Kia has announced a price for its EV4, its mainstream C-segment EV sedan/hatchback, bridging the gap between mass-market value models (like the upcoming EV2) and higher-tier EVs, such as the EV6 and EV9. Ordering opens today, with the first deliveries scheduled for October.
The EV4 hatchback, specifically designed for the European market, is available in two body styles: a five–door EV4 hatch and a four–door EV4 Fastback. Both are manufactured at Kia’s Žilina plant in Slovakia.
Three trim flavors
The five-door comes in three trim flavors, with two battery options (58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh) and offering ranges from 440 to 625 km: Business (€38,890 – €43,990), Business Plus (€44,290 – €49,390), and GT Line, which is only available with the long-range battery (€52,190). The Fastback is only available in Business Plus (€45,990 – €50,990) and GT Line (€53,750) models, offering a slightly longer range of 633 km.
Positioned below the premium EV6 and lifestyle-oriented EV5, “EV4 targets the ‘Early Majority’ of EV buyers seeking a long-range, stylish EV without premium pricing, making it the logical successor to Kia’s earlier EV strategy,” Kia says.
Fresh entry beyond SUVs
With its sleek silhouette and aerodynamic design, the EV4 is Kia’s first global electric sedan (for Korea and North America) or hatchback (for Europe), marking a fresh entry beyond crossovers and over-hyped SUVs, which tend to look alike.
Kia aims to sell around 160,000 units of the EV4 globally in 2025, with approximately 80,000 units destined for Europe, about 50,000 for North America, and the remainder for Korea and other regions. These are ambitious figures, as Kia’s total BEV sales in Europe in 2024 were around 81,000 units, representing a slight decline.
Kia initially aimed for 1.6 million annual EV sales by 2030. Still, the carmaker later downgraded this target to approximately 1.26 million BEVs, accounting for roughly 30% of a total of 4.19 million ‘electrical’ car sales, including HEVs and PHEVs.
What do you get for your money?
On the inside, the EV shows a familiar face with a 30–inch panoramic screen that combines three 12.3“, 5.3“, and 12.3“ displays, using the same Connected Car Navigation Cockpit system as the EV9 and EV3.
As custom with the Korean brand, the standard version already comes with an extensive list of ADAS systems and comfort features, with the more expensive versions adding ‘nice-to-have’ things like electrical and heated seats in front and second row, a heat pump, which you’ll appreciate on cold days, or ‘gadgets’ like remote Smart Park Assist where your car parks itself with you on the outside.
400 Volts platform
This EV4 is also built on the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform). That is Hyundai Motor Group’s dedicated EV architecture, used by Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis for their next-generation electric vehicles. It’s designed from the ground up for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and was first introduced in 2021 with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.
Unlike the Kia EV6 and EV9, which utilize 800 V technology, the EV4 employs 400 V. An 800 V architecture in EVs can enhance efficiency and reduce weight, as the current required is significantly lower, enabling thinner cables and smaller electric components. This reduction in weight and heat losses increases range efficiency.
Still, considering the specs of the 400 V EV4, the question is whether you really need this. Both Kia EV4 variants offer a choice of standard (58.3 kWh) or long-range (81.4 kWh) battery configurations.
Up to 633 km range
These models feature a front-mounted 150 kW (204 hp) motor, delivering 283 Nm, and offer 0-100 km/hour performance of 7.4 and 7.7 seconds, respectively. The top speed is 170 km/hour for both variants. Even in the standard version, the WLTP range is 430 km, with the top version (Fastback) up to 633 km.
Charging from 10 to 80% can be completed in 31 minutes (for long-range models) or 29 minutes (for standard models), at a maximum of 100 to 120 kW. That’s still relatively fast, but somewhat slower than an EV6 with an 800 V architecture, which theoretically can charge in 18 minutes on a 350 kW charger.
There are V2L (Vehicle–to–Load) and preparation for V2G (Vehicle–to–Grid) functions available in all trims, as an option for €800. V2L lets you power 230 V devices directly from a plug in the car, or with an adapter on the charging port.
Future V2H and V2G
The ‘Pack EV Tech’ option prepares the system for future V2H (vehicle-to-home) and V2G (grid integration) use. That’s interesting if you hope to use your car as a backup battery to power all your home appliances one day, or sell stored surplus electricity from your solar panels back to the grid operator when demand is high.
However, Kia does not currently offer a commercially available V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) solution in Europe. As of now, the capabilities remain at the trial or pilot stage, as in most countries, legal hurdles must be addressed first.
Legal hurdles
In many EU countries, EV owners cannot legally sell energy back to the grid without registering as a supplier or participating via an approved aggregator.
For using V2H, you need a combination of compatible hardware, software, and regulatory alignment. To start with, you need a certified bidirectional DC charger installed at home.
