Call it all the oddball you want, but you cannot deny that KIA has gotten their EV4 right in so many ways
Singapore – Let us take the spotlight away from Chinese cars for the moment. This is the KIA EV4. An electric sedan with a shape that either you’d hate or like. In my case, I have grown to appreciate KIA’s bold design approach to their electric sedan-slash-fastback.
For a while, KIA and even its sister brand Hyundai have tested the boundaries of what is “normal” for a car. The EV4 is no exception. From its beluga whale-like front-end to that futuristic rear, it is as refreshing as it is polarising.
Would it be one of those designs that grows on you?
Actually, I think so. Just like its EV5 SUV sibling, where it shares much of its design cues with, under its minimalist skin seemingly decades into the future, the EV4 is a car as practical as it can get.
Though its interior is as minimalist as its exterior, what strikes me is that KIA has retained a plethora of buttons (though now touch-sensitive ones), allowing you easier access to many of the EV4’s functions.
Set amongst largely robust materials sits a display panel almost 30-inches wide. Within, you have an instrument cluster and infotainment screen – both 12.3-inch. Between the two sits a dedicated 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen. Aside from a little bit of lag, the infotainment functions beautifully.
For the driver, there is a windscreen-projected head-up display, while the steering wheel features various controls for easy access. I like that KIA is one of the few brands still insisting on pedals behind the wheel, so that it is easier for you to adjust the regenerative braking on the fly. Other features include a good scatter of USB ports and a wireless charging pad for your mobile phone. Under the rear seat, the EV4 is equipped with a 3-pin British standard socket, which is ideal for powering cooler boxes, or simply because you need to work on the go.
Due to its sloping roofline and high floor, taller rear passengers might suffer from the lack of ample headroom. But for the average height Singaporean adult… whatever that means these days, most wouldn’t be complaining.
Although it is styled like a fastback, the EV4’s bootlid does not open together with the rear glass; therefore you have to work with a rather odd aperture, which may make loading wide and large items into its 490 litre cavity rather challenging. The bootlid however, opens upward, and away meaning that loading is still rather easy for smaller items.
Fuss free, like 2-minute mee
Aside from the bit that the steering is pleasantly weighted, the EV4 lacks sufficient road feel. The front-driven wheels mean that the fastback delivers an understeer-y drive. Therefore there are no surprises that the EV4’s drive is not going to excite you, it is predictable around the bends, and rather forgiving.
For sure, it is more top heavy than the EV5, but still, the EV4 obliged my temptation to push it a little harder. However you’re not going to run circles around something like the IM 5.
An output of 210hp (150kW) and 283Nm gets the EV4 to the 100km/h benchmark in 7.5 seconds, which is decent. However, I would have thought that the fastback could benefit from a RWD setup, as a heavy foot does induce a lot of wheel spin.
Although there are four levels of brake regeneration, I am glad that KIA also factored in drivers who prefer to glide their cars. Therefore you are also able to drive with the regenerative braking turned off – great for drivers like yours truly.
Aside from how it drives, the EV4 is also impressively energy efficient. Officially, it does 14.9kWh/100km. I managed a close 15kWh/100km flat on a better day, and averaged 15.2kWh/100km.
At $207,999, competition is tight for the KIA EV4, coming from the Tesla Model 3 Premium, Dongfeng 007 Premium and IM 5.
Photos & Text: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Generally good interior | Rear headspace could be better |
| Efficient powertrain | Would RWD work better? |
| Design quirks | Design quirks |
KIA EV4 58.3kWh
| Drivetrain | Full Electric |
| Layout | Single Motor, Front-wheel Drive |
| Motor power / torque | 201hp / 283Nm |
| Battery capacity | 58.3kWh |
| Efficiency | 14.9kWh/100km |
| Electric Range | 546km |
| 0-100km/h | 7.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 170km/h |
| VES Band | A1 |
| Dealer | Cycle & Carriage KIA |
| Price | S$207,999 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | You’d either like or dislike its looks. But we think the left-of-field styling will have its fans. |
