Kia EV4 GT-Line review: a different angle

Regardless of whether you like it or not, you have to admire Kia for its boldly distinctive styling direction and, particularly, its resolve in pushing it forward.

While Hyundai seems to flail around with a different look for every EV in its line up, Kia has focused in on its sharp, angular “Opposites United” design language, distinguishing its battery powered vehicles not only from the rest of its range, but also pretty much every other vehicle on the road.

Personally, I think they look fantastic (okay, the awkward EV5 is an exception to that…), so went into a week with the EV4 with a lot of love for its looks already.

I didn’t actually expect that love to be universally shared, however, so braced myself for an onslaught of cutting comments and strange looks. But that didn’t actually really happen.

Turns out people broadly fall into three camps when it comes to seeing the EV4: they know what it is and already love it or hate it; they don’t know what it is but are intrigued by it; or they are just so used to odd looking EVs these days that they pay literally no attention to it. And the majority fell into the second category.

As the sedan counterpart to the well-regarded EV3 SUV, the EV4 fills a niche role in Kia’s line up here. While a hatch version is available overseas, it is restricted to Europe (so far) and the EV3 essentially fills that role here, leaving the EV4 for sedan fans. There’s less of them these days, but they are still around.

This means that the EV4 shares the same underpinnings as the EV3 - a 81.4kWh battery with a single 150kW/283Nm electric motor on the front axle, but also its hefty price tag of $74,990 that, in the face of increasing Chinese competition and the fact that it is $3k more than a long range Tesla Model 3 (or a hefty $11k more than the standard range version), makes it a rather hard sell in the current market.

On the outside: what are the Kia EV4 GT-Line's main design features?

To put it mildly, in terms of the small sedan segment, the Kia EV4 is a wild-looking thing. It takes Kia's current "Opposites United" design philosophy and dials it up to eleven, creating a vehicle that looks like it drove straight out of a 1960s science fiction show's vision of the future

There’s no denying that the overall design is polarising; you'll either love it or hate it.

While its profile shares some DNA with the superbly boxy EV9, the EV4 is defined by a more angular and aggressive collection of lines, particularly at the rear, while the front end is characterised by distinctive, vertically-oriented headlights that flank the sides of the car, giving it a sharp, modern face.

Despite its fastback silhouette that strongly suggests a liftback, the EV4 is a traditional three-box sedan with a separate boot.

There’s no denying that the overall design is polarising; you'll either love it or hate it. However, during our time with the car, most reactions were receptive, if not outright positive, with many observers finding it at least "interesting."

The design is colour-sensitive, however; while our test car's iridescent silver didn't win us over completely, the EV4 looks absolutely spectacular in black

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Kia EV4 GT-Line's cabin like?

In contrast to its wild exterior, the EV4's cabin is a far more traditional and restrained place with sensible, modern ergonomics. It follows the pattern of other Kia EVs, featuring a large panoramic screen that stretches from behind the steering wheel to the centre of the dash, housing the digital cluster and infotainment system.

While it’s not a razor-sharp sports car, its handling feels almost European in the way it flows through corners.

Crucially, Kia has retained a healthy smattering of physical buttons for essential functions like media and climate control. These buttons are clearly labelled with actual words, and not confusing hieroglyphics, making everything intuitive and easy to use.

Interior quality is, of course, top-notch. Surfaces are either soft-touch or feature high-quality textures, and the overall build feels solid and well-assembled, while subtle ambient LED lighting adds a touch of elegance without being distracting.

Comfort is a major highlight, thanks to exceptionally comfortable and supportive seats. A standout feature are Kia's fantastic mesh headrests, which are so comfortable you'll find yourself leaning back on it just for the sake of it.

The cabin is spacious, offering the interior room of a much larger sedan, with particularly generous legroom in the back. The only real ergonomic complaints are the poor rearward visibility over the shoulder due to a thick, swept-back B-pillar - though this is somewhat mitigated by the comprehensive camera system - while we also noted some odd, distracting light refraction from the speaker vents on both the windscreen and rear window.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Kia EV4 GT-Line like to drive?

The EV4 GT-Line is a genuine pleasure to drive on the open road. While not blisteringly fast - the 150kW motor delivering a 0-100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds - it's more than adequate for daily driving.

Although there is a price to pay, literally, and that hefty price tag will simply be too much for many.

The EV4’s real strength, however, lies in its impressive ride and handling - thanks to a low centre of gravity, further enhanced by its sedan form factor, the EV4 feels remarkably agile and composed.

The ride is superbly comfortable, soaking up road imperfections without the brittleness often found in EVs on large 19-inch wheels. It corners with confidence and minimal body roll, feeling compliant and settled at all times.

While it’s not a razor-sharp sports car, its handling feels almost European in the way it flows through corners. The steering provides a decent amount of feedback about the road surface, making it a genuinely pleasant and engaging car for everything from quiet city cruising to spirited drives on an empty road.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Kia EV4 GT-Line warranty and servicing situation?

The EV4 comes with a three-year/100,000km factory warranty that can be optionally extended for a further two years and 50,000km, as well as a separate eight-year/160,000km warranty for its 81.4 kWh high-voltage battery. Additionally, owners receive five years of roadside assistance and five years of complimentary Kia Connect online services, which include over-the-air (OTA) updates.

On the whole: what do we think of the Kia EV4 GT-Line?

The Kia EV4 is a wonderful package that combines a bold, futuristic style with impressive practicality and a truly enjoyable driving experience. It’s roomy, exceptionally comfortable, and feels incredibly composed on the road. The massive 490-litre boot and big 612km (WLTP) range make it a versatile and capable daily driver.

However, it's not without its flaws. The performance, while sufficient, could use a little more punch for overtaking, perhaps with a temporary boost mode.

But the biggest hurdle will be its price; at $75,990, it’s a big as, particularly with Chinese alternatives aggressively undercutting that price point, while for a $4k less you could have a Tesla Model 3 Premium Long Range or for $2k more you could have a Tesla Model 3 RWD with the FSD option.

Ultimately, the Kia EV4 is a triumph of brave design and thoughtful engineering packaged up as a pleasing, practical, and polished electric sedan that stands out from the crowd. We applaud Kia’s courage and hope that enough buyers will embrace its unique character to encourage more of this kind of innovation in the future.

Although there is a price to pay, literally, and that hefty price tag will simply be too much for many, especially when you consider what else you can get for that money.

Kia EV4 GT-Line FAQs

What kind of car is the Kia EV4 GT-Line?

A small fastback sedan.

Does the Kia EV4 GT-Line have hybrid or EV technology?

It is all-electric.

What’s the energy economy of the Kia EV4 GT-Line?

Kia claims a 3P-Wltp figure of 14.9kWh/100km for the EV4 GT-Line.

Is the Kia EV4 GT-Line safe?

The EV4 has a 5 Star rating from ANCAP and features seven airbags, including a front centre airbag.

What safety and assistance features does the Kia EV4 GT-Line have?

What are the Kia EV4 GT-Line's main rivals?

Just the names, no need to editorialise but link to reviews if we have them. Could be a bullet-point list of specific models with links to manufacturer information? For example:

• Tesla Model 3 Premium Long Range ($71,990): Bigger range, less money
• BYD Seal Performance ($76,990): More powerful, faster and a better interior
• Kia EV3 GT-Line ($75,220): Same thing in an SUV package. Fractionally cheaper
• Dongfeng 007 ($54,990): Significantly cheaper and much faster, but not as good to drive
• Mazda 6e ($TBA): An established brand, likely to be priced considerably lower