Kia EV4 Review 2025

What to do if the Kia EV3 is too small for you yet the Kia EV5 is too big? Say hello to the potential answer — the Kia EV4. Even before driving it we liked it for not being yet another electric SUV, but now that we have spent time behind the wheel, it's time to tell you what we think of it in our full Kia EV4 review.

Kia's range of electric cars is growing at a rapid pace, which might leave you a bit confused. Along with the Kia EV4 hatchback we're covering here, as well as the aforementioned EV3 and EV5, we've already seen the rakish Kia EV6 and the enormous Kia EV9. Next in the works to sit at the opposite end of the scale is the Kia EV2. 

That's a lot of numbers, so you might be wondering where the EV4 fits into all of that. Perhaps the easiest way to explain it is in the context of this electric hatchback's rivals. Among them are the high quality Renault Megane E-Tech, while the close cousins of the Cupra Born and the Volkswagen ID.3 are also in the Kia's crosshairs.

At up to 4450mm long the Kia EV4 is slightly larger than all three, to the benefit of rear seat space and boot capacity — although the Megane trumps its 395-litre volume by five litres. 

As an alternative to the EV4 hatchback is the elongated Kia EV4 Fastback, which we will review separately. Its strikingly tapered roofline disguises the fact that it's a traditional four-door saloon, with a separately opening boot lid — a refreshing inclusion in a world dominated by SUVs. 

You have a choice between two battery sizes but all EV4s get the same 204PS electric motor, which Kia refers to using an alternative metric as 201bhp. Should you want to go faster you'll have to wait — a hot Kia EV4 GT with a punchy dual-motor set-up is set to join the range before the end of 2026.

If you've peered inside the Kia EV3 then the EV4's interior will look very familiar. It's pleasantly minimalistic yet doesn't go too far — yes, there are physical climate control buttons that don't require you to delve into the touchscreen's menus to simply make it warmer. Praise be!

The driving experience of the Kia EV4 is one that prioritises comfort over any sense of sportiness, which we're absolutely on board with. Combined with that lovely cabin, it's a superbly relaxing car to drive. 

Kia EV4: Range and charging times

The standard range (SR) 58.3kWh battery pack is only available on the Kia EV4 in entry-level Air specification, and has an official WLTP driving range of 273 miles. This jumps to 388 miles if the same trim level is combined with the longer range 81.4kWh, while upgrading to GT-Line or GT-Line S specification reduces this to 362 miles.

Capable of ultra-rapid charging at a rate of up to 150kW makes it possible to take the 58.3kWh battery from 10-80% in 29 minutes, assuming conditions are optimal and you're plugged into a fast enough unit. For the 81.4kWh battery it's 31 minutes to do the same. 

Plugged into a 7.4kW home wallbox the EV4 requires 8 hours to fully charge the 58.3kWh battery from flat and 11 hours to replicate the recharge with the larger-capacity alternative. 

All too often car are given far too firm suspension settings to the detriment of their ride quality, but there are no such complaints  with the Kia EV4. It's noticeably soft in its setup but not to the point that it wallows over lumpier bits of road thanks to well-controlled damping. 

The one caveat is that for the comfiest time possible you want the Air specification version's 17-inch wheels and their chunkier tyre sidewalls. It's a jump to the 19-inch wheels on GT-Line and GT-Line S models, which introduce a touch of brittleness to the ride quality when you're going over road surface imperfections, but even in this configuration the EV4 is far from uncomfortable. 

The Kia EV4's soft damping does mean it leans a lot in corners. Should you want a sportier drive, it's not like you're short of rival cars with a firmer setup.

The EV4's steering is vague but grip is decent enough. 

What we're more bothered about is the refinement at speed, which is very good. Wind and tyre noise are kept subdued despite there being no engine noise to drown them out. 

You can choose between two battery sizes for the Kia EV4 although both come with the same electric motor installed under the bonnet, sending drive to the front wheels through a one-speed automatic transmission.

It produces 204PS — which Kia chooses to express as 201bhp — and 283Nm of torque which, as you might imagine, doesn't make for a particularly quick car.

The 58.3kWh battery version is quickest, managing the 0-62mph benchmark sprint in 7.5 seconds. Owing to its extra weight, the 81.4kWh battery cars are slower — Air specification models take 7.7 seconds to complete the 0-62mph yardstick, while even more heft and larger wheels dull GT-Line and GT-Line S versions down to 7.9 seconds. 

All Kia EV4s have an electronically capped top speed of 105mph.

The EV4 feels leisurely when getting up to speed, although we wouldn't go so far as to call it slow. Speed freaks will eventually be able to order the Kia EV4 GT with a dual-motor setup, although we don't know exactly how powerful it will prove to be. 

The Kia EV4 hasn't yet been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, but the structurally similar EV3 scored the full five stars when tested with the DriveWise safety pack that's fitted as standard to all UK-spec cars. That should put your mind at rest until it receives its own rating.

The EV4 is similarly loaded with driver assistance technology working with various cameras and sensors, including blind-spot collision avoidance, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic avoidance, safe exit assist and lane-keeping assistance.

