2026 Kia EV4 review: Quick drive

Kia has been adding to its battery-powered lineup of models, most recently with the EV3 small electric SUV. Now, the South Korean brand is rolling out a mid-size electric sedan to rival the likes of the Tesla Model 3. 

Its design is like a concept car that just rolled off the motor show stand, and while there is also a hatch made in Europe for Europe (pictured here), only the Korean-made sedan is slated to come to Australia.

The low-slung bonnet and raked windscreen look futuristic, especially with the upright daytime running lights pushed to the extremities, but its shape is as much about aerodynamics and boosting that all-important driving range. 

Details such as flush-fitting door handles and sci-fi wheel designs are so the EV4 can cut through the air more cleanly, including the extended rear-end – which means the EV4 is longer than a current BMW 3 Series and Model 3. 

Ahead of its arrival in Australia, we got behind the wheel of the EV4 at its European launch in Spain.

How much does the Kia EV4 cost?

It’s still too soon for Australian prices to be set for the EV4, though it is expected to cost a little more than the EV3, which has an initial drive-away price of $48,990 for the Standard Range and $56,490 for the Long Range, while the GT-Line flagship costs $68,490 drive-away. 

The latter would put it on par with the Tesla Model 3 Long Range. Kia will also roll out a dual-motor version in time, and a range-topping EV4 GT.

Performance aside, the GT-Line does come with a high level of standard equipment, so you’re unlikely to have to spend more by ticking additional options boxes.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

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What is the Kia EV4 like on the inside?

As striking as the exterior may be, the interior design is more palatable, packing in all the modern tech you’d like but doing so in a way that’s less stark and minimalist than some of its competitors.

First up, you’ll notice the large single-piece dashboard display. This unit is the same as Kia’s other models and is, in fact, made up of three parts: a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen, a 5.3-inch touchscreen for the climate control in the middle, and a second 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system.

It all works well, though the climate section does get slightly obstructed by your hand when holding the wheel.

Furthermore, it’s made partly redundant by way of the physical control tabs for the temperature and fan settings fixed to the dashboard. Not that we’re complaining: physical buttons trump touchscreen use for functions such as these.

The infotainment system is detailed and laid out in a reasonably logical way, so finding certain functions or settings isn’t that laborious a task.

There are the expected Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring functions, and a wireless charging pad lower down that has a handy rubberised coating, so your phone won’t be sliding around as you drive. Additionally, there’s a powerful 100W USB-C charge port, a 180W 12-volt socket, and the front seats have USB-C ports built into their sides to make it easy for passengers in the rear to reach.

The multifunction steering wheel has buttons that are easy to navigate by thumb when driving, and the digital instrument display is clear and easy to read.

The steering wheel has reasonable levels of adjustment for reach and rake. Combined with the electrically adjustable front seats, it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position in the EV4.

We also like that the window and mirror controls are proper switches and buttons on the driver’s door. Optionally, buyers can add a 12.3-inch colour head-up display that projects onto the windscreen. It’s a nice thing to have, but not essential.

Rear passengers will have little to complain about in terms of space. A flat floor all the way across and a reclinable rear seat make it comfortable in the back, though the front seats are set low enough that it’s not that easy to get your feet in underneath them. Still, there’s ample legroom.

As with other cars in this segment, the middle seat isn’t as generous, but three people will fit in with a squeeze. Both outboard rear seats are equipped with ISOFIX child seat mounting points and, in the GT-Line specification, the seats are heated.

The EV4 sedan gets a deep boot that measures 490 litres, although the aperture could be better in our opinion. Granted, the opening is wide, but it’s not especially tall, and the chunky hinges for the boot lid take away more access. It’s a shame that Kia didn’t engineer this to be a liftback with a roof-hinged tailgate rather than a traditional sedan with a trunk lid, which would have made it almost as practical as the hatch.

Additional cargo volume can be achieved by folding down the rear seats, which have a convenient pull tab at the boot opening, increasing overall volume to 1415 litres.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

There’s only one motor available in the EV4 from launch, a 150kW unit driving the front wheels, which produces 283Nm. In time, Kia plans to expand the range with a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, and even a hotter GT flagship.

For the average motorist, that 150kW output is sufficient and there’s enough torque on demand to make it feel brisk most of the time. At higher speeds, the punchiness of that torque delivery drops off, so any overtakes at higher speeds require a bit more consideration. 

The 81.4kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery will help to pique interests by way of the 633km WLTP combined range it can provide (with up to 797km in WLTP City mode). Kia has already revealed that there will also be a Standard Range version with a 58.3kWh battery that has a driving range of 430km and uses the same 150kW motor. 

The EV4 is built on the same E-GMP platform that underpins the larger EV6 and EV9 electric SUVs, but in this instance, it gets a 400-volt system architecture rather than the 800-volt system the others use.

That means the EV4 gets a lower maximum DC fast-charging rate of 128kW versus 350kW, so a 10 to 80 per cent recharge takes 31 minutes with the larger battery and a slightly shorter 29 minutes with the 58.3kWh battery. Deciding which battery to go for ultimately just comes down to whether you need that extended driving range.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Kia EV4 drive?

