2026 Kia EV4 Review: Great Range, But Worth the Premium?

Kia just built a brand new sedan. In this economy. While everyone else is building SUVs, Kia went the other way and made a low, slippery electric sedan with a claimed 612 km of range. Mary drove the Kia EV4 in Earth Long Range trim to find out whether it is the one to text back, because the Tesla, the BYD and the new Mazda are all waiting outside.

Design

The front is sharp, with vertical headlights, flush door handles and a shape so slippery it is the most aerodynamic Kia yet. That is a big part of why the range is so good. The back is a lot: a big wing, a long tail and plenty going on. Some people love it. Mary's group chat called it a spoiler that went to uni and found itself. She has grown to like it, mostly.

Performance and charging

One electric motor drives the front wheels with 150 kW, and 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.8 seconds. That is fine, not fast. It merges without drama, but a Model 3 or Seal will beat it off the lights. If 0 to 100 is your personality, this is not your car.

The big number is range. The Earth and GT-Line use an 81.4 kWh battery rated at 612 km WLTP, and the EV4 is efficient, which is how it goes so far on a charge. The catch is charging speed: 10 to 80 per cent takes about half an hour on a fast charger. Long enough for a coffee and a proper scroll, slower than some rivals.

How it drives

This is where the EV4 quietly wins you over. Kia's local engineers tuned it for Australian roads and you can tell. It is comfortable over bumps, the steering feels natural, it is quiet and it feels grown up, like a car that pays its rent on time.

Regenerative braking is adjustable on the paddles, with a one pedal mode, and the EV4 remembers your favourite regen level next time you get in. Not revolutionary, but some rivals forget it every drive and make you dig through the screen to set it again.

The cabin

Inside it is calm, clean and easy to use. Two crisp 12.3 inch screens sit side by side, and between them are real buttons for the climate control. Proper buttons. There is wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, and vehicle to load power means you can run a laptop or a kettle from the car.

Now the cheeky bit. For just under $60,000, the Earth has no wireless phone charger, no 360 degree camera and no head-up display. Want a sunroof, a heated steering wheel or a powered boot? That is the GT-Line, about $5,500 more.

Back seat and boot

The rear door opening is low, so taller passengers will need to duck on the way in. Once you are there, legroom and headroom are good. A child seat fits rear or forward facing, and there are USB-C ports, air vents, grab handles and map pockets. The boot is bigger than a BYD Seal's or a Mazda 6e's.

Safety

The EV4 has a five star ANCAP rating and seven airbags, including a centre airbag between the front seats. Highway Driving Assist helps steer and keep your distance on the motorway, and Kia backs it with a seven year, unlimited kilometre warranty. Long-term commitment. Love it.

Price and rivals

The EV4 Earth is just under $60,000 before on-road costs. The base Air is about $10,000 cheaper, but it has a smaller 58.3 kWh battery and 456 km of claimed range.

Here is the problem. A Tesla Model 3 starts just under $46,000. The BYD Seal starts just under $47,000, and the quicker Seal Premium is just under $53,000. The Mazda 6e is just under $50,000, charges faster and has nicer toys, but a much smaller boot. Zeekr's 007 GT is landing soon too. The EV4 Earth goes further on a charge than all of them and has a bigger boot than the Seal or 6e, but it is the priciest of the group and has the least kit.

Cartell Assessment

The EV4 is the reliable friend: range, comfort and common sense. Buy it if you do long drives, want a comfortable, properly grown up car and need a boot that actually fits stuff. It just needs a sharper price, or a few more toys at this one. Mary's nan approves. She also asked what happened to the back.

AU Outlook

The EV4 gives Kia a sedan rival for the Model 3, Seal and 6e, and its 612 km claim tops the class. See every grade and price on our Kia EV4 page, Amelia's Mazda 6e review, and how all four compare in our Model 3 vs Seal vs EV4 vs 6e comparison.