You might find yourself turning off the lane assistance as it's overactive and aggressive when it intervenes. 

The towing capacity of the Kia EV4 is modest. Versions with the 58.3kWh battery can only tow up to 500kg of braked trailer weight, while 81.4kWh see that maximum load increase to 1000kg. 

While the Kia EV4 is less than 200mm longer than the likes of the Cupra Born and VW ID.3, its boot space with the rear seats in place is 50 litres larger than both at 435 litres, although the Renault Megane E-Tech just trumps it with its 440-litre cargo space. 

The EV4's rear seats fold in a 40/60-split, opening up a total load volume of 1415 litres and proving more practical than either the Megane (1332 litres) or the ID.3 (1267 litres).

Where the Kia EV4 really provides a difference is in terms of its very generous rear legroom. Taller rear-seat passengers will find headroom is limited, though. 

There are three storage trays in the front of the EV4's cabin, two of which are on either side of the Kia's oh-so-satisfying cupholders, whose gripping 'arms' deploy with the press of a button.

The Kia EV4 is further proof that its origins as a bargain basement brand are a distant memory. Its interior oozes quality, with a great blend of materials and a solidity to the way everything's been put together.

It's also pleasing that the entry-level Air specification versions don't feel like poor relations to the more expensive versions. 

All versions of the Kia EV4 get a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system housed in one widescreen unit along with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 5.3-inch climate control panel in between. Don't panic, though — you'll only be using the latter sparingly, as temperature and selected other settings can be altered using physical buttons lower down on the dashboard. 

The infotainment portion responds quickly to touch and features an easy-to-comprehend menu system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity is standard, quickly and easily pairing when we tried out the former. 

There are two USB-C ports in the front, one of which can be switched between device connectivity or charging only, the idea being that a passenger can use it without interrupting the on-screen display There are two further USB-C ports in the back. 

A key upgrade on the range-topping Kia EV4 GT-Line S model is an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, which is great. That said, the six-speaker setup used in all other models is still impressive. 

The Kia EV4 range starts at £34,695 for the Air specification model with the 58.3kWh battery. It's the only trim level available with the smaller pack, but to upgrade the Air with the bigger 81.4kWh unit increases the price to £37,695.

Choose the better-appointed EV4 GT-Line and you'll be spending £39,395, while the flagship GT-Line S costs £43,895.

You won't be knocking any money off of those prices via the government's Electric Car Grant (ECG), although at the time of of its autumn 2025 launch Kia was discounting Air versions by £3750, with a £1500 saving on the rest of the range through a PCP deposit contribution. 

To put the above numbers in comparison, the Renault Megane E-Tech is cheaper, starting at £31,295 inclusive of a £1500 ECG discount, although its driving range only outperforns the EV4 with the 58.3kWh battery. 

Prices for the Cupra Born rise from £34,190 after its ECG deduction, while the same government-funded discount has trimmed the cost of the entry-level Volkswagen ID.3 down to £29,360.

So long as you can charge from home as much as possible, the Kia EV4 has the potential to be very cheap to run thanks to its good efficiency. If you're on a typical electricity tariff, it'll be around £15 to charge the 58.3kWh battery and just over £20 for EV4 with the 81.4kWh version.

Once you bear in mind you should get over 300 miles of running for that £20, it doesn't seem bad at all. You can slash your charging costs significantly with a tariff that offers off-peak rates, timing your charging sessions to suit. 

In less good news, since April 2025 EVs became liable for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) at the same £195 annual rate as combustion-engined cars. Kia EV4 models that cost over £40,000, inclusive of optional extras, will also be hit with an extra £425 annually from years two to six, thanks to the Expensive Car Supplement. 

Like all EVs, the Kia EV4 enjoys a low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate of 3%, making for very low salary sacrifice payments if your employer has a company car scheme you can take advantage of.

You shouldn't have to worry about repair costs for a while, with Kia's excellent seven-year/100,000-mile warranty present and correct. That's additional to the mandated eight-year/100,000-mile cover for the EV4's battery pack. 

The Kia EV4 is available in three trim levels — Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S.

The entry-level Kia EV4 Air comes with the following equipment as standard:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED headlights
• Six-speaker sound system
• Electrically adjustable, folding and heated door mirrors
• Heated front seats
• Climate control
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 5.3-inch climate control display
• Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity

Upgrading to the Kia EV4 GT-Line adds the following equipment: 

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Automatically retracting, flush exterior door handles
• Dark-tinted rear windows
• Two-tone artificial leather trim
• Three-spoke artificial leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Electrically adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support
• Customisable interior ambient lighting

Opting for the Kia EV4 GT-Line S introduces the following: 

• LED headlights with Small Cube Design appearance
• Automatic adaptive main beam
• Heated outer rear seats
• Ventilated front seats
• Electrically adjustable front Premium Relaxation seats
• Electrically operated tailgate
• Internal three-pin power socket
• Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) adapter
• Eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Customisable Head-Up Display (HUD)