Test Kia EV4. An urban car that not only taxi drivers will love

The Kia EV4 is the brand’s new vehicle designed to replace the Ceed model in the market, which for many years served as the driving force behind the manufacturer’s popularity in Europe. Of course, no one expects the EV4 to surpass its predecessor in terms of popularity—after all, the EV market is growing at its own pace—but it is meant to play a similar role. It is a model created with Europeans and the European market in mind. I received this car for testing courtesy of KIA Gam from Długołęki (highly recommended if anyone is planning to buy vehicles from this brand, not just EVs), in the new Magma Red color and Business Line trim level, which costs just under 221,000 zł.

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Kia EV4 Specifications

Engine

Electric

Power

204 HP

Max Torque

283 Nm

Transmission

Automatic

Drive type

Front-wheel drive

Battery capacity (net)

81.4 kWh

Architecture

400V

Range (WLTP)

594 km (Business Line version tested)

Max. DC charging power

127.5 kW

Charging time 10-80% (DC)

31 min

0-100 km/h acceleration

7.8 s

Top speed

170 km/h

Average energy consumption (WLTP)

15.5 kWh/100 km

Length/width/height (mm)

4450/1860/1485

Wheelbase (mm)

2820

Trunk capacity (l)

435

Weight (kg)

1835

Price (PLN)

starting from 193,900 zł (81.4 kWh battery)

Kia EV4’s exterior features

At first glance, the Kia EV4 can be quite surprising. Although the manufacturer designed this vehicle primarily as an urban electric vehicle (i.e., for taxis or fleets), it looks very good from the outside. I would even say it can stand out in a crowd, even in its classic base hatchback version.

The Kia EV4 features a new front design style for this brand’s vehicles. What catches the eye first are the LED daytime running lights, which, along with the high beams and fog lights, are arranged vertically, adding a sleek touch to the vehicle’s overall appearance. The front end and grille have been shaped to minimize air resistance during driving—flat and wide. On the sides, there are black wheels, electrically retractable handles, and a charging port (above the right wheel).

The rear of the Kia EV4 features a very nice light strip that somewhat resembles an arrow, in line with the design style of this manufacturer’s new models. With a highly vertical rear window, the only thing I miss is a wiper that could clear dirt that appears during bad weather.

The Interior of the Urban Car – Kia EV4

Although the car wasn’t designed for large families, the Kia EV4 is quite spacious. This applies both to seating capacity and storage space for various items. Engineers and designers made sure there are plenty of compartments inside. There’s one inductive charger in the central tunnel, two cup holders, and some space for various items. Above all of this, there’s also a spot for keys and small items, along with an armrest that includes a storage compartment as well.

The materials used for interior finishing are also impressive. Nothing creaks, and everything feels pleasant to the touch (especially the fabric finishes). The seats are comfortable and adjust automatically, though due to the slightly recessed center console, I lack some support for my right knee. The headrest, on the other hand, is excellent—few cars have it set at an appropriately forward position. So I didn’t experience any discomfort while driving (aside from the lack of support for my right leg), even though I’m 185 cm tall.

Cockpit

The Kia EV4’s control center features three screens hidden behind a single pane of glass in one continuous panel. The two main screens are 12.3 inches each, while the smaller one for controlling the climate system is 5 inches. This also aligns with the current styling approach for all new models of this brand. Additionally, for climate control, there are physical buttons to adjust the airflow mode and temperature separately for the driver and passenger. As for me, the biggest mystery about the small display is its location—it’s practically completely covered by the steering wheel while driving, requiring one to lean forward to see anything on it, not to mention adjusting its settings.

The responsiveness of the entire infotainment system is a big surprise for me. To be honest, driving a Tesla on a daily basis, I was a bit worried about how smooth the experience would be in cars from other brands. The Kia EV4 performs very well here, with everything adjusting smoothly and navigating through the menu items being efficient—without any delays or lag. Add to that wireless integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and navigation becomes truly convenient.

What can be annoying are the safety systems that, as per EU expectations, keep beeping constantly. Kia is prepared for these to greatly irritate users, and we can permanently disable certain elements (such as the system that distracts the driver with beeps), while there’s a shortcut on the steering wheel for others—like the beep when speeding (this can’t be disabled permanently; it only needs to be turned off after each car start). I also don’t understand the idea of starting an electric vehicle with a dedicated button instead of simply pressing the brake.

