Kia EV4: Tesla Model 3 rival locked up for Australia

After rolling out a series of electric SUVs, Kia is now planning to launch an electric sedan in Australia.

The Kia EV4 – Of which the exterior design was unveiled earlier this month – is now detailed on the unveiling in Barcelona on the EV day of the brand.

“Kia Australia is pleased to confirm that the EV4 will join the range of Kia’s Battery Electric Vehicle models in Australia. More information about timing, variants, functions and prices will be announced in due course, “said a spokesperson for Kia Australia.

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It seems unlikely that we will get the hatchback here.

Kia refers to the EV4 hatchback as ‘only Europe’, and it will be produced in Slovakia. The sedan will be produced in Korea and it will be for sale there in March.

The company says that the EV4 uses the E-GMP platform, which also underlies the EV6 and EV9. It features Macpherson Strut Front Suspension and a Multi-Link setup with rinsing units at the back.

It also features frequency-response valves for his dampers, who together with ‘Hydro G’ suspension bus give what Kia claims to reduce noise and vibrations and improved driving comfort.

There is a choice of two battery sizes, but only one 150 kW for mounted electric motor. Since Kia has previously promised to offer hotter GT versions of all its electric vehicles (EVs), a dual engine could be four-wheel drive configuration in an EV4 GT.

Kia has taken efficiency seriously and the EV4 has an aerodynamic resistance coefficient of only 0.23, helped by full sub -bodem coverings.

Reach is a maximum of 630 km on the WLTP cycle, better than a Base Tesla Model 3 RWD (513 km) and beats the Long Range AWD (629 km).

Inside, the interior of the 2023 Concept EV4 has made the transition to production with few changes.

There is still a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 5.3-inch climate screen, as well as a split level center console.

Although the overall layout is essentially identical, the production EV4 has received a number of physical switches, while the environmental lighting has been adjusted and the peach interior color of the concept and the center of the pattern pattern have disappeared.

Updates about the air can be carried out remotely via their mobile phones, while Kia says that there are “new display themes, such as NBA and Disney-related content” that are available to adjust the vehicle.

With the so-called vehicle Smart TV solution you can view YouTube, Netflix and Disney+ in the EV4 and also play games and sing karaoke.

There are selectable interior modes. Rest mode adjusts the environmental lighting and ‘relaxation chairs’ to the first row, while the theater mode ‘optimizes settings’ for the 30-inch wide screen display, environmental lighting and sound system.

Other available functions on the EV4 include:

• Automatic beam
• Remote Smart Parking Assist
• Digital key 2.0, so that you can unlock the vehicle via smartphone or Apple Watch
• 12-inch head-up display
• 8 speakers sound system (Unborde or Harman/Kardon)
• Environmental lighting
• Kia AI assistant

The appearance of the outside of the EV4 is identifiable Kia from the 2020S, without completely abandoning, for example, the combustion-driven K4 or electric EV5.

The Sedan has a fastback profile with a steep-racing rear window, while the Boxy Hatchback has a greenhouse that becomes slimmer to the back of the vehicle before it ends up on a bolt upright D-pilla treatment.

While Kia says that the EV4 has 215/60R17 tires, it has also confirmed the EV4 GT-Line rides on 19-inch alloys. It is unclear what impact this has on reach.

All EV4 models have prominent black upholstery, so that the sedan and hatch a rather SUV-like appearance, as well as rinses door handles.

Powertrain and efficiency

It has an 11 kW on the board, which supports both a phase and three-phase AC inputs.

With vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality you can feed devices, while the EV4 also has vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capacity where this technology is supported.

The EV4 has the I-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking system from Kia and will remember your selected rain setting.

Dimensions

The EV4 -sedan is about 10 mm longer than a Tesla model 3, but 73 mm narrower on a 55 mm shorter wheelbase.

Safety

Kia focuses on a five-star-Euro NCAP rating. Safety functions on the EV4 include:

• Forward Collision-Favoidance Assist 2 (autonomous emergency brakes)
• Navigation-based adaptive cruise control
• Blind-Spot Assist
• Blind-Spot View monitor
• The director’s attention warning
• Highway Driving Assist 2
• Lane help
• Lane Follow Assist 2 (Lane Center)
• Afterwards at the back
• Intelligent speed limit assist
• Safety output helps
• Surround-view camera
• Front, rear and side parking sensors