©Kia
The Korean manufacturer is preparing the launch of a model that could well offer an exemplary quality / price ratio, able to thwart the plans of premium brands.
Kia is not done with electric SUVs, far from it. In addition to the excellent EV6, our favorite car this year, and the all-new Niro EV, the Korean automaker plans to take the field with an upcoming EV4, the EV6’s long-toothed little brother. This compact SUV will have the mission of attacking the most accessible versions of premium brands. Indeed, Kia wants to be able to oppose the Volvo C40, Mercedes EQA and other Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback a model with similar dimensions, but with a higher value for money.
It was the boss of Kia Europe, Sjörd Knipping who confirmed the information to our colleagues from Auto Express, also stating that it would not be the only SUV from Kia to invest in the European market in the coming months. Indeed, Hyundai’s sister brand is also planning a seven-seater behemoth derived from the EV9 concept. The future EV4 should be based on much more reasonable dimensions with a reduced wheelbase of 2.90 meters.
400V or 800V, the choice that could change everything
Based like the EV6 or the Ioniq 5 cousin on the E-GMP platform, the future EV4 should be able to offer the same choice of batteries as its elders, namely a “small” 58 kWh model or a large 77 kWh accumulator. kWh. On the other hand, the Korean manufacturer has not yet made its decision as to the architecture to be implemented. 400V or 800V the question remains. However, it is not without consequences on the vehicle’s recharging capacities… but also on its cost. Indeed, this technology that equips the EV6 allows it to recover from 10 to 80% of its battery in 18 minutes but its cost would still be relatively high.
The arrival of this EV4 at Kia is not strictly speaking a surprise. Without mentioning it specifically, the Korean manufacturer had mentioned it during the presentation of its electric strategy. Indeed, Kia wants to launch 14 new 100% electric models by 2027 and the EV4 was already considered the electric successor to the Sportage. In the meantime, the mission of Kia’s next compact SUV is clear: to make life more difficult for premium SUVs. Indeed, the EV6 is currently displayed from 47,990 euros, in its Air Active finish, the most modest. All other finishes of the large SUV exceed 50,000 euros. As for the competitors that the EV4 tackles, they all oscillate around the ecological bonus, or 45,000 euros. With a much more accessible model, but as often with Kia, well equipped, the Korean could well outrun its more prestigious competitors.
Auto-Express