Kia’s EV4 all-electric model, designed specifically for Europe, arrived here last October in both hatchback and fastback body styles. The five-door hatchback is the Korean carmaker’s first all-electric car in that format, produced at Kia’s plant in Zilina, Slovakia, alongside the brand’s Sportage and XCeed models. The Fastback version is manufactured at Kia’s plant in South Korea.
After test-driving both models in recent weeks, my preference leans towards the Fastback, as it is 300mm longer than the hatch, has a larger boot, and sits lower. While it’s not an SUV, it could be described as a crossover vehicle, but with a lower driving stance.
The test car, in Aurora Black Pearl, features a distinctive long-tail silhouette, a heavily sloping rear window, sculpted dual spoiler, and striking vertical LED tail lights. The design of the 19-inch alloy wheels significantly enhances the overall appearance, complemented by the GT-Line exterior styling.
The cabin, with a panoramic glass roof, is thoughtfully designed with eco-friendly recycled materials; it is roomy and comfortable with claimed best-in-class rear legroom. The expansive screen across the dash includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Kia Connect, a similarly-sized customisable driver cluster, and a 5.3-inch climate touchscreen. All displays are easy to read at a glance, as is the Head-Up Display on the windscreen showing my current speed. There are physical buttons for fan, mode, and temperature controls, along with a roller wheel for volume. The lovely two-tone, three-spoke steering wheel, fitted with paddles, looks stylish and offers good feedback during driving. A twist-type gear selector for the automatic transmission is positioned on the steering wheel.
The vegan leather seats are two-tone, exceptionally comfortable, and equipped with heating and ventilation; the front seats feature power adjustments—driver’s seat with lumbar support and two memory settings.
Standard features include a wireless smartphone charger, 12V socket, USB-C charging ports for front and rear passengers, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, front and rear parking sensors, an excellent reversing camera, and metal floor pedals. The blind spot monitor shows approaching vehicles on the instrument cluster, with alerts also on the side mirrors.
Rear seats split 60:40 and fold down easily, with no tunnel to manoeuvre around.
Family-friendly features include rear door locks and ISOFIX child seat anchors on the outer rear seats. The electric tailgate is adjustable for height. Boot capacity is 490 litres, expandable to 1,425 litres with rear seats folded. The boot can easily fit a full set of golf clubs, thanks to the additional space over the wheels.
Three trims are available: Earth 2, Earth 3, and GT-Line, the latter on my test car. All feature LED daytime running lights, LED Rear Combination Lights, rear fog lights, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a window defog system.
While two drivetrains are offered, the Fastback only comes with the more powerful, long-range 81.4kWh battery. The electric motor delivers 204hp and a maximum torque of 283Nm, can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 170 km/h. Kia claims a WLTP range of 625 km, though real-world driving will provide less.
DC fast charging from 10-80 per cent takes just over 30 minutes. When collecting the car, the screen indicated a full charge at 543 km. A longer trip showed energy consumption at 16.9kWh per 100 km.
An array of advanced driver assistance features includes anti-collision assistance, parking sensors, parking assist, Highway Driving Assist, and Smart Cruise Control—all contributing to the EV4’s maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Visibility up front is excellent, thanks to the wide windscreen and low dashboard.
The ambient lighting shifts colour with drive modes: Eco, Normal, My Drive, and Snow. I mainly used Eco mode, which proved perfectly adequate for everyday driving. Handling was excellent. Fastback colours include Aurora Black Pearl, Ivory Silver, Shale Grey, Snow White Pearl, Clear White, and Morning Haze. Servicing is recommended every two years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Kia has partnered with Energia to offer a free home charger with installation for new electric or plug-in hybrid Kia vehicles. Kia provides a 7-year warranty and an 8-year battery pack warranty on all EV, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid models.
Kia EV4 Fastback starts from €46,175; my GT-Line from €51,250; road tax €120.
