By now, we were promised a world of affordable electric cars. True, there are some options, with the current field of low-priced EVs in North America being a jumble that includes the likes of the Fiat 500e city car, Nissan LEAF pseudo crossover, and Chevrolet Bolt tall hatchback. Absent though, are any regular small sedans. Conventional four-doors with a trunk. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 comes to close, but the funky styled sedan is a bit larger and priced accordingly.
For the 2026 model year Kia is bringing the EV4 to North America, in hopes of filling this low-priced electric sedan void. There’s just one catch. Due to the ever changing tariffs imposed in the United States, only Canada will be receiving the car for the time being.
2026 Kia EV4: All the Details
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Quick Facts
The 2026 Kia EV4 heads to Canadian showrooms as a relatively affordable, all-electric sedan. Wearing EV6-like styling, the EV4 is less controversially looking than the Kia K4 sedan, but still remains unique.
With a sophisticated ride and drive, the 200+ horsepower front-wheel drive car feels more premium than a regular compact car. It also has a decently appointment interior. But there’s still a price premium to be paid for its all-electric drivetrain, and compared to some similarly priced EV crossovers, the EV4 may have a tough time wining over SUV-obsessed consumers.
What’s New for 2026:
The Kia EV4 is our first taste of the Hyundai/Kia/Genesis E-GMP 400V all-electric vehicle platform. Up until now, all vehicles built on this platform, like Kia’s own EV6 and EV9, have featured the more powerful, costlier 800V architecture.
Although the EV4 will also be offered as a hatchback in other markets, Canada will make do with only the sedan for now.
Exterior Style:
Dimensionally, at 4,730 mm (186.2-inches) long, 1,860 mm (73.2-inches) wide, and 1,480 mm (58.3-inches) high, the EV is slightly larger than the K4 sedan. Stylistically though, Kia’s new EV looks more like its larger EV6 sibling than the K4.
In for testing, we have the fully loaded GT-Line Limited version of the 2026 Kia EV4. Being the top-of-the-line model, up front there are LED muti-cube headlights, GT-Line exclusive design bits, and welcome lightning. The car has the ever-trendy flush door handles and blocky 19-inch alloy wheels that are pure Kia in design. Out back, the look is completed with a rear-split spoiler.
Powertrain and Fuel Economy:
All versions of the 2026 Kia EV4 are powered by a single motor driving the front wheels. It produces 201 hp and 209 lb-ft of torque fed through a single speed direct drive transmission. There’s plenty of grunt to get the 1,906 kg (4,202 lbs) car up to speed around the city with enthusiasm. On the highway, power becomes less robust, with freeway passing maneuvers requiring a bit more patience.
The highlight of the drivetrain isn’t power though, it’s the smoothness. Compact cars housing a conventional gasoline engine are usually a bit growly and/or harsh. In the EV4, that’s not the case in the slightest. There’s nothing but smooth, silent, vibration free power regardless of speed.
Two batteries are available in the EV4, with all but the entry level utilizing an 81.4 kWh battery pack. In our loaded tester, that’s enough juice for a quoted 488 km (303 miles) of range on a single charge, while lower trims can go upwards of 552 km (343 miles). During our time with the vehicle, in below freezing temperatures on winter tires, we saw around 430 km of usable range. When the battery is depleted, it can be charged at speeds up to 170 kW.
Handling and Drivability:
The EV4 isn’t a sporty handler, but the 215/50R19 tires do their best to keep the car composed under moderate cornering forces. There’s more of a focus on ease-of-use behind the wheel and all the EV’s inputs are intuitive.
Since it was February and the EV4 had winter tires installed, we really got to test the car’s slippery condition capabilities. We found it produced a bit more slow-speed wheelspin in the snow compared to some other all-electric front-wheel drive vehicles, like the Nissan LEAF.
CompetitorsRide Quality and Comfort:
We fully expected the drivetrain to feel smooth and sophisticated in the 2026 Kia EV4, we were surprised though that the chassis matches its refinement. Maybe it’s due to the excessive all-electric weight, but the car bounds over bumps with a single, smooth motion. There’s no harsh crash or rebound bounce. The MacPherson Strut front and multi-link rear suspensions work in harmony to deliver a quality ride that’s now roly-poly.
Passengers up front get 1,154 mm (45.4-inches) of legroom, but just 934 mm (36.8-inches) of headroom. The latter is an issue we find with plenty of Kia cars, where our taller testers have their heads jammed up against the roof liner. Rear seat passengers get more cranium capacity, at 944 mm (37.2-inches) of headroom, complimented by 970 mm (38.2-inches) of legroom.
The GT-Line Limited comes equipped with a heat-pump, which was put to good use during our week with the car, Inside, there are synthetic leather seats, a memory power driver seat, a power passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, as well as heated outboard rear seats.
Interior Style and Quality:
Inside, the 2026 Kia EV4 features the usual brand identity, highlighted by the dual 12.3-inch screens behind a single panel. There’s a mix of hard buttons and touchscreen controls, in an easy to use layout. Materials are a mix of quality, with lower end items featuring interesting styles and/or textures to look more upscale. Being the GT-Line Premium, our tester included the deluxe three-spoke steering wheel, fancy door scuffs, and upgraded pedals.
Tech and Safety:
Standard on our tester in addition to items listed above includes a surround view monitor, sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, digital key, Harmon Kardon audio system, ambient lighting, rain sensing wipers, and more.
From a safety front, active systems include, but are not limited to, forward collision avoidance assist, driver steering assist, highway driving assist 2, parking distance warning parking collision avoidance assist – reverse, blind-spot monitoring, and remote smart parking assist 2.
Value Dollars and Sense:
In Canada, the 2026 Kia EV4 will start at a price of $41,145 including destination charges for the small battery entry level model. As tested, the fully loaded GT-Line Limited with the upgraded exterior came in at $54,395. That pricing point puts it more expensive than a Chevrolet Bolt or Fiat 500e, but on par with the Nissan LEAF and Subaru Uncharted.
Final Thoughts:
As an all-new, all-electric car, the 2026 Kia EV4 is remarkable for being otherwise unremarkable. Instead of trying to redefine a new segment, the EV4 is essentially a small family sedan that just happens to be all-electric. It holds a definitive edge over its gasoline counterparts in terms of ride quality and drivetrain sophistication. Of course, there is a price to pay for this premium. Whether or not consumers feel the price is worth it is up to them, but at least there is an option to get a conventional, mainstream all-electric sedan.
Powertrain
7.5 / 10
Efficiency
9 / 10
Handling and Drivability
7.5 / 10
Passenger Comfort
7 / 10
Ride Quality
4 / 5
Exterior Style
3.5 / 5
Interior Style and Quality
8 / 10
Infotainment
8 / 10
Cargo Capacity and Towing
4 / 5
Safety
4/ 5
Value
7 / 10
Emotional Appeal
7 / 10
TOTAL
77 / 100
Range
Tight Headroom
Ride Comfort
Styling Not for Everyone
Drivetrain Sophistication
Can Get Pricey
FAQs
Q: How much is the 2026 Kia EV4?
A: The 2026 Kia EV4 starts at $41,145 including destination charges
Q: Is the Kia EV4 coming to America?
A: At this time, it is not coming to America.
Q: What is the range for the 2026 Kia EV4?
A: It can get up to 552 km on a single charge, with our tester coming in at 488 km.
Engine/Motor
Single Motor
Output:
201 hp, 209 lb-ft
Drivetrain:
FWD
Transmission:
1AT
Range (km):
488 (as tested)
Starting Price Canada
$41,145 incl dest
As Tested Price Canada
$54,395 incl dest