Passengers

The surprising aspect was the amount of space available for passengers, which was truly generous. Riding as a passenger behind an adult, I had plenty of space for my knees, though I must admit that due to the battery in the floor, my legs are positioned quite high and there isn’t much support for my thighs compared to when someone in front has their seat moved back. Once child seats are installed, the children also have quite a bit of space, and the sofa itself allows a third person to ride in the middle for a short distance (similarly, with three adults it’s possible, but it’s not very comfortable).

It’s also interesting that the USB-C charging port is located on the seat back, allowing for more convenient use of a charged device while driving. Additionally, passengers have access to a storage compartment behind the front seat as well as a small compartment under the air vent.

Trunk Space

The Kia EV4, although not a large car, has a trunk with a capacity of 435L that can be slightly expanded by removing the floor. Additionally, there is an extra compartment beneath it for small items such as a charging cable, first-aid kit, etc. Unfortunately, this vehicle does not have a front trunk – everything under the hood in the front looks just like in a standard gasoline car.

However, it’s easy to fit a carry-on suitcase, a large suitcase, and additional bags in the trunk, so longer trips won’t be a problem. A stroller can also fit inside – both standard and baby carrier types – along with children’s toys.

Driving the Kia EV4 – reasonable energy consumption and excellent charging

The Kia EV4 is powered by an electric motor with 204 HP located under the hood and is available only in a front-wheel-drive version. The manufacturer ensured the car can travel a considerable distance, thanks to its 81.4 kWh battery (it is also available with a smaller battery but in lower trim levels). The estimated range is 594 km (mixed WLTP cycle), though a more realistic range is closer to 450-500 km (depending on driving style) in mixed conditions and up to 350 km on highways (depending on conditions):

At 140 km/h, the average energy consumption is 23-24 kWh/100 km (14 degrees Celsius),

At 120 km/h, the average energy consumption is 20 kWh/100 km (13 degrees Celsius),

In urban driving, the average energy consumption is 17 kWh/100 km (14 degrees Celsius).

The 360 km test route, which I drove at around 110 km/h for about 70 km, with a bit of driving in cities/villages and the rest at around 130-140 km/h, consumed approximately 92% of the battery. Starting with 95%, I reached the charger with only 3% left, resulting in an average consumption of 19.8 kWh/100 km. The temperature on the route was 12 degrees Celsius.

The car is based on a 400V architecture, and its maximum charging power is 127.5 kW, so it’s not extremely high. However, thanks to its really excellent charging curve, the time required to recharge isn’t significantly longer than that of my Tesla (with a maximum charging power of 250 kW). While charging the Kia EV4, the practically maximum power of 125 kW was maintained until 72% battery charge, after which it dropped to around 70 kW. The charging time from 3% to 80% is about 35 minutes.

The driving experience itself is very comfortable – the car handles well both at highway speeds (130-140 km/h) and in urban driving. The Kia EV4 is really well insulated, so external noise isn’t too noticeable during fast driving. It took me a while to find the option to enable maximum regen in one-pedal-driving mode, but once I did, I was able to fully utilize the electric driving capabilities.

Who is this car for – summary

The Kia EV4 is a vehicle that meets the expectations of families, sales professionals, and taxi drivers alike. Thanks to its fairly good cargo space, excellent charging curve, and large battery, it allows for quite a pleasant range without needing to charge on the road, while city driving would require charging once every two weeks. Additionally, this car is manufactured in Slovakia, and many of its components, including the battery, are supplied from Poland, so purchasing this vehicle is in a sense a form of economic patriotism.

The only drawback, in my opinion, is that the pricing of this model is a bit too high. The base version (without extras) with a smaller battery costs 173,900 zł, while the version with a larger battery costs 193,900 zł. If you opt for the better-equipped Business Line version, the price rises to 217,900 zł, and the GT Line version costs 230,900 zł. Kia certainly offers lower prices for fleet customers, but individual buyers can find other interesting cars at these price points, such as the Tesla Model Y with all-wheel drive (Premium Long Range), which costs around 229,000 zł.

We were given access to this car by Kia GAM dealer in Długołęki, so if you’re looking for a vehicle from this brand, we encourage you to get in touch with them.