Driven: The Kia EV4 has quirky looks, but here’s why I think you should shortlist it for your next electric family car

Kia has been on a roll recently, building highly desirable electric cars such as the Carwow-award-winning EV9, the sleek EV6 and one of our favourite small SUVs, the EV3. The Kia EV4 is the latest in the line-up and, spoiler alert, it’s excellent too.

The EV4 bucks the trend a bit because it’s available as either a hatchback or saloon, rather than being yet another SUV. Don’t let that put you off if you’re looking for your next family car, because it’s still really practical and the roomy rear seats are perfect if you have to fit a bulky child seat.

A face only a mother could love, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but you do have to look past the exterior design somewhat before getting to the good stuff. The hatchback isn’t so bad, with sharp lines and angles that are as futuristic as they are fussy, but I think the saloon – or EV4 Fastback in Kia-speak – has one of the weirdest rear end designs I’ve ever seen. It’s almost like the design model melted and they just ran with it.

Things are far more conventional inside. I love the cool, airy, lounge-like aesthetic, and actually prefer the cloth upholstery in the lower trim. You get the Kia-typical triple screen setup, so that’s a big infotainment display that’s pretty quick and easy to use, the digital instruments behind the steering wheel, and the baffling climate screen that’s blocked by your hands. At least there are some physical controls to make it easier to use on the move.

Space, and lots of it

There’s loads of space inside, particularly for those in the rear. That makes it great as a family car because there’s room for growing kids or a bulky child seat. Some of the storage isn’t great though, such as the small door bins.

You get a massive boot – at 480 litres in the hatchback it’s much roomier than alternatives such as the Cupra Born or Peugeot E-308, though if you look at similarly priced SUVs, the Renault Scenic boasts 545 litres. There’s less space in the Fastback’s boot (390 litres), and being a saloon the access is much smaller, making it the less practical option.

Comfortable for miles and miles and miles

Both are great to drive, though. Sure, it won’t put a smile on your face on a twisty road, but it’s perfectly comfortable around town. The roads in Spain are smoother than the UK’s, but I searched out a few potholes and speed bumps to put it to the test, and was left suitably impressed. It’s quiet and refined at motorway speeds, too.

You can make the most of those motorway miles too, because the range is impressive. In the hatchback you can go up to 391 miles, which is further than most alternatives. The EV4 Fastback goes further still, but if you want maximum range from an electric saloon the Tesla Model 3 can go up to 436 miles between charges.

I managed 3.9 miles per kWh in the Fastback version, which would give you a range of about 320 miles in the real world. That’s reasonable, if not outstanding efficiency.

What do I think?

Overall I’m very impressed with the Kia EV4. It’s comfortable, practical and reasonably priced compared with alternatives. If you’re looking for your next electric car it should absolutely be on your shortlist.

Quick facts

How I tested the Kia EV4 and why you can trust my opinion

I have been a motoring journalist testing cars for more than a decade, which gives me plenty of context for whether cars live up to the hype, or if you should give them a miss. As the reviews editor at Carwow it’s my job to make sure you get all the information you need to make an informed decision.

I flew out to Marbella, Spain in September 2025 to attend the international launch of the Kia EV4 and put together this review. I spent the day driving both the hatchback and saloon versions of the car. I used the A-7 motorway to see how it fared at high speeds, went up into the mountains to test its capabilities on twisty roads, and headed down to the coast to put it through its paces on tight city streets.

I also spent some time poking and prodding the interior, playing with the infotainment system and checking practicality to help you understand how it compares to alternatives and decide if it fits your lifestyle.