Kia EV4 Electric Review: Different By Design But Difficult By Price

There is something quite refreshing about a carmaker deciding that its latest electric car does not need to resemble a bar of soap.

Yes, I’m referring to Kia’s EV4; in fact, parked among the increasingly homogeneous collection of electric sedans on our roads, it looks like somebody accidentally selected “concept car” and then clicked send to production...

There are vertically stacked headlamps (Kia's Star Map lighting signature), an unusually long fastback-like profile and, around the back, a two-piece spoiler arrangement. Whether all of it works is subjective; I’m still undecided about certain angles, and conservative buyers accustomed to the tidy proportions of something like a, say, Honda Civic may require some acclimatisation.

Oh well, but at least Kia tried. And underneath all that visual theatre is a remarkably sensible electric family sedan.

Size Matters

At 4,730 mm long, 1,860 mm wide and 1,480 mm tall, the EV4 is bigger than you might initially expect. Its 2,820 mm wheelbase is particularly generous.

For perspective, the current Honda Civic measures 4,681 mm long and 1,802 mm wide, with a 2,735 mm wheelbase. So in that aspect, the Kia is 49 mm longer, 58 mm wider and has 85 mm more between its axles.

Which also means despite all the futuristic styling, this is essentially Civic territory stretched in all the places that matter to passengers.

The boot holds 490-litres, virtually matching the Civic's 493-litres, and expands to a very useful 1,680-litres with the rear seats folded.

This matters because EV4 buyers are unlikely to be buying it purely because they want an EV. It needs to work as the household car: School runs during the week, IKEA on Saturday and potentially five people plus luggage heading across the Causeway over the long weekend.

Convincingly, it can.

The Inside Story

The cabin is considerably less controversial than the exterior, and that's probably a good thing.

Kia's familiar panoramic display arrangement combines a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, 5-inch climate display and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. There is also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, rear air-conditioning vents and USB-C charging throughout the cabin. And a thoughtful touch is a V2L three-pin power outlet located under the rear bench - useful for so many things.

The equipment list is actually rather serious. Singapore's EV4 gets powered front seats with lumbar adjustment, heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, ambient lighting, smart tailgate, 360-degree Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor and Remote Smart Parking Assist. There are seven airbags, and the expected suite of modern driver-assistance systems too.

This isn't a Korean car trying to win you over by being cheap; it's trying to feel properly complete.

Material quality is generally convincing too. There are softer surfaces where you interact with the cabin most frequently, the switchgear feels solid and the overall assembly carries that reassuring Kia sense that everything should still be attached to everything else several years from now.

More importantly, the EV4 feels spacious. The long wheelbase pays dividends in rear legroom, while the flat floor makes the centre position genuinely useful. For four adults, though, this is an easy place in which to spend time.

However, rear headroom is less generous than the legroom suggests - one consequence of that dramatic roofline - so taller passengers should try not pick the back seat.

Driving It

Power comes from a 58.3 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery driving a single front-mounted motor producing 150 kW - or 201 bhp - and 283 Nm.

Standstill to 100 km/h takes 7.5 seconds, while top speed is 170 km/h; which is plenty.

And I actually mean plenty, rather than the EV industry's current definition of adequate performance being “fast enough to rearrange your internal organs”.

The EV4 responds crisply away from the lights and has enough immediate torque for overtaking, but it doesn't spend its time trying to prove how electric it is. Around Singapore, that makes it a much nicer companion.

The chassis follows the same philosophy - MacPherson struts sit up front with a multi-link arrangement behind, and Kia has found a convincing compromise between body control and everyday compliance. The steering isn't overflowing with feedback, but it is accurate and naturally weighted enough that the EV4 doesn't feel like an appliance when the road becomes interesting.

Push harder and you are still aware that this is a front-driven family EV rather than an electric sports saloon, but body movements are tidy and the car changes direction confidently.

Ride comfort is equally noteworthy. The EV4 absorbs the sort of broken surfaces and expansion joints encountered daily in Singapore without becoming floaty, while NVH suppression is impressive. An acoustic-film windscreen is standard, and at expressway speeds tyre and wind noise remain nicely subdued. Overall, it feels comfortable rather than merely quiet.

Perhaps the EV4's most impressive number isn't 201 bhp - it's 6.7 km/kWh.

Kia quotes up to 546 km of WLTP city range from just 58.3 kWh of usable machinery, which shows what can be achieved through efficiency rather than simply fitting an enormous, heavy battery.

DC charging peaks at 150 kW, taking the battery from 10 to 80% in approximately 29 minutes. An 11 kW AC charger requires around three hours and 43 minutes.

For Singapore usage, I'd argue this is the smarter approach. Think about it: Most owners don't need an 800 km battery every morning. They simply need sensible efficiency, enough range that charging isn't constantly on their minds, and reasonably quick replenishment when necessary.

The EV4 delivers exactly that.

In A Nutshell

The Kia EV4 is a car that becomes easier to appreciate the longer you spend with it. Look beyond the unconventional styling and there is a very accomplished family EV underneath: Spacious, comfortable, quiet, well equipped and pleasantly sorted to drive.

Its 490-litre boot and generous 2,820 mm wheelbase make it properly practical, while the relatively modest 58.3 kWh battery is offset by an impressive 6.7 km/kWh efficiency.

The difficult bit is its S$220,999 asking price.

That puts the EV4 against increasingly convincing Chinese alternatives, including the BYD Seal 6, which offers similar space and equipment, plus the flexibility of petrol-electric power in the case of the hybrid DM-i variant, for considerably less money.

The Kia arguably feels like the more mature and polished product, and buyers who value its engineering, efficiency and established brand reputation should certainly shortlist it.

But in Singapore, where every dollar added to a car's price matters, the EV4's biggest obstacle isn't its unusual appearance.

It's convincing buyers that being very good is worth paying more for.

Technical Specification - Kia EV4 Electric

Power/Torque: 210 bhp/283 Nm
Battery type/Capacity: Lithium Ion/58.3 kWh
Charging time: 3 hour 43 min (AC), 29 minutes (DC) - 10 to 80%
Range: 546 km (WLTP)
0-100 km/h: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 170 km/h
Efficiency: 14.9 kWh/100 km
Agent: Cycle & Carriage Kia

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks)

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