Kia EV4: A New Player in the Electric Vehicle Market
Kia has unveiled the EV4, a new all-electric vehicle designed to compete in the C-segment. Revealed at the 2025 Kia EV Day event, the EV4 is offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles. The car aims to combine practicality, innovative design, and robust technological features.
Design and Features
The EV4’s exterior showcases a modern design language with a long nose and a long-tail profile, giving it a sporty appearance. The car features vertical headlights with Kia’s Star Map lighting design, complemented by a retained Tiger Face front grille. The sedan variant includes a two-piece spoiler, while the hatchback version has sloping rear windows for a sleeker look.
Inside, the EV4 features a minimalist, tech-focused interior. The cabin includes a rotating armrest, a sliding table console, and ample cargo space. A 30-inch widescreen display dominates the dashboard, integrating Kia’s latest Navigation Cockpit system. This system provides access to navigation, entertainment, and vehicle settings. The infotainment system supports modern streaming services and receives over-the-air (OTA) updates. A digital key system enables access via personal devices, and the car also comes with an i-Pedal 3.0 system for variable regenerative braking.
Performance and Range
Built on Kia’s 400V Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV4 offers two battery pack options: a standard 58.3 kWh and a long-range 81.4 kWh option. Both configurations are paired with a front-mounted 150 kW (210 bhp) electric motor. The long-range battery enables a claimed range of up to 630 km for the sedan and 590 km for the hatchback on a single charge. The EV4 accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 7.4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 170 kmph. Fast charging from 10% to 80% takes just 31 minutes, and the car includes Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functions.
Safety
The EV4 incorporates Kia’s latest Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS). This includes the Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) system with features like collision avoidance, lane driving aids, and driver attention warning. The Direct Grip Detection System ensures driver control when adjusting ADAS settings. Kia is aiming for top safety ratings, targeting five-star ratings in Euro NCAP and US NCAP crash tests.
Availability
The EV4 sedan variant will be produced in South Korea, while the hatchback will be manufactured in Slovakia, targeting the European market. Sales in South Korea are scheduled to begin in March 2025, with a European launch in the second half of the year. While no specific launch details for India have been announced, the EV4 could potentially be offered in the Indian market as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) import, similar to the EV6. This could influence the final pricing due to import duties.
