South Korean automaker Kia has officially launched in Australia its new EV4 electric sedan, boasting the longest driving range of any Kia and starting from $49,990.
The EV4 joins an already extensive lineup of electric vehicles (EV), including the EV3, EV5, EV6, and EV9, but is its firsts electric sedan. It is based on the same E-GMP platform, and will also come in three variants – Air, Earth, and GT-Line.
“EV4 represents yet another significant evolution of Kia’s EV strategy, blending capability and outright efficiency with affordability in a model that complements our broad line-up of electric vehicles,” said Damien Meredith, CEO of Kia Australia.
“With electrified vehicles challenging petrol for outright sales in Australia, Kia is proud to offer such a diverse line-up to that caters to the full spectrum of electrification, while maintaining very strong offerings for customers suited to conventional fuel types.”
The EV4 starts at $49,990 (RRP) for the entry-level Air Standard Range, sliding up to $59,190 for the Earth Long Range, and topping out at $64,690 RRP for the GT-Line Long Range variant.
Measuring in at 4730mm long, 1860mm wide and 1480mm high, and riding on a 2820mm wheelbase, the exterior of the EV4 features a long-tail profile yielding the lowest aerodynamic drag coefficient (0.23Cd) of any Kia model yet.
The entry-level EV4 Air comes with a 58.3-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion NCM battery powering a single electric motor delivering 150-kilowatts (kW) of power and 283Nm of torque and a WLTP driving range of 456-kilometres (km).
The Earth and GT-Line variants boast a 81.4kWh lithium-ion NCM battery which pushes the WLTP driving range up to 612km, but with the same engine the power and output stay the same. The Earth and GT-Line accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds, .4 seconds slower than the Air’s 7.4 seconds, due to the number of features the cars come with.
Bolstering the EV4’s driving range is the latest version of Kia’s i-Pedal 3.0 adjustable regenerative braking system along with Smart Regenerative Braking.
Kia’s i-Pedal 3.0 allows for one-pedal driving when initiated by a long press on the left-hand paddle shifter, offering adjustable levels of regenerative braking to suit individual preferences, and can be operated in reverse for consistency of driver inputs.
Similarly, Smart Regenerative Braking is engaged by a long press of the right-hand paddle shifter and will automatically adjust braking intensity based on traffic flows and driver braking habits.
Charing for all three variants is via a Type 2 port, with DC charging from 10-80 per cent for the EV4 Air on a 350kW charger taking as little as 29 minutes, or 31 minutes for the Earth and GT-Line.
The front-end design of the car features Kia Star Map lighting, with projection LED headlights that incorporate 12 small cubes – six outer cubes delivering low-beam lighting and six inner cubes dedicated to high-beam lighting.
On the GT-Line, the headlights also incorporate the Intelligent Front Lighting system, which can segment the high beam into 10 sections that can be turned off individually to mask vehicles ahead, all the while maintaining driver visibility throughout the remaining light spread.
The headlight units also enable specific Welcome and Escort lighting sequences at both the front and rear, when unlocking (Welcome) or locking (Escort) the vehicle.
Inside, so-called minimalistic details and soft touch points have been complemented by large screen displays and large buttons for frequently used functions. An Integrated Panoramic Display houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 5-inch climate control interface, and 12.3-inch multimedia touch screen.
All three variants can also control a variety of functions remotely via the Kia Connect phone app, including presetting of the climate control as well as monitoring and scheduling of battery charging. All models feature wireless as well as wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring ability and are able to receive Over the Aie (OTA) updates.
Interior vehicle-to-load (V2L) with a max AC of 240V/16A is available at the base of the rear seat, while the Earth and GT-Line models are also equipped with an external V2L adaptor, which can also be purchased for the EV4 Air as a Kia Genuine Accessory.
A range of active and passive safety features are also included across all variants, including Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2), Forward Collision Avoidance Assist 2 (FCA 2), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Hands on Detection (HoD) sensors built into the steering wheel, and a centre side airbag featured among the seven total airbags.
An ANCAP safety rating will be confirmed in due course.
“EV4 represents yet another significant evolution of Kia’s EV strategy, blending capability and outright efficiency with affordability in a model that complements our broad line-up of electric vehicles,” said Damien Meredith, CEO of Kia Australia.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.