2026 Kia EV4 review

You might be surprised to hear that the 2026 Kia EV4 is the Korean brand’s first all-electric passenger vehicle that isn’t an SUV…

Following the EV3, EV5, EV6 and EV9 electric SUVs is the EV4 ‘Sedan’ or ‘Fastback’ depending on where you live – a hatchback is available in Europe, but might not come here due to its exclusively Slovakian production. While the name seems pretty conventional, the design surely isn’t.

Kia’s first rival for the popular Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal looks anything but conventional, with its angular, futuristic lines making it look like something between spaceship and robot companion – at least to me.

It arrives in Australia as the summer of tennis heats up – as is Kia tradition for its bigger new model launches earlier in the year – aiming at the aforementioned Tesla and BYD, as well as just about any other EV that sits in the $50,000-$65,000 price bracket.

At 4730mm long and 1860mm wide, the EV4 is longer head-to-toe than most mid-size SUVs, and its 2820mm wheelbase is almost limo-like. So don’t palm this off as a compact sedan with a compromised back seat.

The other headline is the fact the EV4 claims the longest range of any Kia EV currently on sale. At a WLTP-certified 612km for Long Range versions, it doesn’t match the Model 3 but it should be more than enough for most.

Anyway, we attended the Australian media launch in Melbourne during the 2026 Australian Open to see if Kia’s latest offering deserves better than its projected 70 sales per month.

How much does the Kia EV4 cost?

The EV4 range opens at $49,990 plus on-road costs for the base Air, and tops out at $64,590 before on-roads for the top-spec GT-Line.

That positions the entry-level EV4 between the cheapest BYD Seal and Tesla Model Y, as well as Kia’s own EV3 and EV5 – as you’d expect.

While the entry point is relatively sharp, the upper-spec variants that get all the good kit are on the dearer side in terms of value relative to the competition, particularly from China.

No doubt some Australian buyers will see more value in buying a larger vehicle or one with more range for $60,000, which could be a challenge for the EV4.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Kia EV4 like on the inside?

Compared to Kia’s latest products including the EV3 and EV5, there aren’t too many surprises in the EV4’s cabin.

We spent all our time in the flagship GT-Line, but regardless of the spec you choose the general layout of the interior is the same, with a pared-back almost Tardis-like design that goes big on simplicity and space.

Straight lines and upright fascias dominate the front of the cabin, as does the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment suite – comprising two 12.3-inch digital displays for the driver and infotainment, and a 5.0-inch touch panel for the climate control which is augmented by physical switches on the dash.

The EV4 introduces a new Google Engine Search function for the navigation system, which uses Google for point of interest searches and the like. Kia Connect Services enables over-the-air software updates, online navigation, intelligent voice assistant and remote functions via the compatible smartphone app.

We know it all works well based on our experience with other Kia models, and in our relatively short time with the EV4 we found the infotainment experience to be snappy, user-friendly and well featured. Most will likely just use wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto like we did, but there’s plenty of embedded functionality if you don’t – it’s also worth noting Kia Connect Services is included complementary for seven years from purchase.

Earth and GT-Line grades get fancier seats with net-like mesh head restraints, and they are quite comfortable. The ‘Premium Relaxation’ function for the GT-Line allows the one-touch option of a lounge recliner – perfect if the front passenger wants to have a nap or if you’re waiting at a charging stop.

Perceived build quality is solid, with padded plastics and leather-look surfaces dotted throughout the upper and mid sections of the dashboard and doors, and the GT-Line’s dual-tone trims and accents lighten the mood a little instead of poresenting just a sea of black and grey.

As noted earlier, Kia has retained some physical toggles and buttons for key functions like the climate control, which is a nice touch, bolstered by haptic touch-type controls below the infotainment system for related shortcuts through the central display. A volume scroll wheel is also welcome.

Storage is also good thanks to the open-plan design, with a floating centre console offering oddment storage for phones, keys and wallets, while the low-set toothed cupholders sit ahead of a rubberised wireless phone charger. You also have more space under the centre console bridge and under the front-centre armrest, as well as slim door bins.

The EV4’s long wheelbase gives it almost a baby-limo feel in the rear, though if you’re tall like me the front and rear seats feel a little close to the roof – so headroom isn’t as plentiful as you might like.

