Kia Releases More Details for Compact EV4 Electric Sedan, Confirms for U.S. Market
Competes with: Chevrolet Equinox EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, Nissan Leaf, Toyota bZ4X
Looks like: A convincing argument for the comeback of sedans
Powertrain: 201-horsepower electric motor; 58.3- or 81.4-kilowatt-hour battery; front-wheel drive
Release date: Late 2025
Less than two weeks after first showing off its EV4 sedan and hatchback, Kia has confirmed that the new electric car is coming to the U.S. — well, the sedan is, anyway. The hatchback, which may have been uncomfortably close to the EV6 in size and price, will only be sold in Europe.
Related: Kia Reveals Production-Ready EV4 Compact Electric Sedan
It may seem like an electric sedan from Kia would be related to the Hyundai Ioniq 6, but that does not seem to be the case (Hyundai owns a stake in Kia). The EV4 is similar in width and height to the Ioniq 6, but it’s about 5 inches shorter in both overall length and wheelbase. The EV4 is also only available with a single electric motor that drives its front wheels, whereas the single-motor Ioniq 6 is rear-wheel drive.
What Are the EV4’s Powertrain Specs?
In the EV4, that single motor puts out 201 horsepower, 52 more than the base Ioniq 6’s and 24 fewer than the more powerful rear-drive variant. Kia claims it will accelerate from 0-62 mph in 7.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 106 mph. The EV4 is, however, similar to the Ioniq 6 in its aerodynamic profile; with a coefficient of drag of just 0.23, it’s only 0.01 higher than the slippery Ioniq 6.
Two battery packs will be available: A 58.3-kilowatt-hour unit will be standard, and an 81.4-kWh pack will be optional for a long-range version. The brand hasn’t released U.S.-market specs yet, but according to the European test cycle, the EV4 will have a range of about 267 miles with the smaller battery and 391 with the bigger pack; official EPA estimates here in the U.S. will most likely be lower. Kia says the long-range battery will charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 31 minutes on a DC fast charger. In its Korean home market, the EV4 will have vehicle-to-grid bidirectional charging functionality capable of powering a home during a power outage, but here, we will only get a less potent setup for powering small electrical appliances and tools.
What Safety and Tech Features Will the EV4 Have?
The EV4 will include Kia’s Drive Wise suite of advanced safety technologies, but it’s not clear yet which systems will be standard and which will cost extra. The company says the EV4 will have Highway Driving Assist 2, its flagship hands-on semi-autonomous driving aid, as well as autonomous parking capability, but it’s hard to imagine those as standard. Other driver-assist systems include forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and steering assist, blind spot intervention, blind spot cameras, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree parking camera, a driver attention monitor, and front, side and rear parking sensors.
Cabin tech will be no less comprehensive. The EV4 sports a 30-inch digital dashboard comprised of a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 5.3-inch screen for climate control and 12.3-inch central touchscreen. Eight speakers are standard and can be swapped out for the same number of Harmon/Kardon pieces. Kia promises voice controls powered by artificial intelligence, over-the-air updates, and entertainment streaming such as YouTube and Netflix for when drivers engage Theatre mode, which dims the ambient interior lighting.
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When Will the EV4 Be Available?
The Kia EV4 will arrive in the U.S. later this year. Pricing is likely to start in the mid- to high-$30,000 range.
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