Kia EV4 review: Why this electric hatchback sets a new benchmark for range, quality and value

Strong range, standout design and near-premium quality make Kia’s EV4 a compelling new force in the electric hatchback class

The Kia EV4 is set to revolutionise the hatchback market for all the same reasons that its siblings have been such a hit with the buying public.

KIA EV4
Rating	★★★★☆
Price	From €39,940 - €51,250 as tested
Power	A 200bhp all electric unit
Range	Claims of 625km met with an actual 415km
The Spec	Truly classy in GT-Line spec
Verdict	Possibly the best family EV we have seen thus far

JUST a few weeks ago, Kia Ireland announced it had passed the 10,000-unit sales target for the first time in 2025.

Considering the company only began selling cars here in 2001, that’s a pretty impressive achievement.

The earliest available figures for Kia’s market performance in Ireland date back to 2007, when it registered 3,845 vehicles — a 2% market share — with 51% being petrol-engined and 49% diesel-powered. Hatchbacks were the most popular body type.

Oh, how simple things were back then. These days, the mix is wildly different: 29% of its total last year were full electrics, 19% were PHEVs, 19%were diesel, 17% were hybrids, and 16% were petrols.

SUVs were their biggest body-type seller at 60% of sales.

You’d have to say that, at fifth place in the sales charts in 2025, Kia had a landmark sales performance here, seeing them sit behind Toyota, Volkswagen, Skoda, and sister company Hyundai in the popularity stakes.

Few might have predicted such a lofty status when they launched here 25 years ago.

Few would probably have predicted too that Kia would be making some of the most innovative and imaginative EVs available in the world right now — from the EV9 through to the EV6 and EV3 — all of which are amongst the best mainstream electrics that are to be had right now for price, range, and build quality.

It was the EV6 that set the ball rolling.A semi-coupe SUV, it provided a fantastic range, excellent comfort, specification levels, and a degree of style that the EV market had lacked up to that point.

The blocky EV9 sort of took everyone by surprise, with its squared-off look, seven-seat capacity, and a range that not only defied reasonable expectation, but beat most of the competition out of the park.

It was followed by the city-car EV3 and, once again, it stood apart from the crowd with a funky design, excellent range, and above-average comfort and kit levels.

Now we have the EV4, set to revolutionise the hatchback market for all the same reasons that its siblings have been such a hit with the buying public.

Up against the VW ID.3 and the Cupra Born, both among the more talented of the EV hatchback brigade, the EV4 hits the road here with a better range, better practicality, and strong value for money. It also comes with a seven-year warranty.

The Kia EV4 is set to revolutionise the hatchback market for all the same reasons that its siblings have been such a hit with the buying public.

It actually comes in two variants — the Fastback, and the Hatchback we are testing this week in GT-Line specification. Both are mechanically identical and are built on the same platform. The hatch has a taller roofline and a more practical boot, and is the more family-oriented of the two.

An attractive beast, it is probably best thought of as being a modern version of the old Proceed model, which was an earlier Kia success story. But the look is up-to-the-minute, and the modern take on the old “tiger nose” design sees the implementation of flashy LED front and rear running lights and a characteristic black roof band running from side to side behind the rear doors.

All that mightn’t sound like much, but it does make the car readily identifiable in a segment where stand-out looks are a rarity. To these eyes, it is a very attractive motor indeed.

There are four models in the range, and each comes with an electric motor which outputs just over 200bhp, is good for a 7.5s time for the 0-100 km/h dash, and a top speed just shy of 170 km/h.

However, you do have the option of two battery packs — one of which is a standard-range 58.3kWh, which provides a range of 44 km, and the other an 81.4 kWh which, depending on the specification, can give a range of 625km. In any reasoned assessment, it is up there with the best around.

In fact, this proved to be one of the very few EVs we have encountered that comes anywhere near matching the claims made for it and, generally, if it told you it had a 300km range, you knew it would pretty much deliver.

But — isn’t there always a but — the tester came to me 100% charged, but indicating a range of only 409km; when charged at home — albeit not on a super-dooper charger — it registered a 100% mark of just 415km.

So, I’m not sure where the 625km comes from ... maybe that’s only achieved on a fast charger.

In any event, the EV4 largely did what it said it would do and, in that regard, is very estimable because, as I’ve said, most of them lie through their blanked off grilles.

This is a car which, if properly driven, will surprise even the most ardent anti-EV punter.

The Kia EV4 is set to revolutionise the hatchback market for all the same reasons that its siblings have been such a hit with the buying public.

The only thing which was slightly disappointing is that, while the EV9 and the EV6 both have 800-volt architecture, the EV4 only gets a 400V system. This does help cost-wise, but keeps the charging speed at a reduced level.

Charging from 10-80% will take about half an hour, by comparison with the 18 minutes the EV6 will do it in. Even so, that’s still a lot better than most European efforts.

In terms of handling and ride, the EV4 is, as a family car, unspectacular, but very capable. It seemed to me that Kia has done a great job of finding the sweet spot in chassis balance, something that was not evident with previous EVs from them in the past, such as the Niro.

It was prone to giving the odd buck-leap when on undulating surfaces, with the rear wheels sometimes finding air when they should not. That does not happen here, and it would appear that the weight distribution has been sorted.

Also, the Niro was a torquey beast and prone to wheelspin, but here things are judged much more finely, and that makes it a relaxed and comfortable drive.

Riding on 19-inch alloys, the ride can be a little fidgety — but the answer again is simply to curb your enthusiasm and drive it like the family car it is. It’s not that it is annoying, but a question of finding the correct level where the car is not extended beyond its comfort zone.

What is terribly annoying — apart altogether from the invasive safety systems such as the lane changing and excess speed warnings — is the driver monitoring system, which uses a steering column camera to assess where your eyes are pointing.

You will be constantly scolded if you try to assess blind spots or try to work the infotainment system. It is painfully efficient in this regard.

Otherwise, the tech is good and impressive in its ability to connect you swiftly to whatever you want. So too is the interior decor that is nearly up to German premium standards. Indeed, the fit and finish are top drawer and will make VW and even Cupra blush with embarrassment.

Interior space is excellent, and the boot has 435 litres; the hatch is particularly practical because of the larger boot opening.

This is probably as good as it gets for a mid-sized EV hatchback, and while the price might frighten those allured by some of the dirt-cheap Chinese cars on the market right now, its classiness stands it out clearly from that mob. In fact, it’s so good that it is very close to being a five-star car.