For all the tech and impressive driving range, the EV4 is remarkably normal to drive. The 150kW output is modest by some EV standards, but in real life it’s going to be adequate for the majority of drivers. 

Send it from a green light and 7.7 seconds will pass before 100km/h rolls up on the digital display. Its 283Nm means the car does feel brisk when you need a short input of power.

Most of the time, the EV4 is about providing a relaxed and composed driving experience. Much of that is down to a decent amount of sound insulation, including laminated glass in the front doors to help eliminate excessive road noise. 

The suspension consists of a MacPherson strut front setup and a multi-link rear-end, and uses frequency-responsive valves in its dampers. These provide the Kia with a comfortable and soft ride when travelling on smooth highways and firm up when the car is hitting the curves, resulting in a sharper feel in terms of handling. 

Further refinement details include hydraulic bushings to reduce shimmy and vibrations on the move. Engineers have also made changes to the electric motor and drivetrain to increase refinement and decrease any undesirable sounds and vibrations. 

For the most part, it is quiet when travelling at higher speeds, and even on the 19-inch wheels of the GT-Line, there’s minimal road noise bleeding into the cabin.

The steering is light but feeds enough information back to the driver so you can always feel what the front axle is doing, but it retains the distinctive front-wheel drive feel of its makeup. In comparison, a Model 3 feels more engaging to drive, and sportier too; perhaps the forthcoming AWD or GT versions of the EV4 will remedy that. 

Drivers can adjust the degree of energy recuperation on the move by pulling on the steering wheel paddles. There are four settings, ranging from a sail mode that allows the car to freewheel for a considerable distance, up to a level three that provides a one-pedal driving feel, ideal for city and urban commuting.

Its unusual shape means the EV4 sedan cuts through the air quite cleanly, reducing energy consumption as you go. In case you were wondering, its drag coefficient is 0.23Cd – far better than the European EV4 hatchback, which only manages 0.27Cd.

We didn’t quite manage to match the claimed consumption figure but did come close enough to it. But even if you still have a bit of range anxiety, the onboard computer does a useful thing of showing you the estimated range distance remaining, as well as a minimum and maximum depending on your driving behaviour.

The EV4 Long Range can tow up to 1000kg, though the smaller battery is only rated to pull 500kg, so that may be something you need to consider when buying.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

Kia Australia has confirmed the EV4 will join the model range in Australia, although further information regarding variants and features has not yet been announced.

2026 Kia EV4 GT-Line equipment highlights: 

• GT-Line bumpers 
• Artificial leather upholstery
• Heat pump
• Heated and ventilated front seats 
• Premium relaxation front seats 
• 19-inch alloy wheels 
• Digital Key 2.0 
• Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)
• Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• Harmon/kardon Premium 8-speaker stereo
• Wireless phone charger 
• 360-degree camera

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Kia EV4 safe?

The EV4 has not yet been assessed by ANCAP. All recently introduced models from Kia have already scored five-star ratings when tested, including the EV3 which shares the same platform architecture, so we would expect the EV4 to score well when it is assessed.

Standard safety equipment includes: 

• Safe exit warning 
• Driver attention camera 
• Blind spot view monitor 
• Forward collision avoidance 
• 360-degree cameras
• Highway driving assist with hands-on detection
• Lane keeping assist
• Smart cruise control with emergency stop
• Remote start parking assist
• Trailer stability assist

There is a multitude of driver assistance systems in the EV4 that not only make driving that bit easier but also mitigate accidents and collisions. These include autonomous emergency braking that can also detect pedestrians and cyclists, parking collision avoidance to prevent any unexpected dings and a 360-degree camera setup that conveniently displays the vehicle’s blind spot on the digital dashboard when indicating. 

An intelligent cruise control feature aids highway driving, and it is capable of following the lane markings when active. The steering wheel is capacitive and detects when your hands are in contact with it. Should the driver become unresponsive, it can activate an emergency stop function by turning on the hazard lights and bringing the car to a controlled stop in the centre of its lane. The parking brake is then applied, and the doors unlocked to allow easier access for help. 

The cabin is kitted out with seven airbags, including a centre airbag between the front seats, while rear passengers get side curtain airbags.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Kia EV4 cost to run?

The most affordable way to run the EV4 is to utilise a home charging setup, ideally one that is hooked up to solar or offers a more competitive energy rate at night. You can also set up scheduled charging via the Kia smartphone app.

A full charge of the Kia’s 81.4kWh battery with an average night rate cost of 20c per kWh will cost you a little over $16, which is reasonable when you consider the claimed 633km driving range it offers. 

Kia Australia’s aftersales support isn’t bad either, with all cars receiving a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance that can be extended up to eight years if you stick to the manufacturer’s scheduled service plan at an authorised dealer.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Kia EV4

Look past Kia’s polarising design language and the EV4 delivers a solid, practical EV for families and company car drivers alike.

From its Tesla-rivalling range to its modern interior that’s crammed with tech, the EV4 has most of the right things you’d expect in an electric car today. 

The boot aperture could be more generous, and its DC fast-charging rate lags behind some others.

But while it’s not especially quick in this launch guise either, it remains a pleasant car to drive.

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MORE: Explore the Kia EV4 showroom