Sedans aren’t having an easy go of things at the moment. If they were, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Lucid Air would be among America’s top-selling EVs, and they are, to date, not. Then again, plenty of people still buy the Tesla Model 3 (or did, anyway) and four-door cars remain very popular in other parts of the world.
That’s why the Kia EV4 sedan is here to buck the trend. And with a potentially affordable price tag, long range and eye-catching looks, maybe it could prove that there’s life beyond crossovers.
The production version of the Kia EV4, in both sedan and hatch form, was unveiled at Kia’s 2025 EV Day in Barcelona, Spain earlier this week. Boasting a range of batteries, two distinct body types, and the ability to be used as a cinema (or sorts), it’ll mark the entry level for Kia’s EV efforts in the U.S.
Photo by: Kia
The EV4 is a close mechanical relative of the Kia EV3 squarish crossover, and like the EV3, it’s expected to be more reasonably priced than offerings like the EV6 and EV9. Based on the E-GMP platform, buyers will be able to choose between a 58.3 or 81.4kWh battery, which sends 201 hp to the front wheels.
As it’s front-wheel-drive, it is not some mechanical twin to the Ioniq 6 as some expected, although a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant seems likely too.
Photo by: Alex Goy / InsideEVs
The zero to 62 mph dash takes either 7.4 or 7.7 seconds depending on which battery you go for—lower-capacity cars are a touch quicker than their better-endowed brethren. No matter which you go for, the op speed is 106 mph.
Thanks to a super low drag coefficient of 0.23cd, the EV4 is an exceptionally slippery car, which means its batteries will get you a decent distance before you need to top up. The hatch is the less aero-friendly of the two, giving 255 miles (410 km) for the smaller battery, and 367 miles (590 km) in the long-range car.
Photo by: Alex Goy / InsideEVs
The sedan, with its… striking rear end will net you 267 (430 km) and 391 (630 km) miles depending on your battery choice (on Europe’s WLTP cycle). When it comes time to charge, with the right charger you’ll go from 10-80% in 29 or 31 minutes, on the small and long-range battery respectively. This is, in part, because the EV4 uses a 400-volt electrical architecture as the EV3 does for cost-saving reasons; it’s not as lightning fast at charging like the 800-volt EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The EV4 will certainly grab attention no matter how long it’s charging. The latest example of Kia’s Opposites United design philosophy, the EV4’s nose is low, while its tail(s) are long, giving it a distinct silhouette. A pleasingly wide stance adds aggression to the look, though it’s not a sharp car in the metal; its lines are smooth.
Photo by: Kia
A pretty slick spoiler at the back completes its purposeful look. A GT-Line car adds more aggression to the proceedings but doesn’t make it look so pointy it’ll tear your face off (best leave that to the actual, inevitable, GT model). It’ll cut a fine figure in a parking lot, especially in matte blue. Dimensions-wise, the sedan sits at 15.5 feet long, 6.1 feet wide, and 4.9 feet tall. The hatch is, obviously, shorter, but also a touch taller. Trunk space is an impressive 17.3 cubic feet for the sedan and 15.3 cubic feet for the hatch.
Photo by: Kia
With those dimensions, it’s not a huge surprise that the interior is rather spacious. There’s plenty of space in the rear for people to stretch out, and the seats are comfy, too. It’s a familiar look if you’ve been near a modern Kia, but that’s no bad thing. The materials are top-notch, even using recycled ocean plastics in places. Upfront, the roomy cockpit comes with as much convenience as one person can handle—plenty of USB sockets, cubby holes, a sliding table, physical buttons (praise be!) a HUD to keep your eyes on the road, and three screens.
Photo by: Kia
Kia EV Day 2025: The cockpit of the EV4 hatchback GT-Line (detail)
Two 12.3-inch screens make up the infotainment and instrument panels, with a further 5.3 inches sandwiched in the middle for A/C duties. Combined, there are 30 inches of digital real estate there – you can use it for driving, of course, but also to stream Disney, YouTube, and the like. There’s even a Theater Mode built into the car that tweaks the ambient lighting and makes the best use of the (optional) eight-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo possible. You won’t have seen Avengers: Age Of Ultron until you’ve watched it in a Kia EV4. Mark my words.
On the tech side of things, the EV4 comes with OTA updates via the owners’ cell phones for ease of updating on the fly, vehicle to load, vehicle to grid, an AI assistant that’ll do your (car and driving) related bidding, and the firm’s Digital Key 2.0 system can now work with an Apple Watch.
Photo by: Alex Goy / InsideEVs
Automated driving assistance (ADAS) tech is key for the EV4. Kia’s aiming for top marks in the world’s various safety organizations, and to manage that you need lots and lots of toys. Highway Driving Assist (HDA 2) technology should keep you on the right track. It comes with Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist 2, Lane Following Assist 2, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Remote Parking Assist Entry, and more should keep you shiny side up, with Driving Package F+ (‘Drive Wise’) there to keep an electronic eye out for any potential nasty situations. Kia says that if something does go awry the body is more than strong enough to keep you safe.
Photo by: Kia
The EV4 can come with all the tech in the world hidden in every orifice, but if it’s not very good at being a car… it’ll be in trouble. Kia’s made sure its suspension setup is on point to deliver both good handling and a comfortable ride. MacPherson struts up front and multi-link at the rear do some of the heavy lifting, though the EV4 also uses something called SFD3 valves to react to the road to keep your bottom comfy.
Photo by: Kia
It’s good-looking (though that’s subjective), it’s quick, it’s safe, it can go far, and its cabin can double as a theater. All in all, sounds pretty great for a lot of people in the U.S., right? Well. It goes on sale in Korea in March, and in Europe later in the year.
U.S. sales should start in 2026, though Kia is only likely to offer the sedan. Pricing is still TBD, though expect the entry-level model to sit at about 37,000 Euros in Europe, or about $39,000 at today’s exchange rates. Since the EV3 is pegged to start around $35,000 in the U.S., we’re expecting a similar price for the EV4 as well.
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Alex Goy / InsideEVs
