Kia has unveiled production versions of a pair of EVs that, in a refreshing turn of events, aren't SUVs!
The Korean company revealed its upcoming EV4 in both sedan and hatch forms ahead of its second "Kia EV Day" event, which will be held in Tarragona, Spain, next week.
Both models wear the same design language as Kia's electric SUVs, however, with the sedan boasting a swoopy streamliner profile that is unsurprisingly reminiscent of the EV6.
The EV4 sedan and EV4 hatchback’s shared front-end design features Kia’s vertically oriented headlamps and "Star Map lighting signature" which the company says "accentuates the vehicle’s wide, sporty stance while underlining its refined, cutting-edge character."
The sedan's distinctive two-piece rear spoiler works in combination with vertical light units to "reinforce the vehicle’s wide stance and pioneering spirit", which is just nonsense, but it does look quite good, particularly in the metal, which we were lucky enough to do last year on the Kia EV3 launch in Korea.
The design model we got to get up close and personal with at the Hyundai Group's Namyang R&D centre was pretty much exactly the same as the production version, with only a few interior design details to be finalised, and the way all the various lines resolve themselves at the rear of the car was a particularly satisfying design highlight.
We didn't get to see the hatch, however, which ditches the sedan's streamliner look for a traditional hatchback, with striking contrasting black vertical C-pillars and crisply executed lines.
Kia says the EV4 hatchback’s rear profile "mirrors the strong proportions of its sedan sibling while adding its own unique character" and that the sharply sculpted lines, wide-positioned taillights, and a sloping rear window create "a clean, robust look."
While all models of EV4 ride on 19-inch alloy wheels, the up-spec GT-Line models get a different design, as well as "exclusive design elements" such as wing-shaped front and rear bumpers to give it a sportier look.
"The Kia EV4 is a clear reflection of our commitment to rethink mobility, and expand the boundaries of what design can achieve," said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design.
"By offering both sedan and hatchback variants, we are bringing to our customers the unique experience of modernity and practicality that defines the Kia EV family, in a way that suits their varied lifestyles and needs."
While no interior images have been released, we can expect more on February 24th at the 2025 Kia EV Day event in Tarragona, Spain, where Kia will fully reveal the EV4, as well as announce an expanded electrification strategy.
While there is no official word on whether the EV4 is coming to New Zealand, the local branch is having its own local version of an EV Day event with the local launch of the EV3 on the 19th of March also featuring the EV5, EV6 and EV9, as well as a special "NZ reveal" of the EV4, strongly suggesting that, yes, it's coming here.
