It appears to be like like each brand-new EV that debuts these days is an SUV– the character of battery trendy know-how (and American vehicle buying decisions) just about requires it. So it’s freshening to see Kia beginning the 2025 New York Auto Show at the moment with the launching of the sharp-styled, brand-new 2026 Kia EV4 electrical automobile and the combustion-powered K4 Hatchback that presses nice offers of power proper into smaller sized bundles. Positioned on the entry issue of Kia’s schedule, these somewhat smaller sized autos will definitely be pitched as much more budget-friendly decisions once they get right here following yr, which is a big provide fascinated with simply how expensive most factors look like acquiring
I’m most fascinated with and thrilled in regards to the EV4, and I assume you’ll definitely be as nicely. The EV4 makes its North American launching, taking part in reckless with what I take a typical “sedan silhouette.” The EV4 leads with data and percentages decreased from Kia’s EV6, amongst my favored EVs in its course, but the shape shifts rapidly on the again doorways proper right into a sweeping fastback– just about as if Kia copy-pasted the again aspect of its K4 automobile onto the EV.
From some angles, the entire look is disagreeable and somewhat disjointed. However, I take pleasure in it when automobile builders receive odd, and the automobile’s whole look is starting to develop on me.
Up to 330 miles of selection
Beneath the sheet metal and glossy black plastic cladding, you’ll find the Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform, which moreover underpins virtually all of HMG’s dedicated EV variations, from the Ioniq 5 to the EV9 The EV4 will definitely get right here in very early 2026, powered by a solitary 150-kilowatt (201-horsepower) electrical motor on its entrance axle and provided with 2 400-volt battery decisions. The base EV4 Light features a 58.3 kilowatt-hour pack anticipated to offer as much as 235 miles per price. Upgrading to the EV4 Wind or top-spec EV4 GT-Line ideas as much as an 81.4 kWh system assuring roughly 330 miles of Kia- approximated selection for the (almost certainly) lighter Wind.
Drivers will definitely have the flexibility to rapidly juice their EV4 from 10% to 80% butted in 29 to 31 minutes (relying upon which battery they’ve really obtained) via the car’s built-in North American Charging System port. The EV4’s billing port has really been transferred to the entrance traveler aspect, which the automobile producer assumes is a better positioning for billing when parked nose-in at Tesla Supercharger terminals. Personally, I select the rear-corner setting of HMG’s varied different EVs, but I’m moreover amongst these aggravating chauffeurs that again proper into each automobile park space when possible.
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The frequent NACS billing port signifies the EV4 will definitely have the flexibility to natively invoice at Tesla Supercharger terminals.
Safety and Convenience Tech
Rounding out the EV4’s perform assortment is a brand-new variation 3.0 of the automobile producer’s i-Pedal variable regenerative braking system, which automatically adjusts the level of regen based on speed, distance to a leading vehicle and more. The system now works in reverse and retains the driver’s preferred regeneration level when the EV4 is restarted. Like other E-GMP vehicles, this one is compatible with the automaker’s vehicle-to-load adapter, enabling proprietors to remodel the outside billing port proper into an acquainted 120-volt/15-amp energy electrical outlet to run house home equipment, gadgets or gadgets when the EV4 is parked.
Inside, the attention sticks round on the EV4’s now-familiar twin 12.3-inch display screen digital management panel with dedicated 5-inch surroundings display screen (corresponding to the dashboard of the EV9) beforehand, ideally, choosing the roadway prematurely. The cabin know-how assortment consists of the brand-new Kia AI Assistant, which will definitely help chauffeurs keep their eyes off these shows whereas driving with all-natural language voice instructions. Also available are Digital Key 2.0 know-how, which permits chauffeurs ditch the important fob for his or her cellphone, cordless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection and requirement Highway Driving Assistant safety know-how. The EV4’s software program program will definitely be maintained present with over-the-air updates and feature-on-demand acquisitions via the Kia Connect data hyperlink, which proprietors must register for hold after the three-year consisted of check.
There are plenty of areas that may definitely require filling up previous to the 2026 Kia EV4 strikes United States roadways in very early 2026, consisting of EPA selection and final costs for the South Korean- made EV. Expect much more data to be revealed within the coming months.
2026 Kia K4 Hatchback
For budget-minded patrons not all set to make the bounce to electrical, the automobile producer moreover debuted a hatchback model of its combustion-powered 2026 K4. Most of the specs correspond the automobile up till you attain the K4 Hatchback’s 22.2 cubic ft of freight functionality behind the again seats (up from 14.6 cu-ft), which will increase to 59.3 dices when these seats fold up degree. Interestingly, the Hatchback is moreover about 11 inches a lot shorter from bumper to bumper, despite preserving the exact same again legroom, and flaunts regarding an inch of added again clearance.
The 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback will definitely be provided with both a typical 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque or a turbocharged 1.6-liter that improves to 190 hp and 195 lb-ft. Expect the very first situations to get to sellers in late 2025 and costs, gasoline financial scenario and varied different data to come up previous to after that.
