Kia EV4 hatch, EV2 SUV and micro EV1 set for Aus 

Australian EV buyers will gain access to a wider choice of cheaper electric Kias because of a change in policy on manufacturing sources. 

The change means the Kia EV4 hatch will now go on-sale in Australia in 2026 as well as the sedan version of the Tesla Model 3 fighter, and both the smaller EV2 SUV and future EV1 mini-car also become at least theoretically available. 

All three small EVs are destined for production at Kia’s Zilia plant in land-locked Slovakia. 

Kia Australia had previously ruled out taking cars from the central European plant because of the additional shipping costs it would incur accessing an ocean port for freight to Australia. 

But now, partly because EVs exported from the EU to Australia avoid the five per cent tariff imposed on ICE vehicles, Kia has reconsidered. 

The willingness to take EVs from Slovakia was confirmed by the brand’s local CEO, Damien Meredith, as part of the global ‘Kia Plan S’ strategy which focusses on EVs as part of a shift to sustainable mobility. 

“We’re committed to Plan S and for us to be fully committed to Plan S, we need those models coming through,” he told carsales. 

“Nothing’s off the table.” 

And that includes the Picanto-sized and priced EV1, which was first teased by Kia global president Ho-sung Song last year, but isn’t likely to be seen before 2028-29. 

“If EV1 comes to fruition, definitely it’s on the table,” Meredith said. 

But the addition of the EV4 hatchback is the first definite proof of the Slovakian switch. 

The Korean-sourced sedan is expected to arrive in Australia no later than very early 2026 with a potential starting price sneaking under $50,000 and the hatch only a few months behind. 

But the arrival of the EV4s will trigger a reduction of the EV6 line-up. The highly rated five-door hatch, which won the carsales car of the year in 2022, can’t match the EV4 on price and has already lost out in the fleet market to the cheaper EV5. 

Therefore, the entry-level Air is expected to be dropped, and there are question marks over how much of the GT-Line range will be retained (there are currently rear- and all-wheel drive models), though the flagship EV6 GT will definitely continue on.  

More information will likely be revealed at or even by the release of the delayed EV6 facelift (late September) seeing as sales of the sporty crossover are down almost 76 per cent so far this year. 

“We’ve got to make a decision about what we actually want to do with EV6,” Meredith said. 

“Do we – and we haven’t mind about this at this point in time – do we make it a specific performance car, rather than a fleet car, plus a performance car? 

“So there’s a lot of permutations and combinations that we’ve got to look at.” 

Kia is one of the most aggressive legacy brands when it comes to selling EVs in Australia. It’s targeting 11,000 EV sales in 2025 out of a record 90,000 total – but it was less than 50 per cent of the way to both targets halfway through the year. 

The cheapest EV it currently sells in Australia is the $48,990 drive-away EV3 Air small SUV, but Chinese equivalents undercut it significantly, most obviously the $39,990 BYD Atto 3 and $40,990 Geely EX5. 

In overseas spec, both EV4 body styles come with the option of either a ‘Base’ 58.3kWh or bigger Long Range 81.4kWh battery. Both will be combined with the same 150kW single e-motor used by the EV3. 

With the smaller of the two powerpacks, the EV4 can cover 430km (410km hatch) on the WLTP test cycle. With the larger battery, the range increases to 630km (590km hatch); besting the most efficient Tesla Model 3 or MG4. 

The EV4 sedan measures 4730mm long, 1860mm wide and stands at 1480mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2820mm. 

That makes it 10mm longer, 12mm wider and 38mm taller than the best-selling Tesla Model 3. 

The EV4 hatch is 300mm shorter. 

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