- The Kia EV4 will come with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh battery packs, offering different range options for buyers.
- Kia will release the EV4 in both sedan and hatchback versions, expanding its appeal to a broader market.
- Both single-motor and dual-motor configurations are expected, with an all-wheel-drive version also in development.
Kia has stripped away some of the bulky cladding and camouflage from its latest EV4 prototype, providing us with an excellent opportunity to see the car’s production-spec bodywork in the flesh. As we’d long suspected, it looks extremely similar to the concept unveiled last year.
Oftentimes, concept cars are launched with crazy, over-the-top designs that are heavily diluted down for the road. That’s not the way Kia rolls, at least not in recent years. For example, the Kia EV9 shares most of its dramatic design with the concept that previewed it as do the smaller EV3 and EV5 SUVs. It’ll be the same with the EV4.
Read: Kia EV4 Hatch Drops More Camo As It Hunts The MG4
The front end of this prototype scooped at the ‘Ring has a black lower grille and a set of dramatic headlights that run vertically and include bold LED daytime running lights. Viewed from the side, the EV looks almost identical to the concept and even rocks the same black and silver wheels designed to look like they’re triangular. The roofline of the road-going hatch model does appear to hit slightly higher than the concept, hence why the side windows stand a little taller.
Kia’s concept car looks continue across the rear fascia where there is a large spoiler stretching out from the roof. Interestingly, Kia is readying both sedan and hatch versions of the EV4 but only ever showcased a concept of the sedan. This means the rear fascia of this hatch prototype is much taller than the concept. Additionally, it also seems to have received a pair of bespoke taillights that’ll be different from those of the sedan version.
Beneath all that sharp sheet metal, the Kia EV4 likely rides on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform—the same foundation for the EV3, EV6, and EV9, instead of the 400-volt N3 eK platform used by the EV5. Expect the EV4 to offer the same battery configurations as the EV3, with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh options, and an entry-level version powered by a single electric motor pushing out 201 hp. A more muscular, dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant is also on the cards for those who need extra punch.
The EV4 Is Part Of A Bigger Plan
Kia has been aggressively expanding its electric vehicle lineup, with the EV4 being a key component in a much larger strategy. Under the company’s updated “Plan S,” Kia aims to launch 15 fully electric models and six new hybrids by 2027, cementing its place as a global EV contender. This plan spans everything from affordable urban vehicles to high-performance SUVs. Positioned in the middle of this range, the EV4 will provide a more accessible entry point to Kia’s electrified future, playing a pivotal role in the brand’s goal of selling 1.6 million eco-friendly vehicles annually by 2030.