But legroom and knee room is great – arguably better than in a number of electric rivals in the same price bracket – though the high-ish floor means there’s limited toe room under the front seats if you have the driver or front passenger seat set to their lowest positions.

That said, I had plenty of room to stretch out behind my preferred driving position (and I’m 6’1″), with no need to try and squeeze my toes under the driver’s seat. If anything was tight, it was headroom like I mentioned earlier.

Rear occupants also get directional air vents, USB-C power outlets, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, and bottle holders in the doors. There’s also a storage nook behind the centre console, and map pockets behind the front seats.

As you’d expect, there are ISOFIX and top-tether points for child seats, too.

Kia quotes 490 litres of cargo capacity in the boot, accessed by a handy electric lid in the GT-Line. That’s 90L up on the BYD Seal, but 104L down on the Model 3’s claimed capacity.

The funnel-shaped cargo area isn’t as practical as the squarer boots of a hatchback or wagon, and the gooseneck hinges also might get in the way of larger items. Still, there’s good capacity on hand, though there’s no spare tyre under the floor – just a repair kit.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The EV4 is available at launch with just one powertrain and two battery options depending on variant.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Kia EV4 drive?

Our drive program was spent entirely behind the wheel of the GT-Line Long Range, so you’ll need to come back another time to read our assessment of the Air and Earth.

The route started in Melbourne’s Docklands and snaked through the winding country roads and highways north and north-west of the Victorian capital, before our final stop of Daylesford about an hour and a half away.

Therefore we tested the EV4 over a mix of surfaces and driving conditions, including inner-city roads and streets as well as inter-city freeways and highways, and everything in between.

As is a given for all of its new models these days, Kia Australia subjected the EV4 to an extensive local chassis tuning program led by engineer and former rally driver, Graeme Gambold, the man responsible for making just about every modern Kia model drive as well as it does on our varied road network.

In its product presentation, Kia noted the Australian-spec EV4’s more neutral and balanced handling feel, and its more dynamic cornering capability, plus greater steering linearity and response alongside natural weight and feel.

It sounded very similar to the tuning description for the similarly sized K4 sedan, and personally I think that car rides and handles beautifully – but did Mr Gambold achieve the same despite the added weight of an all-electric drivetrain?

The short answer is an emphatic yes. Kia has done a number on the EV4 to the point where it rides and handles better than many luxury cars with trick adaptive air-sprung suspension systems – with passive damping, no less.

There’s great compliance and bump absorption without the car feeling wobbly or loose like the BYD Seal does at times, without feeling quite as tight or sporty as the excellent Tesla Model 3.

In town it soaks up pockmarked city streets with aplomb, and settles beautifully on the open road. It’s rarely upset by anything, and offers good insulation from road and particularly wind noise – though the GT-Line’s 19-inch wheels do let in a little road roar at higher speeds.

The steering is nicely fluid and accurate, which is great for everyday driving. Weighting is on the lighter side, but you can tighten everything up by flicking into Sport mode.

Performance is another key area here, and while the EV4 won’t be giving the Model 3 or Seal any sleepless nights when it comes to the traffic light drag race, it has plenty of go off the line and offers strong acceleration response.

Kia claims 0-100km/h acceleration of between 7.4 and 7.8 seconds depending on the variant, with heavier Long Range variants taking slightly longer. It feels as quick as that by the seat of our pants, and it’s only uphill overtakes at highway speeds where you might find it a touch underdone.

A faster, dual-motor GT version has been revealed overseas with 215kW and a 0-100km/h claim of 5.6 seconds, but it hasn’t been confirmed for our market yet.

Driver assistance systems are also a positive, with the EV4 offering a well-calibrated and intuitive suite of assists.

Highway Driving Assist combines adaptive cruise and lane centring functions to offer semi-autonomous highway cruising with the help of navigation data, and also includes the assisted lane-change function straight from the $100k EV9 electric SUV.

The lane-keeping and centring functions feel natural and well-calibrated compared to a number of Chinese-badged competitors, and the adjustable i-Pedal function for the regen braking offers a litany of settings to suit various tastes – though I tended to go for the Auto setting which offers adaptive regen via front-facing sensors.

