Kia EV4 review: Kia's long-range rival to the VW ID.3

For years the Ceed was Kia's quiet answer to the Golf, built in Slovakia for European roads. In this Kia EV4 review we look at its electric successor, which is built in the same Slovakian factory and goes up to 625 km (388 miles) on a charge with the bigger battery. It starts at €42,840 in Ireland, including grants, and at £30,995 in the UK with the £3,750 Electric Car Grant.

There are two body styles: a five-door hatchback, and a Fastback with a longer, saloon-like tail and a bigger boot. Both come with a choice of 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh batteries, and there's a 215 kW all-wheel-drive EV4 GT at the top of the range.

Key specs

(Prices correct at 30 October 2026. Irish prices include VAT and EV grants and exclude dealer and delivery charges. UK prices are on the road; Air and Motion prices include the £3,750 Electric Car Grant.)

Prices and trims

The EV4 sits between the smaller EV3 and the EV5 SUV in Kia's line-up, and it's aimed squarely at the Volkswagen ID.3 and the electric versions of the Golf-sized family hatchback.

(Prices correct at 30 October 2026. Irish prices include grants. UK prices are on the road.)

In Ireland, Kia lists the EV4 from €42,840, including VAT and the SEAI grant, before dealer and delivery charges. It's offered in Earth Plus and GT-Line trims, both on 19-inch wheels. The Earth Plus has artificial leather and woven fabric seats, LED headlights, heated front seats and steering wheel, a powered driver's seat, wireless phone charging and blind-spot collision avoidance. The GT-Line adds sportier styling and artificial leather GT-Line seats.

In the UK, the Air costs from £30,995 after the full £3,750 grant. It has 17-inch alloys, two 12.3-inch screens (one for the driver, one for navigation and media), a separate 5.3-inch climate control screen, heated front seats and steering wheel, Highway Driving Assist 2 and blind-spot collision avoidance. The Motion, from £36,745 with the grant, has the bigger battery and adds heated outer rear seats, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a 360-degree camera and a blind-spot view monitor that shows a camera image in the driver display when you indicate.

The GT-Line, from £39,445, gets 19-inch wheels, GT-Line styling, two-tone artificial leather, flush door handles and Kia's digital key. The GT-Line S, from £43,945, adds heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats and reclining relaxation seats in the front. Only the Air and Motion get the UK grant, because the other trims cost more than the grant's £37,000 limit.

Battery, range and charging

The 58.3kWh battery gives a WLTP range of 440 km (273 miles), and the 81.4kWh battery up to 625 km (388 miles) in the hatchback and 633 km in the Fastback. That's among the longest ranges in this class, and it comes from good efficiency rather than a huge battery: Kia quotes 14.6-16.5 kWh/100km for the hatchback and as little as 14.3 kWh/100km for the Fastback. The bigger 19-inch wheels on GT-Line S models bring the UK figure down to 362 miles.

For most people, the smaller battery is enough. 440 km covers a typical week of driving between charges, and the Air with that battery is the cheapest EV4 in the UK. The bigger battery is worth paying for if you regularly drive long distances on motorways.

The EV4 uses a 400-volt system rather than the 800-volt setup in the EV6 and EV9, so it charges more slowly than those cars. From 10% to 80% takes 29 minutes for the 58.3kWh battery at about 101 kW, and 31 minutes for the 81.4kWh battery at about 128 kW. Kia says you need a charger that delivers more than 128 kW to get the fastest time. On a three-phase 11 kW AC charger, a full charge from 10% takes 5 hours 20 minutes for the smaller battery and 7 hours 15 minutes for the bigger one.

A heat pump, which helps the car keep more of its range in cold weather, is only offered as an option on the UK GT-Line S. That's a gap compared with rivals that fit one as standard.

Performance

Front-wheel-drive EV4s have a 150 kW (201 hp) motor with 283 Nm of torque. The 58.3kWh car does 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, and the heavier 81.4kWh car in 7.7 seconds on 17-inch wheels and 7.9 seconds on 19-inch wheels. That's quick enough for motorway merging and overtaking. Top speed is 105 mph.

The EV4 GT has a second, rear motor, giving 215 kW (288 hp), 468 Nm and all-wheel drive. It does 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds and rides on 20-inch wheels with electronically controlled suspension. Its boot is smaller, at 377 litres.

Size and practicality

The EV4 hatchback is 4,430 mm long (4,450 mm on GT-Line models), 1,860 mm wide and 1,485 mm tall. That makes it longer than a Golf, and Kia says the long wheelbase gives it the most rear legroom in its class.

