2026 Kia EV4 First Drive Review + Video

If electric vehicles (EVs) are dead on the vine, no one has told Kia.

Not only is the automaker introducing an all-new compact crossover, known as the EV5, but it’s also bringing to market the smaller 2026 Kia EV4 — a uniquely styled sedan with plenty of range, and a competitive price tag to go with it. Beyond being the cheapest car of its kind in Canada, at least for the time being, the EV4 sets a new standard for entry-level electrification.

Electric Essentials

The EV4 occupies a footprint that’s strikingly similar to that of the gas-powered Kia K4 — among the largest compact cars on the market. It stretches 4,730 mm (186.2 in) from tip to tail, which means it’s slightly longer than Kia’s Sportage compact crossover, while its wheelbase, at 2,720 mm (111.0 in), is slightly shorter. That foundation provides enough room for the choice of 58.3- or 81.4-kWh batteries, the latter of which means as much as 552 km of range on a full charge.

But then even the smaller battery is good for 391 km, while both of them can be hooked up to 350-kW DC fast-charging stations thanks to the EV4’s 400-volt architecture. According to Kia, the benchmark jump from 10 to 80 per cent should take around half an hour in ideal conditions. It also features a Tesla-style port for access to that automaker’s Supercharger network.

At launch, the EV4 will feature a front-wheel-drive format, although Kia says all-wheel drive will be available later in 2026 (likely as a 2027 model). And while the single-motor version’s numbers are modest — it makes 201 hp and 209 lb-ft of torque — they’re enough to provide swift-if-not-unrestrained acceleration, whether from a standing start or at highway speeds. More importantly, the EV4 takes off smoothly and with barely a sound beyond a dull electric whine.

Smooth Operating

Countering the kind of weight that comes with the battery that spans the floor is suspension damping that could rival the stuff that underpins a high-priced luxury sedan. Yes, it’s a multi-link setup in the back, which is more refined than the kind of torsion beam that’s typically used in affordable cars — including the non-turbocharged K4 — but the EV4’s ride quality is sublime.

While finding anything that resembled broken pavement along the corridor connecting the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Valencia proved all but impossible, the conventional shocks and springs soaked up speed bumps and other obstacles with a rare kind of composure. It bodes well for how this EV should handle the frost heaves, pressure cracks, and potholes at home.

Meanwhile, the regenerative braking is the 3.0 version of Kia’s system, which now works with the vehicle in reverse. It can also remember whether or not i-Pedal — the name Kia uses for its one-pedal control that can slow the vehicle to a stop simply by easing off the throttle — was engaged and keep it that way when the car is restarted. (Previous iterations of i-Pedal default to off and must be reactivated manually.) As before, three levels of regeneration can be selected.

It all adds up to an effortlessness that underlies the entire drive experience. The EV4 manages to feel familiar in the best ways, never straying too far from conventional motoring yet offering all the benefits of electrification. This isn’t a spaceship — it’s a car, and one that’s smooth, silent, and exceptionally efficient. This test spanned more than 350 km (plenty of it was logged on the highway at triple-digit speeds) and finished with an average of 16.9 kWh/100 km.

Subjective Styling

The EV4 might not drive like an alien aircraft, but it almost looks like one. It’s very much in keeping with the design language established by the EV9 three-row SUV, although this one manages to be a bit busier — and a little more bizarre. Its aerodynamics are undeniable — at 0.23, the drag coefficient is impressively low — but the styling might not be for everyone.

There are shades of the EV6 hatchback, too — a car that’s being discontinued in Canada with the arrival of the EV5, although it will soldier on in the United States. While it lacks the lightbar found on the back of its sibling, that might be the biggest obstacle in the way of finding objective beauty here. Instead, the boomerang-shaped tail lights look a little out of place; and while the rear end is shaped like a liftback à la the since-discontinued Kia Stinger, it’s a traditional trunk.

That’s problematic if only for the awkwardly shaped opening, which is a proverbial mail slot compared to the depth of the cargo space. It means large items like boxes or hockey bags could prove tough to load, but the cabin is spacious and comfortable (except for the headroom with the available sunroof). And there’s plenty of small-item storage thanks to the tiered console bins.

Affordable Electric

With a starting price of $38,995 before freight and tax, this compact Kia is officially the cheapest EV on the Canadian market. (The Chevrolet Bolt that’s set to return after a three-year hiatus will cost just a few dollars more.) Yes, that means a relatively small battery, although range is more than reasonable at an estimated 391 km. And it has plenty of amenities, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a full advanced safety suite.

Moving to the $42,995 EV4 Wind means a bigger battery and 552 km of range, as well as a heat pump for more efficient cabin warming. Meanwhile, the Wind Premium adds a sunroof, synthetic leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel (heated front seats are standard in every trim), and a wireless phone charger for its $45,495 list price, although range drops to 515 km.

The GT-Line and GT-Line Limited can travel an estimated 488 km on a full charge. Both are fitted with unique styling cues, including the gloss-black exterior accents seen here (they have an unpainted finish otherwise), as well as ventilated front seats and heated rear ones, and vehicle-to-load functionality that allows larger electric items like laptops to be charged using the battery pack as a power source. The GT-Line rings in at $48,495 before freight and tax.

Finally, the $51,995 GT-Line Limited adds to that list an upgraded eight-speaker stereo — instead of the six-speaker unit that’s standard — as well as interior ambient lighting, phone-as-key functionality, and extra advanced safety features. Those include camera-based blind-spot monitoring (the rest of the lineup uses a sensor-based system), surround-view monitoring, and junction turn assist that can warn of oncoming traffic, among others.

Final Thoughts

While this was only an initial encounter with the 2026 Kia EV4, first impressions are that this is easily among the most compelling new cars on the market regardless of power source. To be sure, there are plenty of great ones out there, electric or otherwise, but the EV4 is among the few in recent years that manage to move the needle in a significant way for the entire industry.

From its satisfying ride and handling to the overall approachability of the drive experience and, of course, its affordability, Kia’s smallest and cheapest EV feels anything but from behind the wheel. Declining demand be damned — this is the kind of car the market has been waiting for, and Kia hasn’t just delivered but overdelivered with an impressive product from top to bottom.

The 2026 Kia EV4 is available to order now at dealers across Canada. Deliveries are expected in the early part of the new year.