It all works well, though the lane changes can be a little slow. The (much quieter) bings and bongs for the speed limit assist can also be quickly disabled with a long press of the mute button, and the driver attention monitor isn’t as overzealous as earlier versions of other Hyundai-Kia models with the same feature.

The GT-Line exclusively offers Blind Spot View Monitor side cameras to augment the standard blind-spot assist system, as well as surround parking cameras. It’s a shame these aren’t even available in the Earth, let alone the Air.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

Three grades of the EV4 are available at launch.

2026 Kia EV4 Air standard equipment highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Kumho 215/60 R17 tyres
• Tyre repair kit
• Auto reflector-type LED headlights
• Auto high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• Electronic park brake with auto hold
• Cloth upholstery
• Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 5.0-inch climate control monitor
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay – wireless, wired
• Android Auto – wireless, wired
• Kia Connect Services incl. remote functions
• Over-the-air software updates
• Satellite navigation
• 6-speaker sound system
• Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
• Auto up/down driver’s power window

EV4 Earth adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Goodyear 215/50 R19 tyres
• Cloth and leatherette upholstery
• Mesh front head restraints
• 10-way power driver’s seat with 2-way lumbar
• Heated front seats
• Electrochromic rear-view mirror

EV4 GT-Line adds:

• Gloss black exterior mouldings, mirror caps
• Projector-type LED headlights
• Intelligent Front Lighting System
• Remote Smart Park Assist
• Power boot-lid
• Sunroof
• Rear privacy glass
• Leatherette upholstery
• ‘Premium Relaxation’ front seats
  • Ventilation
  • Driver’s memory
  • 10-way adjustment
  • 2-way lumbar for passenger seat
• 3-spoke steering wheel
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless phone charger
• 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Head-up display
• Ambient lighting
• Auto up/down front passenger window

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Kia EV4 safe?

The Kia EV4 has yet to be assessed by independent safety authority ANCAP, though its sister organisation Euro NCAP gave it four- and five-star ratings in 2025 depending on the variant.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • Junction turning and crossing assist
  • Direct/oncoming lane change detection
  • Evasive steering assist
• Blind-spot assist
• Driver attention warning
• Highway Driving Assist 2
• Intelligent speed-limit assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane Following Assist – lane centring
• Leading vehicle departure alert
• Parking sensors – front, rear
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Rear occupant alert (sensor-based)
• Reversing camera
• Safe exit warning
• Tyre pressure monitoring

EV4 GT-Line adds:

• Blind Spot View Monitor
• Safe exit assist
• Surround-view camera
• Parking Collision Avoidance – Reverse

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Kia EV4 cost to run?

The EV4 is covered by Kia Australia’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre new-vehicle warranty, and is the brand’s first model in Australia to get a longer eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.

Kia offers three-, five- and seven-year pre-paid servicing plans, costing $688, $1308 and $1929 respectively. That equates to yearly averages of between $229 and $275 depending on the coverage you choose.

It’s good to see Kia starting to get on top of its service pricing for EVs, though other brands still offer cheaper servicing over longer periods – Skoda charges similar money for a 10-year plan, for example.

To see how the Kia EV4 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Kia EV4

Polarising looks aside, the EV4 has plenty to offer – though the value equation is very spec-dependent.

The GT-Line packs all the fruit and presents as quite a premium offering, though its drivetrain performance pales compared to similarly priced Model 3 and Seal variants – it’s fine, but facts are facts.

I think the base Air shapes as a better value offering in the scheme of things, but it looks and feels like a base model compared to the more fully featured entry-level variants in its aforementioned rivals’ ranges. It’s also a shame there’s no Air Long Range variant offering a 600km-plus range for around mid-$55,000, as that would be even more competitive.

Kia’s latest entrant in the EV space is very clearly aimed at buyers who are not interested in Teslas or Chinese challenger brands, and who see more value in the Korean brand’s long-standing market presence and generous aftersales provisions, rather than those attracted to overflowing spec sheets and Ludicrous performance claims.

Even better, it’s one of the few non-SUV models in the non-premium EV space, and drives beautifully even on big wheels with thin rubber. Does it deserve to attract more than 70 sales per month? Absolutely.

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MORE: Explore the Kia EV4 showroom