Picture this: a world where electric cars aren’t just dull, soulless tin cans designed to shuffle you from A to B with a goofy grin plastered on their grilles. A world where a Korean carmaker stands up, slips on its boxing gloves, and says, “Listen up, Europe, we’re about to give your mid-range a proper kick in the pants!” Well, folks, that’s exactly what Kia has done with the EV4. And trust me, this isn’t some dreary little electric runabout your gran would buy to trundle off to bingo night.
The Kia EV4 has been unveiled – well, sort of announced, because us Europeans have to twiddle our thumbs until after summer 2025 before we can tear up the Autobahn with it. But what Kia’s shown us so far is enough to knock your car socks off. This beast comes in two flavors: a 4.43-meter hatchback and a sedan – or rather, a fastback-style four-door – stretching 4.73 meters long. The hatchback’s for the practical types, the ones who want to shove a pram in the back without breaking a sweat. The sedan? That’s for the folks in Asia and North America who reckon a low, sleek silhouette is still the epitome of cool. And let’s be honest, they’re not wrong.
Let’s talk looks, because this is where Kia swings the big hammer. This isn’t a car that looks like it was sketched out by a committee of grey-suited accountants. No, this is a machine that screams for attention with its sharp lines and a front end that keeps refining Kia’s ‘Tiger Face.’ The vertical headlights and that so-called ‘Star Map’ light signature give it a mug that’s both aggressive and polished – think of it as an electric tiger ready to pounce. And the rear? The hatchback’s got a handy tailgate, while the sedan sports a long, aerodynamic tail that looks like it rolled straight out of a wind tunnel. It’s not a classic beauty, but by golly, it’s got character.
Under the skin, Kia’s still playing coy, like a magician who won’t reveal his tricks just yet. But let’s use some common sense: the EV4 is bound to borrow a few bits from its siblings, the EV3 and EV6. Expect electric motors punchy enough to put a grin on your face, and batteries that won’t leave you stranded halfway through a makeshift Paris-Dakar. Word on the street is there’s an i-Pedal 3.0 system for tweakable braking and energy recovery – the kind of tech you only really get when you feel it. Then there’s the Digital Key 2.0, letting you unlock the thing with your Apple Watch so you can feel like half a James Bond. Up to fifteen devices can pair with it, so the whole family can join in the spy games.
In essence, this is the electric successor to the Kia Ceed – that trusty little workhorse that’s been plodding along European roads for years. But where the Ceed was a good lad, the EV4 is a rebel with a plug. It slots neatly between the compact EV3 and the sporty EV6 in Kia’s growing EV lineup, with the hulking EV9 above it and a tiny EV2 in the works for 2026. It’s a clever move: Kia’s building an electric empire with something for everyone, from city rats to highway kings.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Sounds great, but how does it drive?” Well, that’s the rub with this early reveal – we haven’t clocked a single mile in it to find out. But if Kia’s recent form is anything to go by, expect a car that’s not just efficient but dares to have a bit of fun too. It’s not a Tesla-slayer, but a proper contender that breathes fresh life into the mid-range, a segment too often overrun by SUVs with the personality of a toaster.
The European launch is slated for the second half of 2025, so until then, we’re stuck with pictures and promises. Kia’s scored a hit with the EV4 – it’s practical, innovative, and bold enough to stand out. In a world full of yawn-inducing electric boxes, that might just be the highest praise you can give. So, Europe, keep your eyes peeled: the future’s coming, and it’s got a plug.
