouette.

Rear headroom in the EV4 Fastback is 19mm lower than the rear headroom in the hatchback, so you may notice a slight difference, but it’s still easy to get comfortable because there’s so much legroom to stretch out with.

Storage solutions

This is where the EV4 starts to feel a little bit more normal, and less class-leading.

Don’t get us wrong, it’s far from disappointing, but there’s nothing to write home about. Door bins to fit bottles, a decent glovebox and a two-tier centre console storage under the armrest area are all present.

It’s worth giving a shoutout to GT-Line S models, which offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology. In plain English, it means you can use the car’s battery to power appliances, like laptops or electric bikes, via a usual domestic three-pin outlet.

Kia EV4 hatchback dimensions

– Height: 1,485mm

– Width: 1,860mm (excluding mirrors)

– Length: 4,430-4,450mm

– Gross weight: 1,811-1,910kg

Kia EV4 Fastback dimensions

– Height: 1,480mm

– Width: 1,860mm (excluding mirrors)

– Length: 4,730mm

– Gross weight: 1,914kg

Safety

Because it’s so new, Euro NCAP hasn’t crash tested the EV4 yet, but the similar EV3 and Kia’s other (now-discontinued) hatchback, the Ceed, both received four stars, and five stars with the optional safety equipment.

All EV4s get the usual kit, like autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking.

You also get Kia’s upgraded version 2.0 of Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Highway Driving Assist, Lane Following Assist and Smart Cruise Control for some handy driver aids.

And on that note, it’s easy to turn off some of those beeps and bongs if you prefer to be in control – hold the steering wheel volume button to mute speed limit alerts and hold the lane centring button to disable that system (which some drivers find too invasive in country lanes).

GT-Line S models also get remote parking controls.

Range and charging

– Range: 273-388miles

– Battery size: 58.3-81.4kWh

– Max charging speed: 127kW

– Charge port location: Front right, under driver’s mirror

– Charge time (AC): 0-100% in 8 hours 20 minutes (58.3kWh) or 11 hours 40 minutes (81.4kWh) using a 7kW charger

– Charge time (DC): 10-80% in 29 minutes (58.3kWh) or 31 minutes (81.4kWh) using a 150kW rapid charger

– Efficiency: 3.9-4.3mi/kWh (claimed) vs. 4.1-5.2mi/kWh (our testing)

– Charging cost: From £4.08 (58.3kWh) or £5.70 (81.4kWh)

In our experience, Kia has always delivered on the efficiency front, but we weren’t prepared for just how efficient the EV4 was going to be in our testing.

We completed the same 40-minute drive in each of the EV4’s configurations, including both battery sizes, both body styles, all trim levels and with and without the heat pump. Call us thorough.

We exceeded Kia’s claims on every single model by 0.3-1.0mi/kWh in reasonably mild and dry autumn conditions.

Kia told us that the heat pump, which is optional on GT-Line S models, is seen by customers as a ‘nice to have’. Buyers who like to tick every option box tend to be the ones who opt for heat pumps.

We weren’t convinced, but actually, we saw no difference at all with or without the heat pump to the EV4’s efficiency.

It might make a difference on the coldest winter days, but standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel keep you toasty without having to warm up the entire cabin.

We’re also told that the EV4 Fastback is Kia’s most aerodynamic car ever, with a drag coefficient value of 0.23. The hatchback is rated at 0.27 – about the same as other electric hatchbacks.

Note that all EV4s support 11kW AC charging, which you can find in some public car parks, but we’ve quoted times for 7kW connections above because most UK homes are limited to this.

Reliability

We’ve got no issues with Kia’s reliability record, which has been outstanding for a number of years. The seven-year/100,000-mile warranty testifies that.

Because it’s an electric car, there are fewer moving parts to go wrong compared with a combustion engine. It also helps reduce the servicing schedule to two years/20,000 miles.

In case you had any doubts, Kia’s engineers also drove the EV4 at 90-95% of its performance output for 6,250 miles around the Nürburgring and 68,750 miles on normal roads. Even after plenty of rapid charging, battery health stood at 95%.

A separate eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty will also protect you against any battery degradation beyond the 70% capacity mark.