Hatchbacks – remember those? As little as a decade ago, they were the bread and butter of car manufacturers in a market now festooned with crossovers and SUVs.
It therefore begs the question why a company as successful as Kia would spend hundreds of millions designing, engineering, testing and marketing an all-new one. Yet that is exactly what the South Korean marque has done – albeit with a twist.
The EV4 is distinctive, like a Taylor Swift chart-topper, and cutting-edge in much the same way three-dimensional printing once was. In other words, it is very much of its time. This is a hatchback created specifically for the electric age and it boasts the longest range of any Kia EV to date: up to 388 miles on entry-level ‘Air’ models fitted with the larger 81.4kWh battery. That is a notable milestone in Kia’s journey towards full electrification and one that helps keep it competitive with both European and Chinese rivals.
The smaller 58.3kWh battery delivers a still-respectable 273 miles in ‘Air’ trim, which likely explains why it is not offered on the sportier ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ variants. In these models, a quoted range of 362 miles applies. All versions use the same 201bhp front-mounted electric motor, producing a 0–62mph time of seven-and-a-half seconds and a top speed of 105mph. Charging performance is competitive too: the EV4 can replenish from 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes on a 150kW DC fast charger (31 minutes for the long-range battery), while a full charge takes five hours and 20 minutes on an 11kW AC supply, or seven hours and 15 minutes in long-range form. Less impressively, a heat pump is not standard, costing an extra £900 and only available on the range-topping ‘GT-Line S’.
Aerodynamic efficiency plays a central role in the EV4’s range capabilities. Active air flaps in the front bumper open automatically to optimise cooling while eking out every possible mile. Elsewhere, 83 per cent of the car’s underside is smoothed over with near full-length underbody panelling to improve airflow. Combined with a sleek body, swept-back windscreen and tapered roofline, these measures help achieve a drag coefficient of 0.261. Kia will also offer an EV4 ‘Fastback’, whose swoopier profile lowers Cd further to an impressive 0.23.
The EV4’s bold design is hard to ignore. It certainly stands out on the road, particularly at the sharply styled front where alien-esque LED ‘Star Map’ lighting dominates, while the rear end carries echoes of contemporary Cadillacs. This approach will not be to all tastes, but in the right trim and colour – buyers can choose from five, including Fusion White, Phantom Black, Magma Red, Blue Flame and Wolf Grey – it attracts plenty of double-takes and curious stares.
Inside, rear-seat legroom is generous and the boot is respectably sized, though the low-set nose and placement of the electric motor rule out any front storage for charging cables. The cabin itself has a convincingly premium feel, aided by a flat floor, light-coloured materials and plenty of soft-touch surfaces. Even the large central storage unit looks and feels more like a piece of furniture than a conventional centre console.
Kia’s infotainment system remains one of the most logical in the business. The screens respond intuitively, even if the menu structure can occasionally feel a little dense. Crucially, many functions are still accessed via an abundance of physical buttons. A slim climate-control touchscreen sits neatly between the main display and the digital instrument panel, while higher-spec models add a head-up display. Maintaining such a clean, minimalist aesthetic while incorporating so many physical controls is no small design feat. As tested here, ‘GT-Line’ appears to represent the sweet spot in the range, adding 19-inch alloy wheels, gloss-black exterior detailing, flush-fitting door handles, rear privacy glass, electrically adjustable front pleather upholstered seats, wireless smart phone charging and changeable ambient interior lighting.
On the road, the EV4 prioritises ease over excitement. Throttle response and steering are tuned for smooth, relaxed progress, without feeling overly sharp or aggressive. Soft springing and damping make it exceptionally comfortable in everyday driving and particularly well suited to long motorway journeys. On smooth roads it remains tidy and even enjoyable through bends, but introduce the broken cambers and dips typical of rural British tarmac and the body can begin to float and sway. With 201bhp tasked with moving close to two tonnes – 1,910kg in top-spec form – performance is adequate rather than brisk. The upside is strong traction, minimal torque steer and a reassuringly linear relationship between pedal input and acceleration, an area where Kia’s EV experience clearly shines.
Steering-wheel paddles allow quick adjustment of regenerative braking. The automatic mode works well for most situations, gently easing off for slower traffic or corners anticipated by the navigation system. Switch to manual control and you can fine-tune regeneration on the fly, adding a welcome layer of interaction. The brake pedal itself is light, but both braking and steering responses build progressively, helping the EV4 feel calm, predictable and easy to place. A four-link aluminium rear suspension absorbs poor surfaces effectively, delivering a plush, quiet ride that remains impressively refined even on 19-inch wheels.
