Kia EV4 review: Here we go again…

November 7, 2025 Matt Allan

We drive the Kia EV4 to see if this ID.3 and Megane rival can continue the Korean brand’s winning streak

It sometimes feels that that hatchback segment is being left behind in the EV revolution as SUVs dominate the conversation.

But there is still space for the traditional family five-door. Volkswagen’s ID.3 and its Cupra Born cousin are a common sight, and the Peugeot e-308, MG4 and Renault Megane prove that plenty of people want an electric twist on the mid-sized hatchback.

Now Kia is getting in on the act. The Korean brand has always been a small player in the family hatch market but with the EV4 it is looking to make bigger inroads. More than that, though, it’s also looking to cover the smaller saloon market with the EV4 Fastback.

Its previous EVs have proved that Kia knows how to do electric well and the EV4 shares its underpinnings with the excellent EV3, so can it continue Kia’s impressive run?

Kia EV4 design, interior and technology

Visually, it’s clear that the EV4 comes from the same Opposites United philosophy as Kia’s other EVs. This car sits between the EV3 and the EV6 and there are echoes of both in its looks. The long, angled bonnet with the lights pushed to the edges is pure EV6, while the boxier flanks and upright rear end are EV3-esque.

The EV4 is lower, longer and fractionally wider than the EV3, and a good 20cm longer than cars like the ID.3 or Megane, which creates plenty of road presence and impressively generous rear legroom. In hatchback form it’s a unique and handsome thing. The fastback, however, is problematic.

Kia has gone for sleek and sophisticated but missed by a mile. It’s 30cm longer than the hatch and the rear overhang is too long and awkward, as is the roofline. It leaves the EV4 looking out of proportion and just plain weird. And the boot opening is laughable. It’s a proper saloon-style lid that gives a space about a foot high. The boot itself is long and has a 490-litre capacity, but you can only fit very thin things in it. So Ikea flatplack, no problem. A large suitcase? Good luck. The hatchback’s boot is smaller (435 litres) but far more practical.

The EV4 Fastback is more visually challenging than the hatch

Inside, the EV4 is neat, logical and spacious. The two-level dashboard is topped with Kia’s standard and simple-to-use three-screen setup and there’s a sensible mix of the physical and digital, with rocker controls and buttons for elements such as the air conditioning and other frequently-used functions. There are also blessedly simple one-touch shortcuts to adjust the ADAS. The biggest problem is the haptic-style shortcut keys in the dash, which use white lights set in a pale cream panel, and aren’t easy to see or use.

Build quality is absolutely rock solid throughout and across every trim level, but there is a distinct difference between the Air and GT Line. Elements like the plastics around the door pulls and the seat upholstery are noticeably nicer in the GT-Line.

On practicality, the EV4 has a split-level centre console with loads of storage, supplemented by decent door pockets and other storage spaces. The EV4’s long wheelbase means plenty of knee room in the rear seats – even at 6’ 5”, I had room behind an average-height driver. Unfortunately, trying to give the proper hatchback profile means a slightly high floor and very little space under the front seats for larger feet. Headroom is pretty generous, although the fastback definitely feels tighter.

Kia EV4 battery, motor and performance

The Kia EV4 comes with just one motor – a familiar 201bhp front-mounted affair – and two batteries – a 58.3kWh unit or an 81.4kWh one.

The smaller battery is offered only in the hatchback in Air trim and offers a respectable 273 miles of range.

With the bigger battery in the entry-level Air trim, the EV4 hatch offers up to 388 miles of range – the first Kia EV to manage more than 380 miles on a charge.

Obviously, that’s the official figure and hard to obtain in real-world use but Kia is one of the best at squeezing out miles from its cars, so I’d bet on an easy 350. Our test drives, on admittedly sympathetic routes, returned energy consumption of between 4.2 and 4.4m/kWh – beating the official 3.9-4.2m/kWh quoted.

The higher trim levels come exclusively with the larger battery, which offers 362 miles of driving in the hatchback and 380 in the more aerodynamic Fastback.

The EV4 uses the same 201bhp motor as the EV3 SUV

Like the rest of Kia’s “cheaper” EVs, the EV4 runs on 400V architecture, which means charging speeds are limited to a peak of 127kW. That’s on a par with the Renault and MG but a long way behind the VW’s 185kW.

As mentioned, the only motor (until the hot EV4 GT arrives) is the 201bhp unit that already does service in the EV3 and puts the EV4 bang in line with its most important rivals. Official stats are that it will do 105mph and go from 0-62mph in between 7.5 and 7.9 seconds, depending on spec. In the real world that feels quick enough and there’s a nice linear power delivery that doesn’t come on too strong then fade too quickly, unlike some EVs.

Like all Kia EVs, the EV4 features four levels of braking regeneration – from off to full one-pedal driving. Switching between them is as simple as pulling the big paddles behind the steering wheel.

Also like all Kias, the EV4 delivers a positive, connected driving experience. The steering is neither overly light nor synthetically heavy and while it isn’t sporty, it is solid, competent and reassuring. The ride, too, is largely faultless thanks to first-in-class frequency response dampers. The EV4 smooths out most of the worst surfaces without sacrificing body control and only repeated bumps in the road reveal an occasionally bouncy feel to things.

Kia EV4 price and specification

Kia is sticking to its simple specification programme with the EV4. There are three trims – Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S, with the fastback only sold in GT-Line and GT-Line S.

Prices start at £34,695 for the hatchback in Air trim with the smaller battery. The larger battery adds £3,000 to that, while GT-Line starts at £39,330 and GT-Line S is £43,830. The fastback carries a £1,500 premium over the hatch in both grades.

Every version gets LED lights, flush-fit door handles, heated front seats and steering wheel, the triple-screen setup with wireless phone mirroring and two-zone air conditioning.

The EV4 hatchback’s boot is far more practical than the fastback’s

Most of the GT-Line upgrades are cosmetic – from 19-inch alloys replacing the Air’s 17-inchers to that nicer two-tone faux-leather upholstery and gloss black exterior trim. It also adds a power function to the door handles, electric seat adjustment and wireless phone charging.

GT-Line S brings nice touches such as heated rear seats, a powered tailgate and head-up display, but GT-Line has everything you’ll need day-to-day.

Verdict

It almost feels boring at this stage to say that Kia is onto another winner with the EV4. The hatchback follows a pattern of incredibly capable, well designed and engineered EVs that started with the e-Niro.

Like every car since then, the EV4 blends impressive space and practicality with a pleasant driving experience, generous equipment levels and anxiety-crushing range.

The Korean-built fastback is a curio that is unlikely to find many fans but the European-made hatchback should have its rivals worried.