Concept Kia EV4 unveiled

Kia claims to have reinvented the sedan with its new Kia EV4 electric sedan concept car, which is set to take on the dominant Tesla Model 3, among other four-door EVs.’

Shown as the Concept EV4 at Kia’s 2023 EV day, the four-door five-seater showcases a radical interpretation of the sedan shape – something Kia says was necessary for a car that pushes the tech boundaries with connectivity.

With interest in electric sedans breathing new life into the broader four-door market, Kia is keen to capitalise with the EV4, which is one of seven promised new EV models as part of a rapidly expanding market.

“We didn’t want to stay traditional,” said TK Kim, Kia vice-president of design. “We want to make EV4 as a kind of pioneering vehicle in our EV line-up.”

He said it was all about ensuring the EV4 stands out visually as a ground-breaking car – one with more of an elongated fastback rump than a traditional boot.

“[With] EV4 we thought being safe [with styling] is more risky… [while] opening up to the new chapter of the mobility world.”

His comments were backed up by Kia design chief Karim Habib, who said the look of the EV4 was commensurate with seismic shifts in the sedan market.

“In certain parts of the world the sedan is becoming less relevant,” said Habib. “But we believe for the future of mobility it’s important.

“The sedan has intrinsically a lot of advantages, in terms of size, in terms of safety, in terms of efficiency.

“What we tried to do with this is not just in exterior typology but interior use of space to learn what people like in SUVs, for example a flat floor… if we’re able to bring these qualities in the sedan we believe that it will remain relevant and maybe should remain relevant.”

The EV4’s flat floor ensures good foot space and helps add to the generous interior proportions. There’s also a ‘frunk’ – or front trunk – for under-bonnet storage.

Some of the EV4’s radical design elements will clearly by scaled back for production – chief among them are the rear-hinged back doors – although also expect the 2025 production version to maintain the overall edgy theme.

It’s also expected to have a strong focus on sustainability, although some of the modern materials used in the concept car won’t initially make it to production.

As with other Kia EVs, the EV4 rides on the familiar E-GMP platform.

However, instead of the 800V electrical system we’ve seen until now, like the EV5 it will use a 400V system that compromises charging time but is more affordable. 

While pricing hasn’t been announced yet, the EV4 looks set to be positioned to compete with (and possibly undercut) the Tesla Model 3, which starts at $61,900 plus on-road costs.

The EV4 will be offered in front-drive single-motor configurations, as well as dual-motor all-wheel drive.

Details on battery capacities and motor outputs will be revealed closer to the planned start of production in 2025.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au