Kia EV4 to Take On the Sedan Market While the PV5 Will Take On the ID. Buzz

Despite some uncertainty about the electric vehicle (EV) segment, Kia is still bullish on the technology, confirming production data for two new EVs, and teasing us with a concept for a third. With these unveilings, the Korean automaker is taking on two familiar markets, and diving headlong into an intriguing niche.

The most relevant of today’s news for Canadian readers is the EV4. Available as either a sedan or a hatchback (though the latter body style is planned almost exclusively for European markets), it can be seen as the electric equivalent to the K4. As such, it promises compact proportions and a reasonable price tag at a time when costs weigh heavy on consumers’ minds.

The EV4 sedan will be available with either a 58.3 kWh or an 81.4 kWh battery pack. Thanks to the sedan’s extremely aerodynamic design — its 0.23 drag coefficient is similar to that of a Porsche Taycan Turbo — means that the Long Range version will be able to travel quite a distance with every charge. Kia estimates that on the WLTP test cycle (which is more generous than Natural Resources Canada’s estimates), the car will have a range of as many as 630 km. Thanks to its 400 kW architecture, the EV4 will be able to recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 31 minutes.

No matter which battery pack buyers opt for, it will send power to a single motor located at the front of the vehicle. At time of writing, there are no plans for an all-wheel drive model. As a result, the EV4 won’t be a rocket ship like some premium electric sedans. Its motor will send 201 horsepower to the front wheels, which will help the EV reach 100 km/h in a little over seven seconds — all of which is perfectly adequate for this kind of application.

Inside, the EV4 will benefit from Kia’s latest 30-inch infotainment package, which combines a 12.3-inch instrument display with a 12.3-inch infotainment and 5.3-inch side screen. The setup will benefit from the latest streaming apps, including Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, among others.

Kia also plans to load the EV4 with its latest safety technology, including advanced driver assistance functions, which will help with some steering and accelerating functions, as long as the driver pays attention to the road and their hands on the wheel.

The EV4 is set to go on sale in Korea starting next month. European sales are set to start in the second half of the year, and North American sales will follow later.

European consumers will also get the PV5, an all-electric van, in the second half of the year, but it’s less clear when (or even if) the model will arrive in North America. The United States’ 25 per cent tariff on commercial vehicles may make it difficult but, at a press conference, Kia’s president and CEO, Hu Sung Song, said that the company is working to make it happen.

If it does make it here, the PV5 would likely be the only direct competitor to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, offering layouts for both commercial and passenger applications. Kia explains that, for people, the PV5 can be set up with multiple seating configurations, such as 2-3-0, to maximize cargo space for families, or 1-2-3, for carrying multiple passengers and cargo next to the driver (making it perfect for rideshare companies). As a cargo van, the PV5 can hold as much as 300 kg of stuff and offers up to 5,100 L of space. Kia plans to make drop side and refrigerated versions for businesses, as well as a wheelchair accessible version, and another version with external lashing points that sounds like it would be perfect for overlanding.

For the passenger van, the PV5 will be available with either a 51.5 kWh or a 71.2 kWh battery pack (the cargo van will be available with an even smaller 43.3 kWh pack). Kia cites an estimated range of up to 400 km, though that is on the more generous WLTP test cycle. It, too, can be charged from 10 to 30 per cent in just 30 minutes.

Inside, the PV5 will be available with a seven-inch instrument cluster and a 12.9-inch touchscreen, all of which will run on Google’s Android Automotive Operating System, which allows for business-specific apps.

Finally, Kia revealed its cutest little crossover, the EV2 Concept. It looks like a little EV9 and is smaller even than the EV5. Although it has some features that are clearly not intended for production, such as rear-hinged rear doors and windows that can display messages, Kia says that a toned-down version of the adorable crossover will be put into production, with sales expected to begin in 2026. Unfortunately, there are no plans to sell the EV2 in North America.