The boot holds 435 litres with the rear seats up, more than a Golf or an ID.3, and the Fastback's is bigger again at 490 litres. Kia's turning circle is 10.86 metres, which is tight for a car this long.

The Fastback is worth a look if you need more luggage space but don't want an SUV. It's longer at the back, with a saloon-like profile, and its 490-litre boot is 55 litres bigger than the hatchback's. At 1,914 kg it weighs only slightly more than the 81.4kWh hatchback, which is 1,902-1,910 kg depending on trim. In the UK it's only sold in GT-Line and GT-Line S trims, from £40,945, so it costs £1,500 more than the equivalent hatchback and misses out on the grant. Its lower, more aerodynamic shape also gives it the longest range of any EV4: 633 km on the WLTP cycle.

Towing is limited on the smaller battery: the 58.3kWh EV4 can pull 500 kg braked, the 81.4kWh car 1,000 kg and the EV4 GT 1,500 kg. Kerb weights range from 1,811 kg for the 58.3kWh hatchback to 2,060 kg for the GT.

Tech and equipment

Every EV4 has the two 12.3-inch screens in a single curved panel, plus the separate 5.3-inch climate screen between them. The gear selector is on the steering column, which frees up space between the front seats.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, and the navigation includes an EV route planner that adds charging stops to long journeys. Kia's over-the-air updates keep the software current without a dealer visit.

Kia's warranty is one of the EV4's strongest points: seven years or 150,000 km in Ireland (seven years or 100,000 miles in the UK), against three years for most German rivals. The battery has the same seven-year cover.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the EV4 in 2025 and gave it two ratings. With the optional safety pack it gets five stars, with 84% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 77% for vulnerable road users and 78% for safety assist. In standard specification it gets four stars, because the safety assist score drops to 67%.

Euro NCAP found the passenger compartment stayed stable in the frontal crash tests, and the EV4 scored full marks in the side-impact tests. The rating covers both the hatchback and the Fastback.

That makes the trim and options worth checking. Standard equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control, and the higher trims add parking sensors, the 360-degree camera and the blind-spot view monitor.

Rivals

Kia EV3. Kia's smaller electric SUV is cheaper, from €36,790 in Ireland including grants and £31,555 in the UK with the grant, and goes up to 605 km (375 miles). It's shorter than the EV4 and sits higher, as a small SUV.

Nissan Leaf. The new Leaf is now a crossover and costs from €36,095 in Ireland with the SEAI grant and £28,849 in the UK with the full grant. Its 75kWh version goes up to 623 km (387 miles).

Toyota C-HR+. Toyota's electric coupé-SUV costs from €37,444 in Ireland and £32,995 in the UK with the grant, with up to 607 km (376 miles) of range and a 416-litre boot.

Kia EV4 review: our verdict

The EV4 makes the most sense for families who want a roomy hatchback with a long range and a long warranty. The 81.4kWh battery's 625 km is enough to forget about charging for most of the week, and the 435-litre boot and generous rear legroom make it more practical than most rivals of its size.

The weaker points are slower charging than 800-volt rivals, a heat pump that's only an option on the top trim, and a five-star Euro NCAP rating that depends on an optional safety pack. In the UK, the Air with the grant is very good value; in Ireland, compare it carefully with the cheaper EV3 and Leaf.

Strengths:

• Up to 625 km of WLTP range from the 81.4kWh battery
• 435-litre boot and long wheelbase
• Seven-year warranty

Weaknesses:

• 400-volt charging, about 30 minutes from 10-80%
• Heat pump only optional, on the top trim
• Four stars from Euro NCAP without the safety pack

FAQs

Does the Kia EV4 qualify for the Electric Car Grant?

Yes, the Air and Motion trims get the full £3,750 UK Electric Car Grant. The GT-Line and GT-Line S cost more than the grant's £37,000 limit.

How far can the Kia EV4 go on a charge?

Up to 625 km (388 miles) on the WLTP cycle with the 81.4kWh battery, or 633 km for the Fastback. The 58.3kWh battery gives 440 km (273 miles).

How long does the Kia EV4 take to charge?

From 10% to 80% takes 29 minutes for the 58.3kWh battery and 31 minutes for the 81.4kWh battery on a fast enough DC charger. On an 11 kW AC charger, a full charge takes 5 hours 20 minutes or 7 hours 15 minutes.