Kia’s EV4 Sets Sights on Tesla Model 3 with Aggressive Pricing

Tesla might have more competition soon

The crowded EV market is about to get a new entry, and it might be one of the more enticing we’ve seen in a long while. Making its first appearance at the New York Auto Show earlier this month, the Kia EV4 showcased Kia’s continued focus on electrification with a design language familiar to fans of the automaker’s existing lineup. The real attraction isn’t the sloping hood or flat roofline we’ve come to expect from Kia’s EV sedans – it’s the rumored price tag.

MotorTrend reports that Kia “suggests” the EV4 will start at $37,000 and made no point in noting that pricing was with any EV tax credit (historically $7,500) accounted for. To that, a base model Kia EV4, with tax credits, would start at $29,500. That’s almost $5,000 less than a Tesla Model 3 Long Range Rear Wheel Drive, which costs $34,990 with the $7,500 tax credit.

The EV4 carries over Kia’s design language with a lower price tag

The Kia EV4’s bold exterior styling is not a new thing, but that’s not a downside. Kia’s design ethos is much more “prototype” than practical, which sets the brand apart. The EV4 is noticeably smaller in stature than its sibling sedan from Hyundai, the Ioniq 6, no matter which way you look at it. It’s shorter in overall length by a few inches, an inch narrower, a smidge shorter in height, and has a 5-inch shorter wheelbase. The EV4 is dimensionally similar to the gas-powered K4 from Kia.

Kia opted for a front-wheel drive powertrain on the EV4, likely to keep the pricing lower. It has a spritely 201 horsepower engine (150 kW in EV terminology) and shares components like battery technology and the drive motor with other EVs, such as the EV6 and EV9, which are shared across Kia’s E-GMP platform. In the United States, buyers will be met with three familiar trims: Light, Wind, and GT-Line. Kia’s base model EV4 Light has a 58.3-kWh unit with an estimated range of 235 miles. The EV4 Wind and EV4 GT-Line both get a larger 81.4-kWh unit. Kia says the Wind will get 330 miles of range when equipped with 17-inch wheels, the maximum range across the lineup.

Inside, the EV4 could lack quality fit and finish to some, but it’s suitable for its price range and includes a digital cluster, an infotainment screen, and an HVAC controls screen in between. Kia wanted the EV4 to be familiar to people purchasing their first EV, focusing on “comfort, space, and convenience.” Ambient lighting is standard and may be the highlight of the cabin. i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking and advanced driver assistance features with highway driving assist make a welcome return, and the EV4’s DC fast charging capabilities bring the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.

Final thoughts

For under $30,000 and with 235 miles of range, car buyers will be willing to make many concessions. The Tesla Model 3 fleet Hertz dumped into the used car market did well, and those cars were bare-bones and beaten up by renters. We expect the Kia EV4 will sell well, even if its exterior and interior designs are polarizing. Kia says we should expect EV4 on dealership lots in early 2026.

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